Dam Removal is a Climate Solution
The climate crisis demands bold solutions. But what if the answer lies not in building new things, but in transforming what we already have??Dam removal is a powerful tool for fighting climate change & upholding Tribal sovereignty.?
More Dams = Less Carbon Sinks?
Dam removal allows landscapes that have been flooded to regrow their native vegetation and serve as carbon sinks.?In the United States alone, the largest 150 reservoirs submerge over seven million acres of land. Globally, it is estimated that over 100 million acres of land are flooded by reservoirs. This would amount to roughly 100 million tons of carbon sequestered annually!?
Moreover, dams are detrimental than we thought.?Dams and the reservoirs behind them kill large numbers of fish,?create dangerous algae blooms, and destroy carbon-storing habitats,?turning them into stagnant waterways that emit methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
To top it all off, most dams in the U.S. were not built for energy generation.? Most dams were constructed for irrigation and flood control. Only 3% actually have hydroelectricity generators.?Regardless of the very slight energy benefits, new research shows that some hydroelectric dams produce more emissions than coal-powered plants!
Restoring Nature and Tribal Rights
When dams are removed, rivers regain their natural flow, meandering freely through valleys, plains, and forests. This revived flow carries organic matter like decomposed plants and soil out to sea, where it gets buried deep down, locking away carbon as part of the ocean floor.?These underwater plumes, stretching for miles, become natural carbon sinks.
Over 1 million acres of Tribal land in the US lie submerged beneath 424 dams. These dams turn rivers stagnant and flood vital ecosystems. This impacts the way of life for local communities, destroying culturally significant areas and displacing people. Prioritizing dam removal offers a chance to heal the environment and uphold Tribal? sovereignty, ensuring a more just approach to water management.
Dams are just another short-sighted solution, and now we're facing the consequences.?The answer could be as simple as getting out of Nature's way. More often than not, it is that simple.
Take Action
In the U.S., we have an opportunity to take action right now. In the Pacific Northwest, four methane-emitting dams are damaging key ecosystems along the Snake River that local communities depend on. These dams are violating Indigenous rights, driving salmon to extinction and worsening the climate crisis. But there’s a solution to this mess.
Emerging science proves removing dams can quickly restore carbon-storing watersheds, reduce methane emissions and revive wildlife. Removing these dams can help bring back life to the Snake, repair our climate and honor Indigenous rights in the process.
Join Patagonia 's petition demanding that Congress remove four lower Snake River dams: https://p2a.co/zqkbcnp?p2asource=CP_SRDR&_gl=1*un033p*_ga*NTkxMjA2NTcyLjE3MTc0MzgwMjI.*_ga_RD5KB3E6VJ*MTcxNzQzODAyMi4xLjAuMTcxNzQzODAyMi4wLjAuMA..
If nothing changes, everything will. Act now.