undamming
Freeing trapped water
Undamming is the removal of a dam to restore a river's natural flow.
Environmental efforts increasingly favor undamming to revive fish migration routes and ecosystems: The undamming of the Elwha River allowed salmon to return after a century.
Figuratively, undamming suggests releasing what has been held back: The confession triggered an undamming of grief.
To let go
- unleashingSetting free forcefully
- unblockingRemoving an obstacle
- freeingReleasing from confinement
- uncorkingRemoving a bottle plug
opening · unshackling · unbinding · letting loose · breaking free · clearing · breakthrough · emancipation
Water's downstream movement
- streamflowRiver water's measured movement
- upstream migrationMovement toward river's origin
- turbidityCloudiness from suspended particles
- currentDirected flow of charge
inundation · confluence · riverbed · erosion · deposition · water table · seasonal flooding
Reviving degraded natural areas
- spawning groundsWhere fish reproduce
- native speciesOrganisms originating in a region
- aquatic habitatWater-based living environment
- reforestationReplanting depleted woodlands
release
To let go
- unleashingSetting free forcefully
- unblockingRemoving an obstacle
- freeingReleasing from confinement
uncorking · opening · unshackling · unbinding · letting loose · breaking free · clearing · breakthrough · emancipation · deliverance
river flow
Water's downstream movement
- streamflowRiver water's measured movement
- upstream migrationMovement toward river's origin
- turbidityCloudiness from suspended particles
current · inundation · confluence · riverbed · erosion · deposition · water table · seasonal flooding
ecosystem restoration
Reviving degraded natural areas
- spawning groundsWhere fish reproduce
- native speciesOrganisms originating in a region
- aquatic habitatWater-based living environment
undammingdamming
Blocking a waterway
dam construction · impounding · dam building · obstructing · blocking
undammingblocking
Impeding forward progress
obstructing · stemming · stopping up · containing · restraining