Addressing the Dam Problem: Balancing Historic Preservation, Environmentalism, and Community Place Attachment
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Date
2019-09-18
Authors
Wunderler-Selby, Althea
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
This thesis addresses the growing occurrence of historic dam removals across the United States and the complex balance of interests they entail. Historic dams are often environmentally harmful, but they may also represent significant cultural resources and places of community attachment. In the Pacific Northwest, hydroelectric dams powered the region’s growth and development, but today many of these dams are being removed for their negative environmental impacts. This thesis explores hydroelectricity’s significance in the Pacific Northwest region, the parallel growth of the modern river restoration movement, the intricate process of dam removal, and the primary regulatory method used to address the loss of historic resources. Through four case study hydroelectric dam removal projects in Oregon and Washington, the effectiveness of balancing interests during the dam removal process and the consequences of removal for community history are assessed. The outcomes of these assessments are several key elements necessary to planning and implementing dam removals that equally address the concerns of preservationists, environmentalists, and the community. This topic is explored at a relevant time and is applicable on a larger scale to other historic resources that carry significance but also have detrimental environmental consequences.
Description
Keywords
Dam removal, Historic Preservation, Hydroelectricity, Pacific Northwest, River restoration, Section 106