DOCSLIB.ORG

Connected & Flowing

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Connected & Flowing THE VISION CONNECTED & FLOWING A RENEWABLE FUTURE FOR RIVERS, CLIMATE AND PEOPLE CONNECTED AND FLOWING 117 CHAPTER 2 THE VISION CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2 1. INTRODUCTION 10 2. THE VISION 14 Lead author IUCN: James Dalton, Reviewers Jeff Opperman, WWF Rebecca Welling The following people 3. THE RENEWABLE REVOLUTION 28 served as reviewers (of this report Primary co-authors University of California, or earlier versions of it) and helped AND THE CHANGING ROLE FOR Joerg Hartmann (independent Berkeley: Daniel Kammen, strengthen the report. The content HYDROPOWER consultant), Mark Lambrides Isa Farrall and positions expressed in this (TNC), and Juan Pablo Carvallo report, however, are those of the (University of California, Stanford University and the 4. ACHIEVING LOW CARBON, 38 authors and do not necessarily Berkeley) Natural Capital Project: reflect the perspectives of LOW IMACT GRIDS Rafael Schmitt Spatial Analysis those who provided input. Emily Chapin, TNC University of Manchester: 56 Bruce Aylward (AMP Insights), 5. GLOBAL BENEFITS FOR RIVERS Julien Harou Additional Contributors Hannah Baleta (independent OF LOW-COST, LOW CARBON AND WWF: Chris Weber, Marc University of California, consultant), David Harrison LOW-IMPACT POWER SYSTEMS Goichot, Jill Hepp, Michele Los Angeles: Alex Wang (independent consultant), Thieme, Francesca Antonelli, Universität Tübingen: Jessica Penrod (Natel), 64 Jean-Philippe Denruyter, Stuart 6. MAKING SUSTAINABLE GRIDS Christiane Zarfl Jamie Skinner (IIED) Orr, Ying Qiu, Rafael Senga, A REALITY Please cite as: and Shannon Wang Editor Opperman, J., J. Hartmann, M. The Nature Conservancy: Richard Lee, WWF Lambrides, J.P. Carvallo, E. Chapin, 7. FISH AND GRIDS: SUSTAINABLE 76 Amy Newsock, Sharon Report design S. Baruch-Mordo, B. Eyler, M. POWER FOR THE MEKONG REGION Baruch-Mordo, Joe Kiesecker, Lou Clements Goichot, J. Harou, J. Hepp, D. Jorge Gastelumendi, Jonathan Kammen, J. Kiesecker, A. Newsock, 8. CONCLUSIONS 96 Higgins, Brooke Atwell and Figure design R. Schmitt, M. Thieme, A. Wang, Justus Raepple Glyn Williams and C. Weber, 2019. Connected 102 The Stimson Center: Copy Editor and flowing: a renewable future for ANNEX Brian Eyler, Courtney Andrew Myers rivers, climate and people. WWF Weatherby and The Nature Conservancy, Washington, DC ISBN:118 CONNECTED 978-2-940529-94-0 AND FLOWING CONNECTED AND FLOWING 1 © Carlos Goulart / TNC Photo Contest 2018 THE VISION EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Due to the renewable revolution, power systems can now be low carbon, low cost, and low impact on rivers, the environment and people The world faces multiple critical and intertwined storage and low-impact hydropower. For the 2. Low cost. Power systems that are low carbon In practice, we believe that electricity systems challenges: expanding electricity generation to meet first time, there are viable renewable alternatives and low impact must also meet countries’ power that meet these principles will increasingly be the needs of growing economies and to supply power to the high-impact hydropower dams that are demands with electricity that is reliable and those that avoid the significant tradeoffs associated to the more than one billion people who currently currently proposed on many of the world’s remaining affordable. Furthermore, social equity demands with high-impact hydropower projects. However, lack access while reducing greenhouse gas emissions free-flowing rivers – a development path that could that energy investments ensure access to the more avoiding those tradeoffs and impacts does not to nearly zero by 2050 – all while maintaining the trigger a range of negative impacts, including than one billion people that still lack access to equate to an end to hydropower development, but integrity of our world’s ecosystems, including displacement of communities, and the loss of reliable electricity. In fact, the short construction to a significant shift in its role and competitive niche. conserving the planet’s remaining free-flowing rivers. productive freshwater fisheries and much of the times, versatility, and low costs of new renewables Hydropower projects provide a range of services sediment needed to keep economically crucial allow countries to accelerate access to electricity. that can help balance power systems and facilitate Today, the world has a great opportunity to solve deltas above the rising seas. the integration of a higher share of wind and solar 3. Low impact. Nearly all options for producing these challenges, made possible by the renewable generation — both through the reoperation of This report describes how the world can tackle these energy have some negative impacts on revolution — featuring rapidly falling costs for wind existing hydropower and through strategically intertwined challenges and support global efforts to communities and the environment. But, options and solar generation and storage technologies, designed new projects, including off-channel achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for low-impact systems are becoming increasingly and significant advancements in energy efficiency, pumped storage, that avoid the significant and the targets under the Paris Agreement, by moving feasible and various best practices can be applied demand side management, and grid management. tradeoffs associated with past development. rapidly toward electricity systems that are: to further reduce impacts, particularly on the In addition, great progress has been made on These carefully planned projects