They do reduced the evaporation and are are being installed in lots of reservoirs in hot areas because of it. That said, the permanent shade might have a negative impact on the aquatic ecosystems which need to be managed.
But as I mentioned above I don’t think there should be much of an environmental impact. Man-made reservoirs are not usually aquatic ecosystems, so it shouldn’t be a factor. Unfortunately, I haven’t really found any info to back that statement up.
But after what time is it an ecosystem that has to be protected?
We have here the “Lüneburger Heide” with a lot of protected species and take great care to keep it a heathen. It is an artificial landscape and was woodland before all the trees were chopped off to cook salt in Lüneburg. It was kept clear by sheep. Shepherding on an open plain is now unprofitable and if we would stop now to pay the shepherds a complete ecosystem would vanish and be overgrown by bushes and trees. That would hurt biodiversity and tourism. But it would be the natural environment for northern Germany.
Is it a reservoir? If it’s a man-made reservoir you are not expecting or desiring it to become a natural ecosystem. Your primary goals are to keep the water there and keep it clean.
They do reduced the evaporation and are are being installed in lots of reservoirs in hot areas because of it. That said, the permanent shade might have a negative impact on the aquatic ecosystems which need to be managed.
But as I mentioned above I don’t think there should be much of an environmental impact. Man-made reservoirs are not usually aquatic ecosystems, so it shouldn’t be a factor. Unfortunately, I haven’t really found any info to back that statement up.
Any body of water is an aquatic ecosystem. You’ll have algae after some days and fish after a year or two.
But it’s not meant to be a natural ecosystem where you’re trying to protect it.
But after what time is it an ecosystem that has to be protected? We have here the “Lüneburger Heide” with a lot of protected species and take great care to keep it a heathen. It is an artificial landscape and was woodland before all the trees were chopped off to cook salt in Lüneburg. It was kept clear by sheep. Shepherding on an open plain is now unprofitable and if we would stop now to pay the shepherds a complete ecosystem would vanish and be overgrown by bushes and trees. That would hurt biodiversity and tourism. But it would be the natural environment for northern Germany.
Is it a reservoir? If it’s a man-made reservoir you are not expecting or desiring it to become a natural ecosystem. Your primary goals are to keep the water there and keep it clean.
But a functional ecosystem keeps the water clean. You can have either a complete system with complex food chains or chlorine.