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How dams affect lake surroundings. We made models of beaver dams and human dams to study how the dams affected the surroundings.  We found that dams can be good but also bad.  They can flood land that people own and use.  Dams can affect the animals that live there.  Dams can stop toxins from getting into streams. When making model dams, it is good to remember that they don't have to be perfect.  Don't put too many holes in the bottom of the dam.  Higher holes are better.  Too much water can break the dam. Don't put a house right behind the dam. Your house would flood. One model showed that if too much water is let out of the dam, it can flood below the dam.  However, you can't let the water rise too high behind the dam. In the Calais area, there are several dams.  We do not know who owns them all, but we are going to find out.