Page History

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For developed countries with large budgets and effective environmental legislation (such as France and the United States) decommissioning dams is a solution for aiding fish in special habitats (especially salmon) (WCD). While short-term effects of dam removal include large-scale sediment flushing, over relatively short time scales fish will return and spawn in those areas. However, dam removal is costly and must be studied beforehand; in many cases, toxins and chemicals can build up behind dams and the effects of these toxins washing downstream can be severe (Francisco).
Works Cited
Francisco, Edna. "Tales of the Undammed." Science News 10 Apr. 2004. 28 Oct. 2007 <http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20040410/bob9.asp^{Image Removed}>.
Human Appropriation of the World's Fresh Water. University of Michigan. 2000. 28 Oct. 2007 <http://www.globalchange.umich.edu/globalchange2/current/lectures/freshwater_supply/freshwater.html^{Image Removed}>.
Richardson, Carl. "Migratory Fish Restoration." PA Fish and Boat Commission. 2000. PA Fish and Boat Commission. 28 Oct. 2007 <http://www.fish.state.pa.us/anglerboater/2000/maju00/migrestr.pdf^{Image Removed}>.
World Commission On Dams. Dams and Development: a New Framework for Decision Making. World Commission on Dams. London: Earthscan Publications Ltd., 2000. 28 Oct. 2007 <http://www.dams.org^{Image Removed}>.
Wuest, Alfred, Lorenz Moosmann, and Gabriela Friedl. "Alpine Hydroelectric Power Plants and the "Long-Range Effects" on Downstream Waters." EAWAG 55. 17 Oct. 2007 <http://www.eawag.ch/publications/eawagnews/www_en55/en55e_screen/en55e_wuest_s.pdf^{Image Removed}>.

Young, Leroy M. Fish Habitat and Flow: What's the Connection. PA Fish and Boat Commission. PA Fish and Boat Commission, 1997. 28 Oct. 2007 http://www.fish.state.pa.us/anglerboater/2001/ma2001/habtflow.htm^{Image Removed}.

Riparian Buffers
Importance:

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A Conservation Catalog. Pennsylvania Conservation Partnership. Pennsylvania Conservation Partnership. 29 Oct. 2007 <http://www.envirothonpa.org/documents/conscatalog.pdf^{Image Removed}>.

Great Fishing Needs Great Habitat. PA Fish and Boat Commission. 1997. 29 Oct. 2007 <http://www.fish.state.pa.us/anglerboater/2001/jf2001/greathab.htm^{Image Removed}>.

Haberstock, Alan E., et al. "METHOD TO IDENTIFY EFFECTWE RIPARIAN BUFFER WIDTHS FOR ATLANTIC SALMON HABITAT PROTECTION1." Journal of the American Water Resources Association 36.6 (2000): 1271-86.

Lutz, Karl J. A Fish and Livestock Tale. PA Fish and Boat Commission. PA Fish and Boat Commission. 8 Nov. 2007 <http://www.fish.state.pa.us/anglerboater/2001/01_nov-dec/AFishandLivestockTale.pdf^{Image Removed}>.

The Basics of Water Pollution. PA Fish and Boat Commission. PA Fish and Boat Commission. 29 Oct. 2007 <http://www.fish.state.pa.us/anglerboater/2001/jf2001/waterpoll.pdf^{Image Removed}>.

Wetlands Importance
Wetlands protect against flooding, they trap sediment, clean water and provide food however they are constantly being encroached on and disregarded as hindrances to real estate development. They are important for fish health because they reduce the presence of nitrates and increase oxygen levels. Wetlands reduce silt which when it covers fish eggs hinders them from successfully hatching. Wetlands provide a habitat for reproduction, feeding and resting. Perch, pickerel, bass, sunfish, muskellunge, catfish and walleyes breed in wetlands and many are moving towards distinction because of the loss of wetlands.
The main goal in fixing the current state of minimized wetlands (the original 221 million acres have been reduces to less than half of that) is to reintroduce wetlands to counter the current trend, where every year 290,000 acres are lost. When a wetland contains animals that are on the endangered species, the wetlands that contain them are afforded more protection. Thus getting more fish and wetland dwelling animals on he endangered species list would slow down their decline. Wetlands in the US are minimally protected under the Dam safety and Encroachments Act and the Federal Clean Waters Act under a clause to "Avoid, minimize and compensate". If they are really truly going to be protected there needs to be a greater penalty for encroachment, because the current system which requires payment into a wetlands reestablishment fund does not provide enough because new wetlands are always worse than prexisting wetlands which have masterfully balanced ecosystems (as seen by their survival). There needs to be the introduction of new stricter laws under new sectors of legislation, not just title pieces under preexisting legislation. Finally since the encroachment of a wetland includes a litigation process, lengthening the permit process and requiring more in compensation to the wetlands Replacement Fund will turn away more developers, a huge factor into wetlands loss.

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