Corralled Water: The Hoover Dam

The once untamed Colorado River was set to be cultivated in 1931 by the Bureau of Reclamation. It was to be tamed by the Hoover Dam, the biggest man made thing in the whole world. The place of this great achievement was in between two hulking masses of sedimentary rock at Black Canyon, Nevada. The dam intentionally had its purposes, for example its production would supply jobs in the time of the Great Depression. As well as, curb the rapid floods that frequently deluded Southern California(?). Then in return the Dam would reply with a clean source of electricity to neighboring states as well as distribute water. Though, some unanticipated effects the Dam caused are still marked vaguely into the canyon years later. Despite that, the Hoover
Dam engraves its importance as vigorously as it contains the once uncontainable Colorado River.

The Hoover Dam rivals the water at 726 feet tall in Black Canyon, Nevada. It blockades the water with 6,600,000 tons of cement lined with steel pipes, adamantly resisting the 45,000 water pressure per square foot.The internal generators that produce hydropower from the water generate around 4.2 billion kilowatt hours a year. These generators are within the hulking mass and the wings of them span 650 feet wide and 299 feet tall, thus giving the surface area to produce such power. There are also turbines and penstocks to complete the process of making such mass productions of energy that cities rely on.

During the time of the Great Depression, the once continuous squabble of the construction of the Dam, was now being put in action. While it was a dark, and unnerving time of the Depression, the Hoover Dam’s construction was seen as a beacon of hope to some. It gave an opportunity of having a well paying job, as well as housing. Though, despite it being a chance, it also had a risk. Most men whom were employed to the site, came from hundreds of miles away, like Utah which were around 1165 of the total employed. Even as far as Maine 8 men came for the opportunity of work. Not everyone who came to the site was hired, most were sent away for not being up to par, or too old. The ones that managed to be employed, brought their families which eventually led to Boulder City being formed, to house all the families. Because of the housing that was needed, it eventually led to populating near cities like Las Vegas, that is still now even a major city. Its population skyrocketed during the construction because of Las Vegas’s appeal of gambling with the steady income that the Dam supplied to the workers. Which was an average of fifty-cents to a dollar a day for most workers.After the men’s long shift, they would drive the 30 mile difference to Las Vegas to enjoy the ‘finer’ things in life. That also circulated money in the area despite the lack of it because of the Depression. While Boulder City became populated, so did Las Vegas with its unsavory appeal. Before the time of the Hoover Dam, the Colorado river once flooded many farms that resided in Southern California. Which ruined many farms and had some even relocate. As well as at the same time, scientist were looking for a way to get clean energy. Also the need to transport water to some of the neighboring states. With this in mind, the government had begun getting people to scout out places for a dam, thus to solve all upcoming problems. They eventually came across Black Canyon, that was on the cusp of Nevada and Arizona. It’s location was an appropriate place to distribute water and electricity to the near states like California, Utah, New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, Wyoming, and Nevada. The need and now impetus to construct the Hoover Dam was becoming more evident. It would stop the flooding, distribute water to 7 states as well as provide electricity for major cities like Los Angeles, and Phoenix. While at first the Dam’s purpose was to blockade water, Hoover Dam became much more and more essential as the things it would help and improve added up.

While the American economy strived at the source of the Dam.
Others could be said that it was just as detrimental as it was to help. It did provide jobs, electricity, and water, but the consequences that come with it werent as evident as they are now. The now corralled water has disrupted the natural state of flow and now has dropped in oxygen levels, that affect the livelihood within its depths. Also since the water is being regularly filtered, the water is no longer carrying sediment, so the water is actually more likely to erode the walls of the river faster and more likely. As well as the naturally carved paths that it once flowed will be no longer preserved by the water now that it is being manipulated by the precise distribution to the varying 7 states. With the water distribution organisms are being shifted to new habitats, that are endangering their survival because of the consistency of new life is being introduced to new habitats, that most aren't compatible with. It was considered to be a clean source, but is it? While local tourism and population and economic values are striving from the Hoover Dam, the actual waters are suffering and the site for the things we enjoy today.

While the Hoover Dam is decades old, all the sources and things are not all completely known. For example, the effect on the environment is not surely recorded and known. When the site was changed so dramatically, no real sources were kept on how things were affected when it happened, or even recorded how things were before that. Thus, we cannot know if it was detrimental or not, to make an actual argument or investigation on the matter. While it can be seen now on what it affects, we can’t date it back to
contrast.

The Hoover Dam at one point was seen to be impossible, but with human ingenuity it was done. It’s completion was a symbol of hope to the hard times that plagued America. A solid dam to stop the hazardous flooding on California farms. Even a source of clean electricity and effective water distribution to it’s surrounding states. Its importance is still felt from when the last of the cement was placed, to now as it's considered a marvel of the past.