will provide lower world’s remaining free flowing rivers. the accessibility of tools that allow governments risk and higher value to investors and developers, 1. Low carbon. The imperative to decarbonize to strategically plan power systems so that the while delivering greater overall values to countries energy systems, and economies in general, Achieving this vision will not happen by pre-judging expansion and operation of projects can maximize and communities. becomes increasingly clear with each passing what technologies and mixes of energy generation synergies and minimize negative impacts. should be deployed. Decisions about future electricity year. A stable climate – and prosperous societies The urgent need to expand access to energy systems should follow a process to identify options We can now envision a future in which electricity and healthy ecosystems – requires that electricity while decarbonizing power systems systems are accessible, affordable and powering systems move rapidly to being low carbon and that are consistent with the principles above. Any mix of sources that can meet those principles (low cost, To avoid exceeding a global temperature rise above economies with a more sustainable mix of renewable efficient and that some sectors, such as heating low carbon and low impact) will work for people, 1.5ºC, the IPCC reports that the world will need to energy technologies — including solar, wind, and transportation, be electrified. nature and the climate. cut global CO2 emissions by approximately 40-50% 2 CONNECTED AND FLOWING CONNECTED AND FLOWING 3 © Billy Huynh / TNC Photo Contest 2018 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Recent growth in renewables by type by 2030 and economies will need to become 500 nearly carbon free by 2050. Since electricity KEY POINTS ■ ■ ■ generation is a leading source of GHG emissions, Hydropower Wind Solar • The costs of wind, solar, and battery decarbonization of power systems is critical to 400 storage have dropped dramatically in achieve the necessary emissions reductions, especially as electricity generation must increase recent years – and are continuing to fall. 300 Renewable sources represented two-thirds to provide power to the more than one billion ES1. Recent of new global power generation capacity people around the world who still lack access. growth in This will require a rapid transition away from fossil 200 in 2018, led by wind and solar. Capacity (GW) added renewables fuels (coal, natural gas and oil) to low-carbon by type • The global technical potential of utility- renewables such as wind, solar, geothermal and scale, low-impact wind and solar is 17 100 hydropower. While hydropower has been the Global renewable times the renewable energy targets that power capacity dominant source of renewable generation so far, additions, 2004-2023 countries have committed to under the 2 projections of how the world can meet future 0 (from IEA 2017). Paris Agreement, and well distributed. electricity demand while also achieving climate 2004–2008 2009–2013 2014-2018 2019–2023 This should allow almost all countries goals include a massive increase in the proportion to achieve power systems that are low of wind and solar, with these sources expected carbon, low cost, and low impact on social to attain a share of generation comparable to, or and environmental resources. exceeding, that of hydropower. • Lowering the total number of new The renewable revolution can increase renewable energy, described in case studies hydropower dams because of greater The renewable revolution is rapidly conservation of free-flowing rivers by below. But ensuring that this substitution leads to investment in wind and solar can changing the landscape of power systems delivering low cost, low carbon, low electricity systems that are as low impact as possible reduce negative impacts on rivers and impact grids requires the widespread availability of wind and avoid fragmenting tens to hundreds of The costs for a range of renewable energy solar power in areas with low impacts on social Projections vary widely
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Mekong Tipping Point
    Mekong Tipping Point Richard Cronin Timothy Hamlin MEKONG TIPPING POINT: HYDROPOWER DAMS, HUMAN SECURITY AND REGIONAL STABILITY RICHARD P. CRONIN TIMOTHY HAMLIN AUTHORS ii │ Copyright©2010 The Henry L. Stimson Center Cover design by Shawn Woodley All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written consent from The Henry L. Stimson Center. The Henry L. Stimson Center 1111 19th Street, NW 12th Floor Washington, DC 20036 Phone: 202.223.5956 fax: 202.238.9604 www.stimson.org | iii CONTENTS Preface............................................................................................................... iv Acknowledgements ............................................................................................ v Hydropower Proposals in the Lower Mekong Basin.......................................viii Introduction ........................................................................................................ 1 The Political Economy of Hydropower.............................................................. 5 Man Versus Nature in the Mekong Basin: A Recurring Story..................... 5 D rivers of Hydropower Development................................................................ 8 Dams and Civil Society in Thailand.......................................................... 10 From Migratory to Reservoir Fisheries .................................................... 13 Elusive Support for Cooperative Water Management.....................................
