Incorporation of water storage reservoirs into the environment

Abstract

The construction of large dams and creation of water storage reservoirs have significant effect on the environmental and social surrounding. Although these impacts have been recognized in the first stage of modern dam construction period (period after Second World War), in the last decades they have become among the most debatable and for public opinion significant effects of large dams. Water storage reservoirs are irreplaceable element of complex water resources systems, particularly having in mind climate changes - shorter and more intense rainy periods with floods threatening the man and his systems, and long dry periods, when again, due to lack of water, whole ecosystem in endangered, as well as man. Reasons why water storage reservoirs are necessary are described in the paper. Main positive and negative impacts of reservoirs on the environment are analyzed and measures for neutralization, mitigation or compensation of negative impacts are summarized.