I read an article in National Geographic about Madidi National Park in South America and how they wanted to put a dam on the Beni River to create hydroelectric energy. The problem is that the dam would flood a significant portion of the rainforest in the park and destroy several villages. There was a full two-page photograph of the Andes foothills, though which the Beni flows, the area that will become a big lake if the dam is built. In the picture, the hills were green and lush, covered with trees and vegetation, towering over the river below. I couldn't imagine flooding it all.
Dams always seem to create problems while solving others.
I read in the paper about how environmental groups are pushing to have the dams breached on the Snake River to help save the salmon. This reminded me of something I saw once about the most endangered rivers in the U.S., so I went and looked it up. Number six on the list was the Cedar River in Washington, threatened by urban sprawl and water withdrawls. I think it's sad that two of the most endangered rivers in the whole country are here in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. I will probably live here my whole life, but I can't help but wonder what it will be like here in 30 years.