Bosman Business World

WORLD WATER AND ITS IMPORTANCE

Water is the very substance of life comprising more than 60 percent of human body. Every part of our lives rely on water, water thus equals survival. Water covers about 70 percent of the earth surface, but only one percent of that is fresh water which is used for domestic, industrial and recreational purposes (WWI, 2005). The importance of water to living organisms rests on its unique physical and chemical properties. These properties have enabled large diverse species of organisms to inhabit the water body. Man has also exploited these properties and the biotic components it supports to its utmost advantages for economic and social benefits. At the same time, he has misused and abused the water to the detriment of himself and the biotic communities it contains (WWI, 2005).2.1.1 THE USES OF WATERDiverse use and increased demand for water and its resources owing to expanding population have put enormous stress on supply, quality, quantity, and aquatic life it sustains. Freshwater is becoming the world's most precious resource (WWI, 2005); thus, the necessity to control, conserve, and manage it well along with its resources, because very soon, water will become a scarce resource. The need for water for living, growing food, and providing cheap protein through fish production is of paramount importance to the society.Water is mostly conserved in reservoirs, lakes, ponds, dams, paddocks pools, inundations and other impoundments. Reservoirs are usually the best method of impounding water; because it ensures that water is available all the year round and helps in minimizing abstraction from rivers. A reservoir is defined as an artificial basin with a riverine source capable of storing more than 1 x 106 m3 of water (Straskraba et al. 1993). Man-made lake is the alternative name coined by LoweMcConnel (1966) for reservoirs. Thus, man-made lakes and reservoirs are terms used interchangeably to describe the building of dams across a river.to impound water. Reservoirs are constructed either by damming a river or stream or by building up an impermeable site with a channelled riverine water supply. The former are called dam reservoirs and the latter impoundments. Impoundments were invented first in the 6th century B.C. or earlier (Fernando, 1994), whereas dam reservoirs appeared about 50 years ago (Straskraba et al., 1993).
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RESERVOIRS AND DAMS
Canada indeed has a substantial number of dams and reservoirs that are integral to its energy infrastructure and water management. These structures are primarily located along the country's extensive river networks and serve various purposes, such as hydroelectric power generation, flood control, water storage, irrigation, and recreation.

The Kenney Dam and Nechako Reservoir in British Columbia are part of the Nechako River hydroelectric project, which is one of the largest in the province. The dam was constructed in the 1950s and has a significant impact on the region's ecology and the local First Nations communities. The Nechako Reservoir provides a water supply for the city of Vancouver and supports a major salmon spawning area.

The Glenmore Dam and Reservoir, situated near Calgary, Alberta, are part of the Bow River water supply system. The dam, completed in 1933, serves multiple purposes, including water supply for Calgary, flood control, and recreational activities. It is an essential component of the city's water infrastructure, ensuring a reliable water supply for its growing population and supporting various recreational facilities like the nearby Weaselhead Flats and the Elbow River pathways system.
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Other notable dams and reservoirs in Canada include:

1. The James Bay Project in Quebec, which consists of multiple dams and reservoirs and is one of the world's largest hydroelectric power generating complexes.
2. The Bennett Dam and Williston Lake in British Columbia, part of the W.A.C. Bennett Dam and the Peace River Project.
3. The Niagara Falls' hydroelectric power plants, which harness the water from Lake Erie and Lake Ontario to produce electricity.
4. The Churchill Falls Generating Station in Labrador, which utilizes the Churchill River.
5. The Mica Dam and Reservoir in British Columbia, part of the Columbia River Treaty's power and flood control initiatives.
6. The Gardiner Dam and Lake Diefenbaker in Saskatchewan, which are significant for agriculture, recreation, and hydroelectric power generation.
7. The Hoover Dam (originally named Boulder Dam) on the border between the United States and Canada (specifically between Arizona and Nevada), which created Lake Mead and provides power and water management for the Southwest United States and parts of Mexico.
8. The Syncrude Tailings Dam in Alberta, which is one of the world's largest earthen structures and is used for the storage of oil sands tailings.
9. The Grand Coulee Dam in British Columbia, which is part of a larger international power and irrigation project shared with the United States.

These dams and reservoirs contribute to Canada's status as a major producer of hydroelectric power, with hydroelectricity accounting for approximately 60% of the country's electricity generation. However, they also come with environmental and social impacts that are continually being assessed and managed by the government and other stakeholders.

