Anticipated geomorphic impacts from Mekong basin dam constructions
Anticipated geomorphic impacts from Mekong basin dam constructions
The Mekong River is undergoing rapid dam construction. Seven mainstem dams are completed or under construction in China and 133 completed or proposed for the Lower Mekong River basin. We combined geomorphic assessments of the Mekong channel and delta with models of sediment trapping by reservoirs to forecast geomorphic change. We expect the biggest changes to occur along alluvial reaches, though stripping of thin sediment deposits in bedrock reaches may also have significant consequences for benthic invertebrates, fishes, and other aquatic organisms dependent on the presence of alluvium in the channel. If all dams are built as proposed, the resulting 96% reduction in sediment supply would have profound consequences on productivity of the river and persistence of the delta landform itself. Strategies to pass sediment past dams should be implemented to reduce the magnitude of sediment starvation and resulting impacts.
mekong river, sediment load, reservoir sedimentation, channel change, dam construction
105-121
Rubin, Z.K.
88894dbb-2e88-4528-815d-a3a2eb48c723
Kondolf, G.M.
6db53710-6df9-4034-83d6-a731c0866825
Carling, Paul A.
8d252dd9-3c88-4803-81cc-c2ec4c6fa687
December 2014
Rubin, Z.K.
88894dbb-2e88-4528-815d-a3a2eb48c723
Kondolf, G.M.
6db53710-6df9-4034-83d6-a731c0866825
Carling, Paul A.
8d252dd9-3c88-4803-81cc-c2ec4c6fa687
Rubin, Z.K., Kondolf, G.M. and Carling, Paul A.
(2014)
Anticipated geomorphic impacts from Mekong basin dam constructions.
International Journal of River Basin Management, 13 (1), .
(doi:10.1080/15715124.2014.981193).
Abstract
The Mekong River is undergoing rapid dam construction. Seven mainstem dams are completed or under construction in China and 133 completed or proposed for the Lower Mekong River basin. We combined geomorphic assessments of the Mekong channel and delta with models of sediment trapping by reservoirs to forecast geomorphic change. We expect the biggest changes to occur along alluvial reaches, though stripping of thin sediment deposits in bedrock reaches may also have significant consequences for benthic invertebrates, fishes, and other aquatic organisms dependent on the presence of alluvium in the channel. If all dams are built as proposed, the resulting 96% reduction in sediment supply would have profound consequences on productivity of the river and persistence of the delta landform itself. Strategies to pass sediment past dams should be implemented to reduce the magnitude of sediment starvation and resulting impacts.
Text
Rubinetal2014-GeomorphicImpacts.pdf
- Version of Record
Restricted to Repository staff only
Request a copy
More information
Accepted/In Press date: 30 September 2014
e-pub ahead of print date: 11 December 2014
Published date: December 2014
Keywords:
mekong river, sediment load, reservoir sedimentation, channel change, dam construction
Organisations:
Earth Surface Dynamics
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 373757
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/373757
ISSN: 1571-5124
PURE UUID: 835830b2-46e9-4434-964b-eaf7192f92b3
Catalogue record
Date deposited: 02 Feb 2015 10:18
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 18:56
Export record
Altmetrics
Contributors
Author:
Z.K. Rubin
Author:
G.M. Kondolf
Download statistics
Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.
View more statistics