The Three Gorges Dam Project has long been a focus of the world's attention and the center of controversy. To this day, a cloud of doubt still hovers over people's minds: what can this project do for flood prevention, power generation, and shipping services? How do we protect the endangered species submerged in the mighty torrents? What will happen to the water quality in the area of the Three Gorges? Is the project the root cause of extreme weather changes in recent years? Will the project possibly induce earthquakes? Experts have given relevant testimonies to Three Gorges Dam Project.
View 1 Highly efficient Three Gorges Dam Project
The Three Gorges Dam Project became operational in 2007. Since its debut, the project has been effective in preventing floods, shipping services, and generating electricity.
According to Li Yongan, the general manager of China's Head Office of the Yangtze Three Gorges Project Development, during the flood season of 2007, the Three Gorges Dam operated on a water level of 144 meters within the flood limit, and retained a 6.8 billion cubic meter storage capacity for flood prevention.
The Three Gorges Project managed to avert floods, especially on the peak days of July 30 and 31, keeping the water level of Shashi Station below the warning line; and alleviating the flood pressure on the lower reaches of the Jinjiang section. In addition, so as to consider the reservoir in the upper reaches and flood control in the lower reaches, the Three Gorges Dam adjusted the water level to a height of 146.7 meters.
It is estimated that the Three Gorges electric power station has 19 operational generators with a total installed capacity of 13.3 million kilowatts and generated energy of 200 billion kilowatts/hour.
The Three Gorges power plant will generate 63.7 billion kilowatts/hour: enough to supply Beijing with power for one year.
The storage capacity of the Three Gorges Dam, along with the direct shipping link of the five –level dual track ship lock, have greatly improved shipping conditions along the Chuanjiang section of the Yangtze River. The advantages of the golden water channel along the Yangtze River do not go unnoticed. In 2006, up to 50 million tons of cargo passed through the lock, much greater than the 18 million ton-maximum before water storage.
By November this year, 41 million tons of cargo and 780,000 passengers had gone through the Three Gorges lock. This year's total freight volume is projected to exceed 50 million tons.
View 2 Environment-friendly Three Gorges Dam Project
Wang Xiaofeng, the general director from State Council of the Three Gorges Office, indicated that the project is in essence an ecological project, for it is designed to supply clean energy. Moreover, a comparison analysis reveals that thermo-power generation would otherwise consume 50 million more tons of coal and emit up to 100 million tons of carbon dioxide.
The water quality at the base of the Yangtze River is the highest among all major rivers in China, and surpasses drinking water standards. Short-term eutrophy and water bloom occurring in some river branches have yet to reach the warning line.
The Three Gorges reservoir region has taken action to keep polluting sources under control. For example, 190,000 residents have been evacuated from the region, and more than 1,500 enterprises have been shut down or relocated. Until now, the government has accumulated 39.2 billion yuan in exclusive bonds; and has built 58 sewage disposal plants and 41 garbage disposal plants in the region.
The government also spares no effort to preserve bio-diversity. The number of fish released, mainly rare species or cash fish, exceeds 200 million. In flooded areas, rare aquatic and land animals and plants have been brought to safety.
With the implementation of the Three Gorges Sustainable Exploitation Plan and Three Gorges Waters Function Plan, in combination with the prevention and control of geological disasters and river dredging, the Three Gorges region will intensify the cultivation of amphibious plants, and improve the ecological monitoring system in areas including the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River.
View 3 Safe Three Gorges Dam Project
Pan Jiazheng, an academic, said that Three Gorges Dam would be nothing like the Sanmen Gorge on the Huanghe River in terms of sand and silt accumulation.
The Three Gorges Dam utilizes a controlled operating system to store clean water and discharge muddy water. When sand content decreases at the end of the flood season, the water level will rise to 175 meters: the normal water storage level. Meanwhile, before the flood season, the water level will remain strictly below 145 meters to discharge mud and sand; and prevent the back section of the dam from accumulating silt.
Results from monitoring in 2003 and 2006 indicated that the sand content in the dam reached 200 million tons – less than 40% of the initial estimate.
Although the project has some influence on regional weather; the area affected is limited – within 10 kilometers of the dam – and less than 1 degree Celsius in temperature change. It is far from enough to cause extreme weather changes, according to Li Yongan.
In response to the possibility that the project could induce earthquakes or other geological disasters, Wang Xiaofeng said that long before the water storage and completion of the dam, the Three Gorges region saw frequent collapses and landslides. As a result, geological conditions were taken into account in the initial phase of dam construction.
China has invested more than 12 billion yuan into the prevention and control of geological disasters in the region, and has clearly made progress. The region's monitoring system has revealed, in terms of the frequency and strength of the earthquakes, no unusual phenomena which could disrupt the stability of Three Gorges Dam have occurred.
By People's Daily Online
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