Hydropower impacts on salmon

Hydropower dams can negatively affect salmon by blocking their natural migration routes to spawning grounds, leading to reduced reproduction and population declines. Dams also alter river flow and temperature, disrupting the conditions salmon need to survive and reproduce. Sediment buildup and changes in water quality can harm juvenile salmon. While hydroelectricity provides clean energy, these ecological impacts highlight the importance of designing fish-friendly solutions, like fish ladders, to help salmon navigate past dams and maintain healthy populations.