The environment

Human impact on water

Humans impact water in different ways such as modifying rivers (through dams and stream channelization), urbanization and deforestation. These impact lake levels, groundwater conditions, water pollution, thermal pollution, and marine pollution. Humans modify rivers by using direct channel manipulation, building dams and reservoirs to manipulate the direction of the rivers and water path. While dams can usefully create reservoirs and hydroelectric power, they may negatively impact the environment and wildlife. Dams stop fish migration and the movement of organisms downstream. Urbanization affects the environment because of deforestation and changing lake levels, groundwater conditions, etc., and deforestation and urbanization go hand in hand. Deforestation may cause flooding, declining stream flow and changes in riverside vegetation. The changing vegetation occurs because trees deteriorate without adequate access to water, leading to a decreased food supply for the wildlife in an area.