In the past century, an argument could be made that dams helped the population of the United States by providing essential functions: controlling water flow to help reduce flooding, creating energy through hydroelectric power, helping nearby agricultural to the river by providing crucial irrigation, or even helping to stop fertilizers from flowing downstream by trapping it in silt (Francisco 2004). However, as time has passed, public opinion has shifted from a vocal pro-dam stance, to an overwhelmingly negative view of dams (Babbitt 2002); what has changed in the past 100 years? There are a multitude of different factors, but there are three main points that have helped to alter the societal perception of dams: 1) they are an ecological nightmare
