Question

How did changes in technology alter humans' interactions with the Columbia River over time? Provide at least one example from the “organic machine” book by white

Answer 1

Columbia River significance

1)Agriculture and irrigation purpose, 2) municipal water supply 3) industrial use of water4) hydroelectric power generation 5) Recreational use 6) navigational use 7) ecosystem good and service

Technology have made things change in both positive as well as negative aspects like: traditional agriculture to mass production of salmon fishing and irrigation system to canal ,sprinklers system. Water is now using for hydro electric power by using dams and related technologies aswell as for navigation (traditional type to very technical type like :steamer ,electric boat, cruise etc) purpose , traditional or small ,medium cottage industrial use to big and Sofisticated technology using industrial use of water like :petrochemical ,medicine, polymer, textile etc, recreational uses through technology in surfing, water park ,scuba diving etc.

From whites book "organic machine

White comes to view the Columbia River as an organic machine--with conflicting human and natural claims--and to show that whatever separation exists between humans and nature exists to be crossed.

over the centuries, both native peoples and settlers have continually remade the river, treating it as a machine designed to churn out energy and sustenance.

the impact on the Northwest ecology of enterprises that have marked the river's history, from salmon fishing to the Hanford Energy Works nuclear plant.

Thus these new technology related to energy ,fishing and other things degraded ecosystem because of over use of water resources and ecosystem and environment of their like :salmon fish ,industrial waste effluent in the river and polluting it's water, unplanned development lead to contraction of river Basin etc.