Blog Post 5

After reading through previous posts, I hope that my readers are finding a sense of urgency in regards to the predicament of obsolete dams.  When comparing sources, I find it abundantly clear that major organizations are on the same page in regards to the problem at hand as well. Scientific American, National Geographic, and Patagonia, all agree that the obsolete damming does nothing but harm.  

Since the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776, a dam a day has been erected.  That means that at least 87,600 dams have been built. Though all of the dams might not be dangerous and obsolete, many of them are.  The removal of four to five specific dams has the potential to greatly increase the odds that a run of salmon may return.  Countries like China and Brazil are currently in the process of razing massive dams in their major rivers. These dams are so intricate and powerful, that they can control all estuaries within the rivers. Because we have the 21^st century technology to use far more renewable resources for energy, we need to band together and work to stop these dams that have the capabilities to completely decimate the ecosystems in and around the rivers that they block.

By signing petitions, and researching options to fight back against the corporations that power the dams, we have the power to slowly, but surely erase the dams that harm our fragile water systems.

https://www.patagonia.com/us/patagonia.go?assetid=67738

Blog Post 4

Bears rely very heavily on the salmon run.  The more salmon a bear eats, the larger it becomes. The more salmon a female bear eats, the quicker she reaches sexual maturity, leading to a larger grizzly population. Here’s a major problem with this fact: due to a decreasing salmon population, the competition between bears has become more and more extreme. Salmon used to run twice a year; once in springtime, and once in fall. Now that salmon population is so low, salmon tend to run only once per year in the lower 48. Scientific American reports that because of the very low salmon population in both the US and Canada, there is a below average population of bears. The bears play a huge role in the eco system of the landscapes, and without them, the soil becomes deficient in Phosphorus and Nitrogen. When a bear catches a salmon, it moves from the river, to the shores where it eats, and disposes of the salmon carcass.  The dispersed salmon carcasses are what lead to healthy levels of Phosphorus and Nitrogen. Many scientists have been working extremely hard to study the correlation between salmon and bear populations, and the environmental impacts that take place when one or the other population becomes scarce.  Scientific American has become one of my favorite sources in my exploratory blog process, because unlike other sources, it looks at the big picture of the harm of dams. While other sources focus just on the salmon, SA focuses on WHY dams are harming the entire ecosystem.  

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/salmon-collapse-bad-news-for-bears/

Below is a link from BBC Wild, showing an overcrowded river of bears trying to get their fix of the now elusive salmon.

Blog Post 3

The National Geographic asks the very same question I have: Will dam removal be the silver bullet? As stated earlier, removing dams is just the first step. Rivers are the earth’s circulatory system. Not only do dams inhibit the salmon, but the hinder the spread of silt, and other animals that makes the ecosystem of the Pacific Northwest what it is.  National Geographic states that not only do we face the removal of the dam, and then we face the challenges of actually restoring the ecosystem. Climate change is creasing the temperatures of the rivers, and that can be just as harmful to salmon populations. Our first step is indeed removing obsolete dams, but now as we move on to step two, we need to figure out restoration practices. Mike Belchik states, 'That water’s going to be stable even in the face of climate change. We need to get these dams down and get these fish to these cold water springs,” he says. “That’s their future.”' Last year 28 stakeholders signed an agreement to work towards the ambitious goal of removing all the hazardous damns by 2020. Native tribes, politicians, and landowners signed this agreement, with the hope that we can do a lot of conservation, in a little amount of time. I am very glad to read that things are being put in place in order to reach the goal stated above. Many local tribes, as well as animals, rely on the salmon, and saving them should be a very important issue in all politicians’ minds.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/

The below link is a video on the national Geographic’s YouTube channel. This is a segment of video from the Patagonia film “DamNation” The link provides great information on the last remaining salmon run in the lower 48.

                                                              

Blog Post 2

“Patagonia on Dam Removal”

As far as popular companies go, Patagonia is by far one of the most responsible, and conscious companies out there. In many places all over the world, Patagonia is known for their outdoor gear: it’s loved by many, and their products are impeccable. What many people don’t know about the company is the fact that your purchases help fund projects that are attempting to remove obsolete, harmful dams. This source is a long statement from the company detailing the dangers of harmful dams, as well as what the company does to help the situation. The Us Army Corps of engineers have 80,000 dams to manage! Of the 80,000 dams, 26,000 of them are considered hazardous. Patagonia raised great awareness, and eventually helped to remove the Elwha River Dam. Since the removal of the hazardous dam, the Chinook salmon run was the largest seen in the Elwha River since the dam was built, and we saw a 75% increase to the run. That is incredible news! The more and more I investigate Patagonia, and their river work, I am continue to love them as a company more and more.  Patagonia ends their statement by giving advice on more reliable, and conscious ways to attain renewable power. Only 2,540 of the dams in the US are used for hydroelectric power. By using Solar and Wind to generate power, we can drastically improve the health of our wild American rivers.

http://www.patagonia.com/pdf/en_US/DamNation_Statements_v1.pdf

The Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission takes a little bit of a different approach than their counterparts at Patagonia. Though their conclusion that dams are decimating the salmon population is the same as Patagonia’s, the PSMFC as they are known compromise to say that the dams should be remodeled. By changing the way the dams function, you can engineer them to stay put, AND allow salmon through.  PSMFC recommends that you should contact your local legislators in order to have a conversation about changing the design of dams to become fish friendly.

http://www.psmfc.org

Blog Post 1: Background, and the Problem We Face

Environmentalist David Brower was once asked, “Why are you conservationists always against things?” He replied, “If you are against something, you are always for something. If you are against a dam, you are for a river.” I’m also a lover of wild rivers. That’s why our company has been involved in trying to take out obsolete and damaging dams since 1993. -Yvon Chouinard, Founder/Owner Patagonia

Before the settlement of the Columbia River Basin in the Pacific Northwest portion of the country, the Chinook salmon run was one of the most impressive sights in the world! However, due to the recent addition of many dams to the region, the Chinook salmon has seen a 90% decrease in population.  The crisis is so bad, that 37 distinct species of salmon are incredibly sparse, or completely gone. Those right there are 37 salmon runs that no longer happen!

Lets take a step back, however, and explain what exactly a salmon run is. A salmon run is a migratory swim from the sea, up river, for salmon to spawn. The salmon run is absolutely vital to the entire ecosystem, and by damming rivers, the size of the runs are decreasing more and more.

sliceofmidlife.com

So what exactly happens when the runs get smaller?

The salmon is the most crucial piece to the food chain of the Pacific Northwest. Bears, Eagles and other top predators rely on salmon population to survive. In order for female bears to reach sexual maturity, they must eat salmon. The more salmon a bear eats, the faster she will mature. Bears increase in size when they eat the fish: so as runs become smaller and smaller, so does the bear population.

                                                    www.columbiarivercalling.com

My purpose for writing on this topic is not to “stop ALL dams.”  Not all dams are devastating. As stated in the above quote, “If you are against a dam, you are for a river.” I am FOR Rivers, which means I am against all obsolete dams.

I would ask all my readers to look into what sort of ways you can get involved?

 There are many ways you can get involved physically, whether you volunteer with specific organizations, or donate.

This is a great resource to begin your quest, helping our wild salmon.

http://www.wildsalmon.org/