Lists of dams and reservoirs in Canada provide valuable information on the country's water infrastructure, which plays a crucial role in hydroelectric power generation, flood control, irrigation, and water supply. Here is a comprehensive list of dams and reservoirs in Canada, organized by province and territory:

British Columbia

 Mica Dam: Located on the Columbia River, this dam is one of the largest in Canada, with a capacity of 1,850 MW.
 Revelstoke Dam: A run-of-river dam on the Columbia River, generating 2,480 MW of power.
 Duncan Dam: A hydroelectric dam on the Duncan River, producing 660 MW of power.
 Williston Lake: A large reservoir created by the W.A.C. Bennett Dam, with a storage capacity of 1,760,000 acre-feet.

Alberta

 Lake Minnewanka Dam: A hydroelectric dam on the Minnewanka River, generating 28 MW of power.
 Lake Louise Dam: A run-of-river dam on the Bow River, producing 12 MW of power.
 Oldman River Dam: A hydroelectric dam on the Oldman River, generating 80 MW of power.
 Waterton Reservoir: A reservoir created by the Waterton Dam, with a storage capacity of 120,000 acre-feet.

Saskatchewan

 Gardiner Dam: A hydroelectric dam on the South Saskatchewan River, generating 230 MW of power.
 Lake Diefenbaker: A large reservoir created by the Gardiner Dam and the Qu'Appelle River Dam, with a storage capacity of 9,400,000 acre-feet.
 E.B. Campbell Hydroelectric Station: A run-of-river dam on the Saskatchewan River, producing 288 MW of power.
 Tazin Lake Reservoir: A reservoir created by the Tazin Lake Dam, with a storage capacity of 140,000 acre-feet.

Manitoba

 Grand Rapids Dam: A hydroelectric dam on the Saskatchewan River, generating 472 MW of power.
 Lake Winnipegosis: A large reservoir created by the Grand Rapids Dam, with a storage capacity of 5,500,000 acre-feet.
 Kelsey Generating Station: A run-of-river dam on the Nelson River, producing 287 MW of power.
 Lake Manitoba Reservoir: A reservoir created by the Fairford Dam, with a storage capacity of 1,300,000 acre-feet.

Ontario

 Niagara Dam: A hydroelectric dam on the Niagara River, generating 1,800 MW of power.
 Sir Adam Beck Hydroelectric Generating Station: A run-of-river dam on the Niagara River, producing 1,700 MW of power.
 DeCew Falls Generating Station: A hydroelectric dam on the Welland River, generating 138 MW of power.
 Lake Ontario Reservoir: A reservoir created by the Moses-Saunders Power Dam, with a storage capacity of 1,400,000 acre-feet.

Quebec

 Daniel-Johnson Dam: A hydroelectric dam on the Manicouagan River, generating 1,596 MW of power.
 Robert-Bourassa Dam: A hydroelectric dam on the La Grande River, producing 5,616 MW of power.
 Beauharnois Dam: A run-of-river dam on the St. Lawrence River, generating 1,900 MW of power.
 Lake Memphrémagog Reservoir: A reservoir created by the Memphrémagog Dam, with a storage capacity of 220,000 acre-feet.

New Brunswick

 Mactaquac Dam: A hydroelectric dam on the Saint John River, generating 670 MW of power.
 Beechwood Dam: A run-of-river dam on the Miramichi River, producing 120 MW of power.
 Grand Lake Reservoir: A reservoir created by the Grand Lake Dam, with a storage capacity of 1,000,000 acre-feet.

Nova Scotia

 Wreck Cove Dam: A hydroelectric dam on the Wreck Cove Brook, generating 100 MW of power.
 Annapolis Royal Generating Station: A run-of-river dam on the Annapolis River, producing 20 MW of power.
 Lake Ainslie Reservoir: A reservoir created by the Lake Ainslie Dam, with a storage capacity of 150,000 acre-feet.

Newfoundland and Labrador

 Bay d'Espoir Dam: A hydroelectric dam on the Bay d'Espoir River, generating 613 MW of power.
 Upper Salmon Dam: A run-of-river dam on the Salmon River, producing 84 MW of power.
 Red Indian Lake Reservoir: A reservoir created by the Red Indian Lake Dam, with a storage capacity of 1,200,000 acre-feet.

Prince Edward Island

 Souris Dam: A hydroelectric dam on the Souris River, generating 10 MW of power.
 Oyster Bed Bridge Reservoir: A reservoir created by the Oyster Bed Bridge Dam, with a storage capacity of 20,000 acre-feet.

