Reservoirs of endangerment

Reservoirs, as sites of storage, can carve out space for things to stay that may otherwise depart. As such, reservoirs become important at a moment when climate change and the depletion of habitats has led to the endangerment of many of Earth’s species. Sometimes, however, reservoirs can actually lead to further endangerment, blocking or curtailing movement through habitats or once unimpeded flows. This two-part essay describes how reservoirs today are both built and destroyed in the name of biodiversity and species survival through two examples. Through the first example of the Lunar Ark, I discuss how reservoirs can act as spaces in which the present is stored to protect the potential future. Here, reservoirs provide an answer for some looking to conserve species through safeguarding the entities necessary for their reproduction. Through the second example of Washington State’s Northwestern Lake and discussion of the removal of Condit Dam, I discuss how reservoirs can also be spaces where people cling to the more recent past in an effort to temporarily forego longer histories and potential futures of both humans and non-humans.