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Dams in doubt: Fish, climate change and passage of time take toll on water infrastructure

Posted by: Maven on February 12, 2010 at 8:28 am

friant dam & riverFrom the Capital Press:

“The pressure on Western dams is mounting. Age and delayed maintenance have led to worries about structural deterioration and catastrophic failure. Environmental activists have focused negative attention on dams as barriers to the migration of endangered and threatened fish.

At the same time, the demand for water storage, flood control and electricity generation is expected to surge in the future.

As renewable energy continues to be a national priority, hydroelectric facilities offer a reliable source of power compared to the fluctuating output of wind turbines and solar panels.

Climate change may diminish mountain snowpacks, potentially causing summer water shortages unless the capacity to store runoff is increased. Volatile weather patterns in the winter may also aggravate flooding, heightening the need to regulate seasonal water flows.

“It does set up a real tension,” said Karl Wirkus, deputy commissioner for operations at the Bureau of Reclamation. … “

Continue reading this article from the Capital Press by clicking here.

February 12, 2010 · Filed Under Storage and supply

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