Final Thoughts

Understanding the impacts of dams and how they individually relate to the world environment, locally and globally, is only a fraction of the reality of relationships of dams and the environment.  All over the world, dams are built, harnessing the power of our rivers and streams, while leaving a lasting footprint on our planet and its many interconnected ecosystems.  Realizing the impact that one dam can have on the systems of a region and the drainage of water into an ocean like the Yangtze and the Yellow Sea, or the Glen Canyon Dam on the Colorado that no longer reaches the ocean, illuminates the global impact these local decisions that are made around the world with all kinds of motives.  Through carefully examining very controversial dams in very different parts of the world, the similarities begin to accumulate.  The planning of these monstrous structures is surrounded by controversy and disagreement.  In both examples, many aspects in the planning and construction are overlooked, and more problems arise following their completion.  People are displaced and the ecology of the area altered so far from their original state that the land surrounding is nearly unrecognizable. History and culture, as well as spiritual retreats are lost, and our connection to the global environment and stewardship of our earth and its special places us trumped by economic gain.  Over time, these severe alterations to our landscape leads to the loss of more than just species and vegetation, but to the loss of cultural heritage, historical sites and threatens our shaky relationship with the natural world.  On the other hand, the creation of dams like the Three Gorges in China or the Glen Canyon in Colorado builds a platform for a whole new type of environmental history.  This study is an area growing in recent years, examining peoples relationships with the surrounding natural world and it's impacts on humans conversely.  Locally and globally, the human race is constructing the framework of environmental history with each passing day, dam creation just being one small piece of the project effecting the state of our entire planet.