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Mitigation of Large Reservoirs

Posted on Aug 1 2005, 03:44 AM

Mitigation of Large Reservoirs

A resolution to increase the quality of the world's environment, at the expense of industry.

Category: Environmental

Industry Affected: All Businesses

Proposed by: Mikitivity

Description:
The NationStates United Nations,

RECOGNIZING that many large watersheds and river systems cross international boundaries, and thus represent a shared resource between riparian and coastal nations;

OBSERVING the international nature of the economic benefit to ocean and freshwater commercial fisheries of abundant and healthy anadromous fish populations, such as salmon;

AWARE that salmon represent an important source of Omega-3 fatty acids, though farmed salmon tend to have higher concentrations of dioxins and PCBs than wild salmon;

NOTING the desire to increase the maximum electrical output of existing hydroelectric plants by increasing the height of reservoirs or to design new hydroelectric power plants in order to meet growing electricity demands;

FURTHER NOTING that electrical power generation is often one of several uses of the water stored in multi-use reservoirs;

BEARING IN MIND that the operation of large-reservoirs alters the unimpaired (i.e. natural) flow, water temperature, nutrient availability, and sediment load in the water downstream of the reservoir, which has led to the decline in many native species' populations;

CONCERNED that methane emissions from decomposition in reservoirs could contribute substantially to global warming;

CONVINCED that in order for hydroelectric power to be of net beneficial use, that the environmental and commercial impacts of reservoir releases must be managed or mitigated in a sustainable way;

1. APPROVES of continued research into various large-scale reservoir mitigation measures including the design and operation of temperature control devices, construction of fish passage structures (such as fish ladders), use of pulse flows during migration and other critical periods, and maintenance and restoration of wetlands (which are important nutrient sources);

2. CALLS UPON nations to investigate and promote water supply and electrical demand reduction strategies, such encouraging energy efficient equipment, telecommuting and alternative work weeks, and operating large-scale industrial equipment during off-peak electrical demand periods;

3. SUGGESTS that adaptive management techniques such as timing reservoir releases to periods that are beneficial to both riparian wildlife and power users can minimize some of the impacts associated with large-scale reservoir releases;

4. RECOMMENDS the restoration of flood plains and seasonal wetland habitats, including designing flood bypass areas and seasonal agricultural easements;

5. FURTHER RECOMMENDS that these wetlands and flood bypasses be used to offset the need for dedicated flood storage in large multi-use reservoirs; and

6. EXPRESSES ITS HOPE that other alternative energy sources will be considered as supplements or alternatives to hydroelectric power generation, with the understanding that a sustainable power supply needs to be diverse and manageable in order to accommodate long-term economic stability.

Approvals: 36 (Pure Honduras, Yeldan UN Mission, Arthuria-Elizabetia, Punrovia, AwalKB, NewTexas, Finbergia, Elika, DSM-IV, Nutellaland, Drunken Butterfly, Manhattan Prime, Darth Mall, Skandango, The Hunter Isles, Missouriania, Feq, Findan, Ecopoeia, FWEDD, Adasa, Craktonija, The moon wolf, Nosedondekistan, Brocklandia, Two Forks, Darkreigner, Aquarian Arcadia, Enduria, Caer Rialis, Tambien, Gaiah, Seattletonia, Naaaaaaaaaavanites, Kilobugya, Darpatia)

Status: Lacking Support (requires 101 more approvals)

Voting Ends: Wed Aug 3 2005

Bettia

We don't do defence

Posts: 956

Posted on Aug 1 2005, 07:15 AM

First of all, why does having more reservoirs produce a detremental effect on [i]all]/i] businesses and, secondly, what is this guy's hard-on for salmon? Starblaydia abstains.

Starblaydia

Also available in purple

Posts: 1877

Posted on Aug 1 2005, 08:24 AM

All heroic ideas, but they look quite expensive to us. We're not sure if that would be accepted by our economy. Asides, we don't really see the need to establish that on international UN-level. We're sure the Confederacy can pick some from these paraphs and bring them into discussion in the parliamentary. ABSTAIN