ABSTRACT
Building reservoirs and dams have been the traditional approach to solving water problems and 20th century saw the most in terms of dam building. Dams are among the most pervasive and beneficial structures on Earth. They provide energy, flood protection, and water for domestic, industrial, and agricultural use as well as recreation. Seeking these benefits, the US has built thousands of dams over the past 100 years, with a peak in the 1960’s. This made good sense as a means to provide reliable water supply for irrigation and industry besides power generation in many instances. To their credit these dams have delivered significant socio-economic progress around the world. After the building frenzy subsided, mainly due to the fact that all the easy sites were built out, the drawbacks of the large dams have started to come into sharp focus (WCD, 2000). Dams also have costs, however, some of which have been fully recognized only over the last few decades, including physical, chemical, and biological alteration of downstream ecosystems as well as risks associated not only with design features but also national security, aging, and seismic activity. As a result, significant opposition to large dam projects has gained traction – forcing planners to take a holistic approach to water resources management. We are at a cross roads in terms of water resources and development given our increasing understanding of climate variability, socio-economic factors, environmental impacts and the need for sustainable growth. This calls for a new paradigm for water resources management and development.