    [Show full text]
  • Letters from the MEKONG TIME for a NEW NARRATIVE on MEKONG HYDROPOWER
    Time for a New Narrative on Mekong Hydropower Letters from the MEKONG TIME FOR A NEW NARRATIVE ON MEKONG HYDROPOWER by Richard Cronin and Courtney Weatherby OCTOBER 2015 1 © 2015 The Stimson Center All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written consent from the Stimson Center. Photo credits: Courtney Weatherby: front cover, page 17, 36, and back cover Rich Cronin: pages 12, 14, 15, 28, 31 Brian Eyler: pages 4, 20, 24, 26 International Rivers: page 22 NASA Observatory: page 34 STIMSON 1211 Connecticut Avenue NW, 8th Floor Washington, DC 20036 Tel: 202.223.5956 | Fax: 202.238.9604 www.stimson.org Time for a New Narrative on Mekong Hydropower CONTENTS Introduction 5 Background 7 Xayaburi and Don Sahong Dam Projects: Site Visits and Findings 13 Xayaburi Dam Site Visit 15 Don Sahong Site Visit 17 Emerging Need for a New Narrative 21 The China Factor 25 Recommendations 29 Conclusion 35 About and Acknowledgements 38 3 Letters from the Mekong THE CURRENT NARRATIVE IS OVERLY PESSIMISTIC… A NEW AND MORE NUANCED VIEW IS REQUIRED. Villages in the Siphandon region 4near the Don Sahong Dam site. CRONIN & WEATHERBY Time for a New Narrative on Mekong Hydropower INTRODUCTION This issue brief – the second in Stimson’s “Letters from the Mekong” series – examines the current status of mitigation efforts at Laos’ Xayaburi and Don Sahong dam projects and the relevance of the existing narrative surrounding hydropower development on the river’s mainstream. Based on extensive research on the status and expected impacts of these projects, the authors of this brief have concluded that the current narrative of inev- itability surrounding the future of the Mekong is increasingly at odds with what is in fact a very fluid situation.
    [Show full text]
  • Khone Phapheng Aesthetics: Evaluating and Ameliorating the Hydraulic and Visual Impacts of the Don Sahong Hydroelectric Project (Lao PDR)
    Khone Phapheng aesthetics: evaluating and ameliorating the hydraulic and visual impacts of the Don Sahong Hydroelectric Project (Lao PDR) The Don Sahong hydropower scheme, now under construction in the Siphandone (“four Don Sahong details Longqingxia ! Dams in the Mekong Basin thousand islands”) region of Khong District (of Champassak Province) in far southern Laos Za Qu Z i Q Commissioned, Under Construction and Planned Dams u has been extremely controversial since the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was first in May 2013 Map Description: The map shows every known commissioned, under construction, and planned Qamdo dam in the basin. ‘Unknown’ dams are mainly dams and reservoirs constructed for use in irrigation and/or water supply, the names of which are currently unknown. agreed between the Lao PDR government and MegaFirst Berhad: a Malaysian company with ! Cege ! Jinhe ! Yuelong Kagong ! Data Sources : Citations for the data sources contributing to the location of the dams in this map may be found Lhasa Banda great experience in engineering and land development, but which had never previously built ! at our website - http://mekong.waterandfood.org/archives/2648 Background relief data is courtesy of Natural Earth and SRTM data from the JPL of NASA Rumei River basin boundary and river vector data is courtesy of the IWMI ! CHINA All other administrative and physiographic data courtesy of NOAA's National Geophysical Data Guxue Center's Global Self-consistent, Hierarchical, High-resolution Geography Database any hydroelectric projects. The initial dust-up was over the Lao PDR’s argument that since ! Acknowledgements: Gushui ! CPWF-Mekong gratefully acknowledges the financial support of AusAID in the production of this map.
