Study on Transboundary Effects of Hydropower Projects on Lancang River AIRC, YNU

Content Background Relevant studies at AIRC Work plan under the WLE project

1. Background

the L-M is the second richest fish- diversity in the world Four key economic big fishes migratingbetween upper Mekong and lower Mekong

Hydropower develoment has been one of major drivers of river system change since 1990s, southwest China. “The World Hydropwer is in China ， China’s Hydropower is in its southwest great rivers!” Chinese major state hydropower bases

Hydropower development is also the primary driving force of hydro-ecology process and river health impact in the Lancang River Basin.

The influences of dams in Lancang river have been the key topic at AIRC since water level change water allocation sediment change water temperature change watercourse change ….

2. Relevant studies at AIRC

(1) Runoff change (in upper Mekong)

In the lower Mekong River

(2) Water level change (in the Tonle Sap )

(3) Sediment change (in the upper Mekong)

Particle sizes coarsening below dams Grain-size of bed sediments along the Mekong river were surveyed

(4) Fish resources monitoring and protection (in the Buyuan river) Fish resources survey ( ) Habitat protection for cross-border migratory fish Payments for environmental services in transboundary areas for the conservation of fish biodiversity Fish fauna of Lancang—Mekong River

Distribution parttens of fishes (in upper Mekong)

(5) Study on the protective effect of dam removal on fish assemblages Jidu river is a major tributary of the Lancang river, a low-head dam situated approximately 4.0 km upstream of the confluence was the only structural barriers between the upper reaches of the river and the Lancang river. In order to protect native fishes, the low-head dam on the Jidu River was removed in the fall Map of the Lancang River and the Jidu River indicating sites of Jidu dam and sampling stations (black dots ). The right pictures show the dam sites before and after dam removal.

Study on the protective effect of dam removal on fish assemblages The number of fish species in study reaches of the Jidu river in 2011 prior to the removal of the dam, and after dam removal in 2013 Temporal variation in fish assemblage structure in the low reache of the Jidu river after dam removal in 2013 Temporal and spatial distributions changes of fish assemblages

Canceling one cascade dam Building the fish Facilities Pumping at different water levels Cascade operating based the eco-security demand Establishing the fish protected area Lowering the dams height Developing the fish hatchery Babi fish releasing Migrating corridor protection Fishery resources proliferation Water temperature regulating Habitat protection (6)The Integrated Regulating System for Fish Ecosystem Security in Upper Mekong, China

Developing the integrated index and monitoring systems of environmental change in Lancang river basin, over 100 participants in the project. River physical indicators Water yield, water quality, and water temperature, et al. Aquatic biological indicators Algae, fish, and benthonic organism, et al. Terrestrial ecological indicators Vegetation community, soil erosion, et al. Social economic indicators Reservoir area immigrants, et al. (7) Monitoring system building

(8) Feasibility analysis of widely accepted indicators as key ones in river health assessment Based on the analysis of 45 assessment index systems with 902 variables within around 150 published papers and documents in 1972–2010,ALL the variable could be divided into four groups: habitat condition, water environment, biotic status, water utilization.

Physical HabitatWater Environment BiologyWater Uses And Human Activities Cover Of Riparian Zone Discharge VariationF-IBIWater Utilization Rate River Continuity Ratio of Reaching Water Quality Standard Land Use Reserved Rate of Wetland Under the correlation analysis among the key indicators in candidate, 8 indicators were finally suggested as the key indicators for assessing river health. Feasibility analysis of widely accepted indicators as key ones in river health assessment

3. Work plan under the WLE project

Study on hydrologic effects (Dr. Yungang Li) Study on water temperature effect (Dr. Yungang Li) Study on sediment transport effects (Dr.Kaidao Fu) Study on fishery effects (Dr.Liqiang Chen and Dr.Chenzhi Ding) 1. Strengthen dialog and communication on transboundary effects of hydropower projects on Lancang River (Daming He) (1) transboundary effects of hydropower projects on Lancang River (2) Other tasks Field visit to hydropower projects on Lancang River with international organizations (Dr. Daming He) workshop, seminar, and etc (Dr. Wenlin Wang) Project progress reports (Dr.Yangbo Li)

2. Enhance involvement of women in river health assessment and management (Yanbo Li) Develop the plan and prepare for survey and interview Field visit and survey in study area Information and data analysis Next user consultation and communication project report publications and media vehicles journal/conference papers 3. Outcomes (all participants at AIRC)

(1): Transboundary environmental effects Key components of effects Data and methods Hydrology Hydrologic data from monitoring station (from 1950s) A numerical model to simulate the hydrological effects Before-after analysis Sediment transport Monthly suspended sediment concentrations data from 1987 (Jiuzhou, Yunjinghong, Chiang Saen ) Analysis of annual distribution characteristics of sediment concentrations Analysis of the relationship between the distribution characteristics and the progress of upstream dam constructions. Water temperature Analysis of water temperature change downstream Nuozhadu Reservoir and water temperature characteristics at Chiang Saen station.

(1): Transboundary environmental effects Key components of effects Data and methods Fish community Compare the fish fauna between the upper and lower reaches of LMR based on existing fish data Identifying the migration fish and the path from the lower Mekong River to the Lancang. Analysis of impacts of key environmental parameters(flow, sediment, temperature and corresponding food source) on fish biodiversity. Flood, drought, navigation (2010/2013) Analysis of the operation data of hydropower projects (inflow and outflow process) on the Lancang River in dry and flood seasons Analysis of the potential impacts to downstream reaches from flow regulation under extreme weather conditions.

(2) Impacts on local livelihood and women’s involvement in river health management  Background The health of regulated rivers will influence access to safe water and livelihoods of local communities Women are often more severely affected than men because women have different societal roles, and therefore different needs and priorities of water, sanitation and livelihood. But women have seldom been involved in consultation and communication regarding hydropower impacts on their lives and livelihoods, so their specific needs have not typically been adequately considered in management measures.  Key questions to address in this project: Impacts of hydropower project on livelihood of local people (especially women). Women’s involvement in river health management and its influential factors in hydropower affected area.

(2) Impacts on local livelihood and women’s involvement in river health management  Methodology Study area ： Manwan Reservoir -Typical villages affected by the reservoir – including resettlements near and far away from the original villages. -Their neighboring villages that are not affected by the reservoir ( for comparison) Methods of data collection and analysis -Group discussion ( both female and male; young, middle aged and elder) and key informants interview will be conducted to identify the key impacts of hydropower project on local community’s livelihood and women's involvement in river health management. -Semi-structured interview will be conducted with selected women ( using Stratified Random Sampling method), to study their understanding of hydropower impacts and management, willingness to and influential factors for the participation of management. -Quantitative description method will be used to identify the influential factors of the women’s willingness to participate in river health management.

Outputs and outcomes Outputs Report on transboundary effects of hydropower projects on Lancang River with respect to river health. Report on the impacts of river health on women. Recommendation report on measures to improve women’s involvement in water resources management in hydropower- affected areas Technical materials to support communications and training. Publications (conference/journal paper). Media (webstories). Minutes of workshops. Graduate theses/ dissertations Outcomes Strengthen dialog and communication on transboundary effects of hydropower projects on Lancang River Enhance involvement of women in river health assessment and management Improve knowledge and skills of students in AIRC Improve knowledge, skills and practices of environmental protection of hydropower developers and regulatory agencies in downstream countries

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