...This paper was prepared for BIO 330: Principles of Ecology, Module 1 Homework Assignment taught by Shannon Unger. PART 1: ECOLOGICAL CONTROVERSY After reading through the website dedicated to the Three Gorges Dam, reading through a few additional websites and articles, and watching a few videos, I have made a personal determination that I am not on one side of the debate or the other. Unfortunately for me, I can see both sides of the debate and can understand why the dam is good, and why it was thought to be a negative and its current impacts on the nation. So rather than argue one side or the other, I am going to lay out both the positives and the negatives of the dam, and maybe and some point down the road, I will have a better take on the overall positive or negative impact the Three Gorges Dam has really done. So let us start off with the positive aspects of what the dam brought to the Yangtze River Valley. The work on the dam began in 1993 and final construction was completed in 2009. The three main purposes of the dam are hydroelectric power production, flood control, and navigation improvement for the shipping lanes. The power production of the Three Gorges Dam sits as the world largest power station at 22,500 MW (Mega Watts). With 32 water driven turbines inside the dam, the 98.8 TWh (Terawatthours) was enough to provide energy for 10% of Chinas population at a staggering 136 million people. This energy is equivalent to 18 nuclear power plants and at a fraction...
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...The Three Gorges Dam is a hydroelectric dam that spans the Yangtze River by the town of Sandouping, located in Yiling District, Yichang, Hubei province, China. The Three Gorges Dam is the world's largest power station in terms of installed capacity (22,500 MW) but is second to Itaipu Dam with regard to the generation of electricity annually. Except for a ship lift, the dam project was completed and fully functional as of July 4, 2012, when the last of the main turbines in the underground plant began production. Each main turbine has a capacity of 700 MW. The dam body was completed in 2006. Coupling the dam's 32 main turbines with two smaller generators (50 MW each) to power the plant itself, the total electric generating capacity of the dam is 22,500 MW. As well as producing electricity, the dam is intended to increase the Yangtze River's shipping capacity and reduce the potential for floods downstream by providing flood storage space. The Chinese government regards the project as a historic engineering, social and economic success, with the design of state-of-the-art large turbines, and a move toward limiting greenhouse gas emissions. However, the dam flooded archaeological and cultural sites and displaced some 1.3 million people, and is causing significant ecological changes, including an increased risk of landslides. The dam has been a controversial topic both domestically and abroad. A large dam across the Yangtze River was originally envisioned by Sun Yat-sen in The International...
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...The Three Gorges Dam This Case-in-Point focuses on Hydropower energy produced by daming the Yangze River.The author talks about how it would benefit the people who live in the river basin because in they have faced droughts and floods so the reservior will help the agriculture productivity without having to worry about flooding issues that have happened in the past. The author states that the dam's can produce over 18 GW of electrical power which is equivalent to 18 nuclear power plants or large coal power plants which can help improve the problems that china has been facing with air pollution and its reliance on imported energy.The reservior according to the author can open another option for transporation as well. Although this seems like an amazing idea and has a lot of positive attributs. There are a significant amount of negative effects that can result from the reservoir. The author explains the different negative effects that it can have such as danger to some of the wildlife and the increased risk of waterborne diseases spreading throughout the community. This author does a great job at explaining the different aspects including positive and negative effects that can come from the resevior. I believe that the reservior could be a very good thing for this area. Although it may seem as if the negative effects outway the positive effects, If the community makes sure that they put a HIGH emphasis on making sure that the reservior is maintained well and that the communitys...
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...September 13, 2012 The construction of the Three Gorges Dam is a phenomenal construction masterpiece all in its own. Building the dam took years of preparation and was a construction feat to put even the best physicists and architects to the test. Even though the construction would put many natives out of homes, the end results would provide power to the city and boost the success level of the economy. The Three Gorges Dam was built on the Yangtze River, which was nicknamed the “Dragon” because of its sheer power and strength. The construction of this dam employed more than 40,000 people and was said to be the largest construction feat since the Great Wall of China. The construction started back in 1994 near the town of Sandouping and would cost 28 billion dollars. Four years after the beginning of the construction, China experienced their worst flood in history. The flood of 1998 affected nearly 300 million people and covered an area almost the size of New Zealand. There was an estimated loss of nearly 4000 lives after the flood. This flood temporarily threatened China’s economy and had the potential to affect everyone in the industrial world. The total economic loss for China reached 24 billion dollars. It’s because China is the center of industry that everyone in the world could’ve potentially been affected. The Three Gorges Dam sat with a staggering 610 ft. high wall and ran 1.3 miles from bank to bank. When the dam was completed in 2012, 13 cities, 140 towns...
