Hoover_Dam_Environmental_Impact

While the Hoover Dam impacts us positively to this day, the devastating environmental impact left in the wake of construction of the dam lingers painfully. The dam did create many jobs for the local economy, giving an economical boost during its construction tenure to thousands. Many other countries copied the design layout for the dams structure and can be found is some places around the globe as far away as Egypt. The Colorado River is a strong river that’s around 1500 miles of flowing water, at times; it would overflow causing some issues on land. The dam not only worked as a blockade for the often-overflowing Colorado River but also provided hydroelectricity. Hydroelectricity is the use of gravitational force acting upon flowing or falling water. After production most hydro powered structures have a low output of hazardous greenhouse gases. Despite all the positivity from the completed dam, the process and construction took a large toll on the environment in the areas surrounding the gargantuan Hoover Dam. The river delta, a ecosystem full of life, for six years was deprived of water. The mouth of the river had a mixing zone of fresh-salt water, which can be a rare spawn location for many diverse, and often unseen species of sea life live in these areas. The salinity of the water rose so much the entire ecosystem reversed. The construction of the dam destroyed many species of fish and put many on the endangered list. Other than impacts strictly on Mother-Earth; the construction workers themselves were running into many issues with working on the dam. Many workers died because of heat exhaustion, the temperatures during summer months would get to be at an unbearable high. Hoover Dams construction crew also had to face the current and strength of the Colorado River, drowning and crew members being smothered against rocks occurred from time to time. Worst of all, a heavenly working camp was to be setup for the contracted employees however President Hoover ordered the dam be started in March instead of October. The camp took a long time to setup and the first people to work on the dam were not given the housing they expected. They were put in camps, which were cramped and small, which provided little leisure time and almost no entertainment. The Hoover Dam does supply much power to many places, which is an everlasting positive effect and the intended idea behind the dam to begin with. Inversely however, 112 men died working on the dam, many fish species were wiped off the face of the planet and a lot of potential breeding grounds for rare sea life to flourish were simply dried up in the sun from lack of nutrients. While citizens of the cities the dam powers are grateful, we must ask ourselves, at what point is the loss of life and deprivation of life to grow in certain areas, too much for the greater good of mankind'