We are looking at the Peace River in Fort St Johns. At this moment there are no modifications to the river and all the original species are there. However, an opportunity presents itself to create a dam. This dam will provide a substantial amount of hydropower, however, it may cause a disruption to the aquatic ecoysystem. It may cause the amount of species to decrease and habitat qualiity and water quality to decrease.
You get to decide whether or not to implement the dam. Do you
[[implement the dam and make lots of money]] or
[[not implement the dam and conserve the aquatic ecosystem]]
<a href="https://www.americanrivers.org/threats-solutions/restoring-damaged-rivers/how-dams-damage-rivers/">this is how dams can damage rivers </a>
This is what the dam would look like:
<img src = "https://www.globalnews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/cpw1801203811_high.jpg?quality=85&strip=all.com/image.jpg">
With no dam the aquatic system is thriving in its original condition. The different species are able to migrate to and from spawning areas with little obstacles.
<img src = "https://careersblog.enterprise.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MississippiRiver-1200x675.jpg">The natural bypass channel is a diversion that allows fish to get across the dam by a series of streams and pools. It is more natural than the fish ladder and more fish like to swim through it. You
[[enter through the first opening you see]]
This is what you enter into:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/S4dZvJYtroo?start=52" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
You are swimming in the water and make contact with a large blockage. You swim around for a while and finally find a way to enter. Do you enter through the
[[right fish ladder]] or
[[left fish ladder]]
<img src = "http://columbiariverimages.com/Images05/bonneville_dam_north_fish_ladder_2005_med.jpg">After going into the channel, you get bonked around a lot while going down each of the steps of the ladder. You feel dizzy and disoriented. Do you
[[rest once you get down the ladder]]
[[keep swimming to get to safer terrain]]
Video of going through the fish ladder:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CEpVt_rBwzw" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>You go down the fish ladder and it takes you somewhere unfamiliar. You are discombobulated from the harsh movements down the ladder. You are very exhausted and unable to acquire food. You end up dying from starvation.
Go back to the [[Beginning]]
Video of going through the fish ladder:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CEpVt_rBwzw" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<img src = "https://flaticons.net/icon.php?slug_category=miscellaneous&slug_icon=death">You are taking some much needed time to recooperate but oh no! There is a larger predatory fish coming! You try to swim away but you are too disoriented from going down the fish ladder. The predator eats you.
go back to the [[Beginning]]
<img src = "https://flaticons.net/icon.php?slug_category=miscellaneous&slug_icon=death">
You are exhausted from making it through the ladder but you keep swimming anyways. You are a bit slower than normal and are trying to make it to the spawning sites where you can find some mates.
[[You keep swimming and eventually get to the spawning area]] or
[[take a break and rest for a bit]]You get to the spawning area but are having a hard time finding a mate. It has been a few hours since going in the fish ladder so you are mostly recovered. You are able to find a mate and reproduce successfully. You are one of the select few who made it throught the fishladder unscathed and alive. Congrats!You are feeling better after taking a break. Salmon are gathered in this area since they know that fish are usually disoriented after going through the ladder. The salmon comes and eats you before you are fully recovered and you are not able to get away fast enough.
Go back to the [[Beginning]]
<img src = "https://flaticons.net/icon.php?slug_category=miscellaneous&slug_icon=death">You are following through the stream and it is very peaceful. There is lots of vegetation not only around the channel but within the water. There are some marsh areas that support habitats for different species of fish. You see your friend Nemo chilling in one of the resting pools. Do you
[[join Nemo in a resting pool]]
[[keep swimming through the channel]]
This is the marsh area you are passing through:
<img src = "https://www.nps.gov/piro/learn/nature/images/marshwalk-pond.jpg?maxwidth=1200&autorotate=false&quality=78&format=webp">
You settle in the resting pool and catch up with Nemo. There are lots of rocks but not enough to make the area uncomfortable. You are able to recharge and once you feel up to continue down the stream you
[[leave the resting pool]]
[[decide to stay in the resting pool with Nemo indefinitely]]
Image of resting area:
<img src = "https://thumbs.dreamstime.com/b/natural-nook-rocks-transparent-stream-small-waterfall-flowing-water-quiet-refreshing-place-197004709.jpg">Once you exit the area you start continuing through the stream. There is lots of soil and nutrients along the path and you feel rejuvenated. You finally reach the end of the stream and are able to swim to your spawning site. You successfully migrated through the channel and are able now ready to reproduce since it did not take you long to get through the diversion. Congrats!
<img src = "https://tocsindata.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/shutterstock.peteniesen_0.jpg">Once you exit the area you start continuing through the stream. There is lots of soil and nutrients along the path and you feel rejuvenated. You finally reach the end of the stream and are able to swim to your spawning site. You successfully migrated through the channel and are able now ready to reproduce since it did not take you long to get through the diversion. Congrats!
<img src = "https://www.caymancompass.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/grouper.jpg">You mate with Nemo and then continute through the stream together. You both successfully survived the diversion route! Congrats!
<img src = "https://www.natureinstock.com/cache/pcache2/00054391.jpg">
Implementing the dam makes you lots of money and contributes to a large portion of BC's hydropower. However, it is hurting the aquatic system. The dam is a large structure that blocks the movement of water. With this in place, the fish are no longer able to migrate to the otherside. There are two options you can incorporate to allow the fish to pass. Let's go through each of them from a fish's perspective. Do you want to try the
[[natural bypass channel]] or the
[[fish ladder]]
Image of natural bypass channel:
<img src = "https://sites.google.com/site/naturelikefishwayspublication/_/rsrc/1340637194013/finland/siikajoki-river/Siikajoki%20River%20-%20Finland%20-%20photo%20Marmulla.jpg?height=268&width=400">
<a href="https://phys.org/news/2022-08-fish-reconnect-species-habitats-blocked.html">Link about how fish passes (fish ladder) works</a>
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