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...Taming the Dragon The Paradox of The Three Gorges Dam CHE 546 Economics, Environment and Ecology Stuart School of Business, IIT Executive Summary The title of this paper is Taming the Dragon – The Paradox of the Three Gorges Dam. I chose this title because as I researched this topic, I realized that almost everything about the Three Gorges Dam is a paradox, beginning with the reason it was planned, designed and constructed in the first place. The primary paradox of the Three Gorges Dam is that in its quest to make life better for the country and people of China, the dam also made things unbelievably and irrevocably worse on a number of levels. For centuries, China has depended on the Yangtze River. The river travels south from high in the Himalayas and then east toward the Pacific Ocean. The beauty of the pure water from the melting glacier at its source will turn into a ravaging, murderous river that robs people of their homes, food, livelihoods and even their loved ones and their own lives. Another paradox of the Three Gorges Dam is that it is an enormous monument of industrialization. It is more than a way to control water levels, protecting people from uncontrollable storm water. It is a symbol of China’s commitment to its future. Abundant, clean energy. There are those who argue that the resulting damage of the dam project is worse than the damage the river produces when it’s out of control – essentially the cure is worse than the...
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...Case No. 1 - The U.S. Export – Import Bank and the Three Gorges Dam (A) Case – HBS No. 900017 – 10 pages. Covers Introductory Public-Private Finance Issues, Expropriation, Property Rights and Environmental Concerns – Executive Summary Required Study Questions: 1. What is the role of Export Credit Agencies (“ECA’s”) in international Project Finance and how are they competing actors on the world finance stage? Should EXIM continue – going forward from May 2015 – see hand-out article. What is the role of the U.S. Export-Import Bank (“EXIM”) with respect to the Three Gorges Dam Project? 2. What are the motivations of Congressmen Hastert and Manzullo – do your agree that their priorities are in the right place? 3. What are the motives of Caterpillar, Voith Hydro and Rotec and why do they need to have the U.S. Export – Import Bank participate with them in this transaction? Should EXIM favor one firm over another – explain your thinking. How big is Caterpillar’s international business today (2011) – you may wish to look at Caterpillar’s 10K and the detail on international business. 4. What are the environmental concerns with the Three Gorges Dam and who has the right to say what the environmental standards should be – China or the United States? 5. Consider the difference in roles between Export Credit Agency support and the International Finance Corporation (“IFC”). Also consider how these roles can be complementary. See www.exim.gov and www.ifc.org 6. Put yourself...
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...The human activities of drainage basins and water resources can often lead to conflicts; the types of activities can vary from transport and industry to agriculture and recreation. Because of these conflicts government initiates and planning controls have been emplaced to try and reduce them. The conflicts can occur between different activities or sometimes within the same activity for example a river may be wildlife conservation but a water sport company may want to use it for re-creational use such as water skiing. However human activities can also lead to development on floodplains which increasing the risk of flooding. The Colorado River has many different stakeholders including: farmers, environmentalists and government agencies therefore this creates many conflicts over land use. Because of these conflicts measures have been taken to prevent floods, generate electricity and provide water for homes and agriculture; however evidence shows that these measures have been inefficient, costly and environmentally damaging and has created more problems. Many environmentalists are arguing that people are using the lakes for recreational purposes, which is threatening lakeshore areas whereas the government agencies are under pressure about changing the water allocations, as groundwater wouldn’t be able to get through limiting supplies to Mexico. However Mexico are using more than their allocation of water, this can cause conflict between US and Mexico and can possibly lead to making...
