Lake Champlain Ecosystem Assessment

Hydroelectric dams provide recreational opportunites for fishing, boating, swimming, bird watching, etc.  This is due to the increased habitat for water fowl, fish, and water sports. These activities support local economies by increasing tourism. A study of one medium-sized hydropower project in Wisconsin showed that the recreational value to residents and visitors exceeded $6.5 million annually. Thirty-five percent of the benefits received from dams is recreation and in almost every case of hydropower development there is  an increase in recreation in the area. The Federal Water Power Act of 1920 was the first amendment ratified by congress to regulate and support hydropower in the US. It now ensures that dams are cost-efficient, protect wildlife and mitigate damages of the environment and that hydropower is a marketable energy for consumers.

Works Cited

Oak Ridge National Laboratory. (2008, February 5). Hydropower: licensed to protect the
environment. Retrieved from http://www.ornl.gov/info/ornlreview/rev26-34/text/hydmain.html

Wisconson Valley Improvement Copmany, . (n.d.). Facts about hydropower. Retrieved from
http://new.wvic.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7&Itemid=44