Environmental+Effects

Despite having no effect on river water or the atmosphere because they do not emit any pollutants, hydropower plants can drastically change their surrounding landscape and affect land use, homes and biodiversity in the area. Dams and reservoirs that constitute such power plants can hamper fish migration, consequently leading to a decline in their population. Furthermore, temperature change and the river's velocity may be altered by the existence of the power plant and result in damage to the plant life and other animals in the area. (both in the river and on land) As a result of creating a reservoir, settlements, natural habitats or valuable fertile land may be lost due to the intentional flooding of such areas. Constructing a hydropower plant requires complicated logistics of relocating displaced local residents. Lastly, in some cases methane can form in the reservoirs and accumulate in the atmosphere as a greenhouse gas. **
 * Environmental Effects **
 * Yes, hydropower is nonpolluting, but it STILL has negative effects on the environment!
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