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...Energy Summary Sarah Guillen SCI/362 Dr. May 6, 2013 Abstract This energy summary will review three cases, The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, The Yucca Mountain, and The Three Gorges Dam. The summary will recognize each kind of energy source, its comparative abundance, environmental impact, and the ethical and economic concerns of each of these cases selected. This summary will pinpoint prominent stakeholder’s, value the disadvantages and advantages of each of these energy sources according to the stakeholder’s vision, and possible tactics for resolving limited-resource issues raised in these selected cases while adding the role of conservation into these tactics. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge The debate about opening the refuge for oil drilling has been going on since 1980. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is closer one of the world’s largest pipeline systems, which is the Trans-Alaska Pipeline that starts in Prudhoe Bay and goes to the south of Valdez. Fourteen barrels of crude oil have been produced by Prudhoe Bay, making it the first time in the United States history to import more than half the oil it uses since the early 1900s. Such interest to open the oil drilling began after it decreased for five years after the Alaskan oil spill. The Department of the Interior admitted the opening the oil drilling will damage the area’s ecology and consequently the House of Representatives and the House settled to allow it. The ethical and economic problems...
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...Aswan High Dam This dam was built to supply irrigation water, although only half of the water expected is there now. This is mainly because evaporation and seepage. 2 This dam was built to supply irrigation water, although only half of the water expected is there now. This is mainly because evaporation and seepage. 2 Index Index…...........................................................1 Aswan High Dam…………………………………………..2 Bangladesh…………………………………………………..3 Colorado River Basin…………………………………….4 James Bay, Canada….......................................5 Ogallala Aquifer……………………………………………6 Three Gorges Dam………………………………………..7 Florida Everglades…………………………………………8 Florida Everglades The Florida Everglades is one of the three largest national parks in the US. It also contains an ecosystem not found anywhere else in the world. A huge reservoir called the Floridan Aquifer lies around 1000 ft. below. 8 The Florida Everglades is one of the three largest national parks in the US. It also contains an ecosystem not found anywhere else in the world. A huge reservoir called the Floridan Aquifer lies around 1000 ft. below. 8 Three Gorges Dam The Three Gorges Dam increased the quantity reservoirs hydroelectric stations, abundantly. It also cause 1.2 million people to relocate. 7 The Three Gorges Dam increased the quantity reservoirs hydroelectric stations, abundantly. It also cause 1.2 million people...
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...Energy Summary SCI/362 April 25, 2011 Energy Summary This summary of Energy will review three cases, The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Yucca Mountain, and The Three Gorges Dam. It will identify each type of energy source, its relative abundance and environmental impact along with evaluating the economic and ethical issues of each energy source highlighted by these three cases. The summary will identify the interests of prominent stakeholders, and evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of each energy source according to each stakeholder’s point of view and present possible strategies for solving the limited-resource issues raised in these case studies with explaining the role of conservation in these strategies. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Since 1980 there has been an on and off debate regarding opening the refuge to oil drilling. The refuge is close to the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, one of the world’s largest pipeline systems that begins at Prudhoe Bay and continues south to Valdez. Prudhoe Bay has produced 14 billion barrels of crude oil. In the early 1990’s, it was the first time in history that the United States would import more than half the oil it used. The interest of opening the refuge to oil drilling started again after it subsided for five years following the Alaskan oil spill. The Department of the Interior admitted that the oil drilling will harm the area’s ecosystem and therefore both the Senate and House of Representatives agreed to allow...
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...Summary SCI/362 January 18, 2012 The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge source of energy is oil. The oil drilling is harming or kills so many animal species. It is taking up the land they are living on and the ground they find food on. They closed the oil drilling in 1989 due to the oil spill in the Prudhoe Bay. A lot of animals were killing with the oil spilled. They are to help the animals in the Prudhoe Bay area. The Yucca Mountain was the first commercial power plant it gives off nuclear waste. They have done many of studies on Yucca Mountain to make sure the site is safe. With the earthquakes and volcanic it can make the nuclear waste come out. The Three Gorges Dam was needed to be done to save people’s lives. People have drought and floods from the waters. The toxic in the water is what will make it hard to make the Dam. The waterborne diseases and human and animals wastes in the water. They will have to move from the area the build it. The one thing is we could save money by doing our own oil. The thing is when we have oil spill it hurts the animal and gets in our water. We would have to find away the make it work to not do that. We make more jobs too. We would not have to spend so much on gas and oil if you would drill the oil in the US. We have enough in the US to have. The Yucca Mountain with the nuclear waste in it will cause people to die from cancer and other illnesses. If they take the nuclear waste out of the mountain it can cause earthquakes in the fault lines...