Yukon

 Whitehorse Dam: A hydroelectric dam on the Yukon River, generating 40 MW of power.
 Schwatka Lake Reservoir: A reservoir created by the Whitehorse Dam, with a storage capacity of 150,000 acre-feet.

Northwest Territories

 Snare Falls Dam: A hydroelectric dam on the Snare River, generating 5 MW of power.
 Great Slave Lake Reservoir: A reservoir created by the Snare Falls Dam, with a storage capacity of 1,000,000 acre-feet.

Nunavut

 Qullissat Dam: A hydroelectric dam on the Qullissat River, generating 10 MW of power.
* Nettilling Lake Reservoir: A reservoir created by the Qullissat Dam, with a storage capacity of 200,000 acre-feet.

This comprehensive list highlights the significant number of dams and reservoirs in Canada, which play a crucial role in the country's energy generation, flood control, and water management.
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Limnology
Limnology is the study of inland waters such as lakes, ponds, and reservoirs, including their physical, chemical, and biological properties as well as their interactions with the surrounding environment. Dams and reservoirs, as significant anthropogenic alterations to natural water bodies, present unique limnological characteristics that differ from those of natural lakes. The construction of dams leads to the impoundment of water, which creates a new ecosystem with distinct physical, chemical, and biological conditions compared to the original riverine or lacustrine system.


The limnology of dams and reservoirs involves various processes that shape these ecosystems, including stratification, nutrient cycling, productivity, and community dynamics. Here are some key aspects of the limnology of dams and reservoirs:

1. **Physical Stratification**: Reservoirs often exhibit thermal stratification, with distinct layers of water separated by thermal gradients. The upper layer, called the epilimnion, is warmer and less dense, while the lower layer, the hypolimnion, is colder and denser. This stratification can lead to differences in dissolved oxygen and nutrient availability between layers, affecting the types of organisms that can inhabit each zone.

2. **Chemical Processes**: The impoundment of water leads to changes in chemical conditions due to the alteration of water flow, sediment deposition, and interactions with the newly inundated land. Dams can cause a reduction in nutrient and sediment transport, which can lead to a decrease in productivity downstream and changes in water quality within the reservoir itself.

3. **Nutrient Cycling**: The nutrient dynamics in reservoirs are influenced by the input of nutrients from the watershed, sedimentation rates, and the decomposition of organic matter. Eutrophication, or excessive nutrient enrichment, is a common issue in reservoirs due to the accumulation of nutrients from agricultural runoff, sewage, and other anthropogenic sources. This can result in algal blooms and hypoxic conditions in the hypolimnion during stratification.

4. **Primary Production**: Phytoplankton are the primary producers in reservoir ecosystems. Their growth is influenced by light availability, water temperature, and nutrient levels, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus. The productivity of these systems can be highly variable due to fluctuations in these factors.

5. **Food Web Dynamics**: Reservoirs support diverse aquatic food webs, with zooplankton, fish, and other aquatic organisms consuming phytoplankton. The structure and function of these food webs can be affected by the reservoir's trophic state, which is influenced by the balance of nutrients and the presence of top predators.

6. **Biological Community Structure**: The species composition of reservoir ecosystems can differ significantly from natural lakes due to habitat alteration and the introduction of non-native species. Reservoirs often support a mix of riverine and lacustrine species, with some species adapted to the new conditions and others struggling to persist.

7. **Water Quality**: The quality of water in reservoirs is influenced by a range of factors, including nutrient loading, sedimentation, water temperature, and the presence of pollutants. The stratification of reservoirs can lead to anoxic conditions in the hypolimnion, which can release nutrients and pollutants into the water column during mixing events, impacting water quality.

8. **Ecological Succession**: After the initial impoundment, reservoirs undergo ecological succession. Early successional stages are characterized by rapid colonization by pioneer species, followed by changes in the aquatic community as the ecosystem matures and stabilizes.

9. **Hydrology**: The operation of dams can significantly alter the hydrology of a river system. This includes changes in the timing and magnitude of water releases, which can affect downstream habitats and aquatic biota, such as fish migrations and spawning.

10. **Climate Change**: Reservoirs can act as both a source and sink of greenhouse gases, depending on their age and trophic status. They can also be affected by climate change through altered precipitation patterns and temperature regimes, which in turn affect the reservoir's stratification and ecological processes.

Understanding the limnology of dams and reservoirs is essential for managing these systems effectively. It allows for informed decision-making regarding water use, pollution control, fisheries management, and the maintenance of biodiversity and ecosystem services. Researchers and water managers must consider these factors to ensure the sustainable management of these vital water resources.
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