Habitat and Hydropower
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Without modifications, hydropower dams block salmon from accessing vital habitats.
The health of salmon populations depends a lot on the health of their living environment. The fact that salmon live in a variety of habitats throughout their lives makes them especially vulnerable to the next H -- habitat degradation. Even small disturbances can make a big difference, since spawning is highly sensitive to things like increased sedimentation. Logging, agricultural practices, trash dumping and oil spills all contribute to poor water quality.
Another factor that can disrupt habitat is the final H, hydropower dams. The Clearwater coho salmon, once abundant in the Snake River Basin of Oregon, Washington and Idaho, became extinct in the early 1960s largely due to the construction of a dam that blocked the fish's passage to and from its birthing grounds [source: Northwest Power & Conservation Council]. Besides potentially blocking access to salmons' habitats, dams may cause changes to water flows and temperatures that can devastate local populations.
Global Warming Strikes Again Increasing evidence shows that climate change may affect salmon
migration patterns. Warmer ocean temperatures cause the fish to migrate
further north, creating a longer distance for them to travel than in
cooler years. In addition to a delayed return to their spawning
grounds, many of the fish experience reduced body size since more
energy is required to cover the longer distance. Higher water
temperatures may also cause increased stress and pre-spawning mortality
for some species like sockeye salmon [source: Levy]. |
Dams aren't necessarily a death knell for salmon, however. Researchers tracking salmon on the dam-laden Columbia River concluded it wasn't the dams impeding their survival but challenges they face at sea including predation, ocean warming and alterations to their prey distribution [source: Owen]. The study showed that with proper modifications to assist the salmon in their migration, dams and salmon can coexist.
The four Hs -- harvests, hatcheries, habitat and hydropower -- aren't problematic in and of themselves. It's only when they're mismanaged that things start to go downhill. While some populations have dropped so low they will take years to restore, if at all, others can be saved from following the path of the Clearwater coho.