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...a) Describe the main feauture of flow on the Trinity River before and after the construction of the dam. (4) Before the construction of the dam discharge reaches over 500 cumecs at peak times which occur early on in the calender year . However this value decreases to almost 0 for the rest of the year until the late December, early january period. After construction of the dam this value, as we would assume, has plummeted to roughly 0-5 all year around which peak in October b) Explain how damn construction may alter fluvial processes operating in a river system (4) Dams may affect the process of deposition of alluvium, for example in the case of the three gorges dam, alluvium that should have been deposited further downstream is now being deposited in a 600km long artficial reservoir that was built behind the dam, this alluvium is trapped behind the dam and then interferes with the natural process of transportation. Transportation is also affected due to there being limited amounts of water able to flow and hence leading to perhaps smaller materials being transported. c) In what ways can rivers provide opportunities for a number of human activities. Rivers provide a number of opportunities for humans such as transport, recreation, disposal of waste (industry), agriculture and tourism. (6) Rivers provide a suitable setting for agricultural industry as the land are the river is not only easy to farm due to the shallow and flat gradient allowing mechanical mobility but also...
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...Case-In-Point In this global economy, energy is an important factor to stay competitive in the world. Solar energy, wind power, water sources, and fossil fuels are available these days. Human beings need to subdue the universe and transform these sources for a better life. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is a sleeping reserve of fossil fuels. The Yucca Mountain is storage for nuclear waste. The Three Gorges Dam in China is the biggest sources of hydroelectricity in the world. How viable is each of sources of energy? Is the exploitation indefinite? What is the environmental impact in the ecosystem? Which one of the sources is the best based on ethical and economical issues? The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) is a fossil fuel and natural gas energy source located in Alaska, USA. The fossil fuels reserve is very abundant. According to the US geological survey, on a 1980 research, ANWR has 17 billions of barrels of oils and 34 trillions of Natural Gas. The environmental impact, if it exists, is minimum; only 8% of the refuge will be used, and the maximum footprint development allowed by Congress is about 2000 acres. The new technology implemented at Prudhoe Bay has made the area more environmental friendly for wildlife. In order to protect the tundra, drill sites are constructed on 4' thick gravel pads. Even if a 1" drop of crude oil drips onto the pad, workers are required to shovel it up for proper disposal. (Prudhoe Bay, 2001). Drilling...
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...insignificant on their own, but impactful when together. The photographs of the e-waste is an example of this. These images really surprised me. I didn't know that entire villages were dedicated to harvesting this type of waste that is shipped to China at the end of its life. When you see just the one silicone chip you see it as just that, a chip, but when it is among millions of other components it strikes you as ugly or dirty. You see the huge amounts of the computer components and associate it with the dirty process of harvesting precious metals. The part on the construction of the Three Gorges Dam is especially disheartening. The movement of major cities in the pursuit of progress is such a huge endeavor that severely impacts these Chinese citizens lives. I can't imagine the feeling that your government tells you that they need to destroy your city, perhaps the city you grew up in, to build a dam. I believe Burtynsky uses these photos to reveal the ugly side of our consumerist nature and the cost of economic progress. Without the use of words, he is trying to blend art with the awareness of what is happening on the other side of the world. He wants you to see what is involved when you throw out 'things' or purchase new 'things' and the damage to nature that is a by-product of our throw away, consumerist...
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...Brazil – The Belo Monte Dam In 2013, approximately 201 Million people were living in Brazil, making it the biggest country in South America and the fifth biggest country in the world. Of course this population needs a vast amount of energy to handle daily life issues. This demand of energy makes Brazil the 8th largest energy user and the 10th largest energy producer in the world. Oil and other liquid fuels with 47%, followed by hydroelectricity with 35% and natural gas with 8% form the largest shares of Brazil's total energy consumption. Additionally, Brazil is consuming increasing amounts of biomass in both the residential and industrial sectors.[1] Geographically, the Brazilian landscape consists of about 50% rainforest, including a complex system of rivers like the Amazon and the Paraná. The Amazon rainforest is one of the most biodiversed tropical forests in the Americas with the highest biodiversity of plants species on earth. The other part of the countryside is diverse and is characterized by hills, mountains, plains, highlands and scrublands.[2] Due to the country’s large river system and its eight major drainage basins, Brazil wants to expand its hydroelectricity sector. The country already holds the second largest dam, after the Chinese Three Gorges Dam, the Itaipu Binacional dam. Currently the government is building the world’s third largest dam in the Amazon rainforest, the Belo Monte Dam, which is located on the Xingu River in the state of Pará. The...
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