RESERVOIR/LAKE ⇨ RIVER/STREAM

What’s the Story?

Um... moving a little faster, and faster, and OH NO! What a ride from the reservoir, over the dam, and into the river below!! Reservoirs are often created by building a dam across a river or stream and flooding an area of land into a lake that can then be used as a community water supply. The water level in the reservoir is managed by water flowing downstream over or through the dam. When water flows through a dam, the energy can be harnessed by the force of moving water turning large turbines that create electricity for the community (hydroelectricity). When water flows over a dam, it continues its original journey downstream, which is important for habitats, species, and communities along the way. However, the ecosystem can be altered in significant ways when a dam is built and a free-flowing river is interrupted (for example, impacting fish migration).

Click on your water drop above to travel to the River/Stream next!!