This activity is one of a series of 17 teacher-developed instructional activities for geography at the secondary grade level described in SO 009 140. This activity investigates the proposed construction of a dam. It employs a simulation technique in which students debate the conflicts that may evolve between groups with differing goals. To provide background information and to set the scene for the simulation, two short newspaper articles discuss crop yield increase due to irrigation and land value increases. A letter to the editor and an article opposing the building of the dam are also included. Eleven roles are presented for various special and nonspecial interest group members of the community who will be affected favorably or adversely by the building of the dam. These include farmers, representatives from a coal burning electric plant and land speculators, and a fisherman. Each role discusses the position of one person toward building a dam and offers reasons for holding those positions. The issues are debated among the various interest groups and culminate in a special hearing. An environmental impact statement and a fact sheet, describing such things as the cost and advantages of the dam, are presented. A map shows dam construction. (Author/DB)