212 Ecology and Applied Environmental Science
• The aquifer level, the quantity and quality of underground water in
the area, will be altered. Some springs may go dry or new ones may
be created.
• The lake will hinder the traffic of terrestrial fauna. The dam will
hinder the traffic of the river fauna, which can be fatal for some
populations of anadromous fish. This consequence can be partially
avoided if an appropriate parallel channel is constructed that will
bypass the dam.
• The change of the environment due to the creation of the lake may
promote the propagation of biological species that are foreign to the
area, especially parasites, harmful insects, microbes etc. The use of
biocides for fighting undesirable invaders can decrease the quality of
the water.
• The dam construction work will cause significant perturbation to the
local ecosystems, mainly to the wild fauna, through excavation and
construction site activities. It will also cause degradation of the natural landscape, especially if there are borrow areas and debris disposal.
• According to some views, accumulation of a great mass of water such
as a lake can cause local earthquakes due to alterations of the underlying geological strata.
• Artificial lakes have positive environmental aspects as well. Many
people believe that a created landscape has greater aesthetic value
than the original natural area. Some artificial lakes turn into remarkable natural biotopes over time.
11.10 inForMation accESS and ParticiPation
in dEciSion Making
Public hearings are an important part of an environmental impact assessment
process. Access to information, the ability to appeal to environmental courts
and participation in decision making are effective social tools for the rational
environmental management aiming at a better quality of life. In 1998, the
Aarhus Convention was signed by many European countries; the Convention
specifies the public’s right to have access to information in relation to the
environment and to participate in decisions that affect the environment.
At one time, information about the environment and the environmental
impacts of various activities was kept secret. According to the Convention,
this is no longer permitted and information is free, with the exception of
some special cases. Availability of information is vitally important, as is its
collection and publication in an easily understood and accessible form to
the public. The most efficient ways are through databases and the Internet.
Citizens must be able to appeal to environmental courts claiming a fair
judgement when, accidentally or intentionally, their right to the environment
• The aquifer level, the quantity and quality of underground water in
the area, will be altered. Some springs may go dry or new ones may
be created.
• The lake will hinder the traffic of terrestrial fauna. The dam will
hinder the traffic of the river fauna, which can be fatal for some
populations of anadromous fish. This consequence can be partially
avoided if an appropriate parallel channel is constructed that will
bypass the dam.
• The change of the environment due to the creation of the lake may
promote the propagation of biological species that are foreign to the
area, especially parasites, harmful insects, microbes etc. The use of
biocides for fighting undesirable invaders can decrease the quality of
the water.
• The dam construction work will cause significant perturbation to the
local ecosystems, mainly to the wild fauna, through excavation and
construction site activities. It will also cause degradation of the natural landscape, especially if there are borrow areas and debris disposal.
• According to some views, accumulation of a great mass of water such
as a lake can cause local earthquakes due to alterations of the underlying geological strata.
• Artificial lakes have positive environmental aspects as well. Many
people believe that a created landscape has greater aesthetic value
than the original natural area. Some artificial lakes turn into remarkable natural biotopes over time.
11.10 inForMation accESS and ParticiPation
in dEciSion Making
Public hearings are an important part of an environmental impact assessment
process. Access to information, the ability to appeal to environmental courts
and participation in decision making are effective social tools for the rational
environmental management aiming at a better quality of life. In 1998, the
Aarhus Convention was signed by many European countries; the Convention
specifies the public’s right to have access to information in relation to the
environment and to participate in decisions that affect the environment.
At one time, information about the environment and the environmental
impacts of various activities was kept secret. According to the Convention,
this is no longer permitted and information is free, with the exception of
some special cases. Availability of information is vitally important, as is its
collection and publication in an easily understood and accessible form to
the public. The most efficient ways are through databases and the Internet.
Citizens must be able to appeal to environmental courts claiming a fair
judgement when, accidentally or intentionally, their right to the environment