Damned, They Are

Dams have come under ever increasing scrutiny; critics routinely weigh in with arguments about the negative environmental impacts of such endeavours. These include premature silting, altered erosion patterns up and downstream, and the interruption of animal migration with its subsequent damage to ecosystems.

Closer to home, the debate over one of San Francisco’s major sources of water supply, the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, continues. Dams have moved away from being perceived as forces of good for man to a more ambivalent role in the public’s eye. In a time where California is still under the throes of a severe drought (despite recent heavy rain and snowfall) the discussion is sure to remain heated.

Hoover Dam, located outside of Las Vegas, is part of that larger debate. Forged in the early 30′s in the context of the Great Depression, Hoover Dam was a powerful symbol for a country needing large scale infrastructure projects to lift public morale. Even now, the dam is an impressive sight, and a visit to the location leaves one in awe at the scope of the construction. Whatever the point of view, few can dispute that the dam was a historic feat of engineering.