3+Gorges+Dam

Three Gorges Dam: Environmental Impacts __ Supporting Evidence for Environmental Impacts: __

“China has spent 1.3 million U.S. dollar annually in cleaning these garbage by building garbage-clearing vessel and, entrusting with relevant provincial governments to scrutinize and distribute the floats. So far, nearly 200,000 cubic meters of garbage floats has been skimmed and collected. According to the latest evaluation made by the Three Gorges Water Environment Monitoring Center, the water at the dam area is up to the state criteria for drinking water.” - gov.cn

“The project is part of China’s initiative to move towards green energy usage. China is currently the second largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world. Coal is the main energy source, accounting for two thirds of all electricity produced in the country. Coal power is not only a nonrenewable resource, but also generates immense amounts of pollution, including carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide.” - mtholyoke.edu

“Scientists say things are getting worse. The water quality of the Yangtze's tributaries is deteriorating rapidly, as the dammed river is less able to disperse pollutants effectively. The incidence of algae blooms has risen steadily since the reservoir was completed in 2006." - Time Magazine

“Species loss in the dam area may be quite drastic. At least three major species are guaranteed to be negatively affected by the dam construction — the endangered Siberian crane, the Yangtze sturgeon and the Yangtze freshwater dolphin. Around one-half of the total population of Siberian cranes lives in the Three Gorges at the low stand of the Yangtze River. The cranes eat aquatic weeds that grow on the bottom, but as the water gets deeper in the Three Gorges area, the cranes may no longer be able to feed on the weeds.” - Ethan Theuerkauf, flathatnews.com

“The proponents of the Three Gorges Dam believe that it will serve to protect 15 million people and 1.5 million acres of farmland in areas of the Yangtze River that are vulnerable to flooding. In order to do this, the water height of the reservoir upstream from the dam will change according to season. During the dry season, from November to April, the water level will be allowed to reach 185 meters above sea level, but during the flooding months, the water level will be reduced to 135 meters in order to attempt to contain floodwaters.” - mtholyoke.edu

"According to the International Rivers Network, hundreds of factories, mines and waste dumps were submerged during the construction of the dam, which is leading to major pollution problems in the Yangtze River and its tributaries.” - Ethan Theuerkauf, flathatnews.com

Three Gorges Dam: Economic Impacts __ Supporting Evidence for Economic Impacts: __

“The Yangtze River is an important shipping route through China because many industries and farmlands are located along the banks. With deepened waters, navigation through the reservoir will be improved for cargo ships. A lock system that takes four hours for each ship to complete has been installed to bypass the dam’s water level difference. The Yangtze River, known to have been dangerous to navigate through prior to the construction of Three Gorges Dam, will now be safer and easier travel." - earthfacts.net

“The Three Gorges Dam Project promotes the development of the three gorges tourism. As the largest water conservancy in the world, it puts the world-famous natural beauty and large water conservancy man-made sights into together, which makes the three gorges 'the hottest' in tourism and press since recent years.” - People’s Daily

“It is estimated that the final monetary cost of this dam will be close to US$25 billion (200-240 billion Chinese yuan). One controversial issue of this dam as opposed to others is the fact that the investors that invest in nearly all dams worldwide are not investing in Three Gorges. It has been offered that a likely reason for these normal investors refusing to fund this project is the ecological implications. It is more likely that these investors refuse to risk their money on something that has a high chance of potential failure.” - mtholyoke.edu

“The relocated citizens find higher-paying jobs in the newly set up businesses, which are usually located within the same country or city. Therefore, they feel quite at home and enjoy a better living in their new homes.” - china-embassy.org “China will lose money due to the inundation of fertile farming land. The 100,000 acres that will be flooded accounts for 10% of the grain supply, 50% of which is rice. To make up for this loss, China will have to import more grain and rice from other countries.” - mtholyoke.edu

“The reservoir created by the dam has already displaced more than a million people. Another 80,000 are still to be moved as it reaches its final stages. Some estimates say at least 1,200 villages and two major towns have had to be abandoned and rebuilt. From the start, the central government promised cash compensation for all those forced to move. It also promised them new homes and new livelihoods.” - bbc.co.uk  Three Gorges Dam: Social Impacts __ Supporting Evidence for Social Impacts: __ “The Three Gorges Dam is situated near six active fault lines and above 15 million people. A dam burst at Three Gorges would, says engineer Philip Williams, president of the San Francisco-based International Rivers Network, 'rank as one of history’s worst man-made disasters.'" - katabasis.com

“In 2009, when the final phase is completed and the reservoir is filled to capacity, more than 2,000 known archeological sites — some dating to the Paleolithic era — will have been submerged, and numerous historic buildings and anthropological sites and the beautiful Three Gorges will be at risk.” - Los Angeles Times

“Tang Changsi, 36, who lives near the Jingjiang River, has been through several floods, including one that killed 1,432 people in 1998. Even though flooding still occurs along the Jingjiang, Three Gorges Dam has greatly reduced it, Tang said. ‘I keep on living a normal life when flood season comes every year,’ he said on Friday, a day after floodwaters on the Yangtze River crested for a second time this year. ‘Without the dam, I would most likely be on the riverbanks fighting the flood right now.’” - chinadaily.com

“The Three Gorges Dam is the world’s largest and most powerful hydroelectric dam. Located on the Yangtze River, and straddling Hubei and Sichuan provinces, the dam stretches two kilometers across (five times wider than America’s Hoover Dam) and stands 185 meters high. The Three Gorges Dam project is a source of intense national pride and the government’s masthead project to show the world what kind of formidable accomplishments it is capable of.” - edwardburtynsky.com

“Between now and 10 June the dam will release 5bn cubic metres of water – equivalent to the volume of Lake Windermere in Britain every day – as engineers sacrifice hydroelectric generation for irrigation, drinking supplies and ecosystem support.” - guardian.co.uk

“The reservoir created by the dam has already displaced more than a million people. Another 80,000 are still to be moved as it reaches its final stages. Some estimates say at least 1,200 villages and two major towns have had to be abandoned and rebuilt.” - bbc.co.uk