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The evolution of dam induced river fragmentation in the United States

Author

Listed:
  • Rachel A. Spinti

    (University of Arizona)

  • Laura E. Condon

    (University of Arizona)

  • Jun Zhang

    (Nanjing Normal University)

Abstract

It is established that dams decrease river connectivity; however, previous global scale studies of river fragmentation focused on a small subset of the largest dams. In the United States, mid-sized dams, which are too small for global databases, account for 96% of major anthropogenic structures and 48% of reservoir storage. We conduct a national evaluation of the evolution of anthropogenic river bifurcation over time that includes more than 50,000 nationally inventoried dams. Mid-sized dams account for 73% of anthropogenically created stream fragments nationally. They also contribute disproportionately to short fragments (less than 10 km), which is particularly troubling for aquatic habitats. Here we show that dam construction has essentially reversed natural fragmentation patterns in the United States. Prior to human development, smaller river fragments and less connected networks occurred in arid basins while today we show that humid basins are the most fragmented due to human structures.

Suggested Citation

  • Rachel A. Spinti & Laura E. Condon & Jun Zhang, 2023. "The evolution of dam induced river fragmentation in the United States," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-39194-x
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39194-x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Barbara Belletti & Carlos Garcia de Leaniz & Joshua Jones & Simone Bizzi & Luca Börger & Gilles Segura & Andrea Castelletti & Wouter van de Bund & Kim Aarestrup & James Barry & Kamila Belka & Arjan Be, 2020. "More than one million barriers fragment Europe’s rivers," Nature, Nature, vol. 588(7838), pages 436-441, December.
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