    [Show full text]
  • The Don Sahong Dam: Potential Impacts on Regional Fish Migrations, Livelihoods and Human Health
    The Don Sahong Dam: Potential Impacts on Regional Fish Migrations, Livelihoods and Human Health Ian G. Baird, PhD August, 2009 Author’s Contact Information: Ian G. Baird, PhD, Affiliate, POLIS Project on Ecological Governance, University of Victoria, P.O. Box 3060, University House 4, Victoria, B.C., Canada V8W 3R4 [email protected] www.polisproject.org Photo Credits: All photos were taken by Ian G. Baird 1 Table of Contents Acronyms 3 Executive Summary 4 1. Introduction 5 Figure 1. Proposed location of the Don Sahong Dam and study sites between Khone Falls and Vientiane Municipality 7 2. The Nature of the Mekong River Basin and Fish Migrations 8 3. The Khone Falls and the Hou Sahong Channel 9 Figure 2. Just below the Don Sahong Dam site 9 4. Fish Migrations in the Khone Falls Area 10 Table 1. Fish species that migrate up the Mekong River from the Tonle Sap River each dry season (adapted from Baird et al. 2003) 12 5. Methodology 13 6. Results 14 6.1 The Extent of Upstream Fish Migrations 14 Table 2. Fish species’ presence and absence along Mekong River between the Khone Falls and Vientiane Municipality 16 6.2 The Importance of Upstream Fish Migrations for Fisheries above Khone Falls 18 Figure 3. A fish trap on the Hou Xang Pheuak 19 6.3 Numbers of People Expected to be Impacted Upstream 19 6.4 The Importance of Upstream Fish Migrations for Fisheries below Khone Falls 20 6.5 The Impacts of the Don Sahong Dam to Downstream Fisheries 21 6.6 Numbers of People Expected to be Impacted Downstream 23 6.7 Gas Supersaturation below the Don Sahong Dam 24 6.8 Habitat Destruction below the Don Sahong Dam 24 6.9 Cumulative Impacts on Fish and Fisheries 24 7.
    [Show full text]
  • Connected & Flowing
    THE VISION CONNECTED & FLOWING A RENEWABLE FUTURE FOR RIVERS, CLIMATE AND PEOPLE CONNECTED AND FLOWING 117 CHAPTER 2 THE VISION CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2 1. INTRODUCTION 10 2. THE VISION 14 Lead author IUCN: James Dalton, Reviewers Jeff Opperman, WWF Rebecca Welling The following people 3. THE RENEWABLE REVOLUTION 28 served as reviewers (of this report Primary co-authors University of California, or earlier versions of it) and helped AND THE CHANGING ROLE FOR Joerg Hartmann (independent Berkeley: Daniel Kammen, strengthen the report. The content HYDROPOWER consultant), Mark Lambrides Isa Farrall and positions expressed in this (TNC), and Juan Pablo Carvallo report, however, are those of the (University of California, Stanford University and the 4. ACHIEVING LOW CARBON, 38 authors and do not necessarily Berkeley) Natural Capital Project: reflect the perspectives of LOW IMACT GRIDS Rafael Schmitt Spatial Analysis those who provided input. Emily Chapin, TNC University of Manchester: 56 Bruce Aylward (AMP Insights), 5. GLOBAL BENEFITS FOR RIVERS Julien Harou Additional Contributors Hannah Baleta (independent OF LOW-COST, LOW CARBON AND WWF: Chris Weber, Marc University of California, consultant), David Harrison LOW-IMPACT POWER SYSTEMS Goichot, Jill Hepp, Michele Los Angeles: Alex Wang (independent consultant), Thieme, Francesca Antonelli, Universität Tübingen: Jessica Penrod (Natel), 64 Jean-Philippe Denruyter, Stuart 6. MAKING SUSTAINABLE GRIDS Christiane Zarfl Jamie Skinner (IIED) Orr, Ying Qiu, Rafael Senga, A REALITY Please cite as: and Shannon Wang Editor Opperman, J., J. Hartmann, M. The Nature Conservancy: Richard Lee, WWF Lambrides, J.P. Carvallo, E. Chapin, 7. FISH AND GRIDS: SUSTAINABLE 76 Amy Newsock, Sharon Report design S.
    [Show full text]
  • Mekong River Commission P.O
    Mekong River Commission P.O. Box 6101, 184 Fa Ngoum Road, Unit 18 Ban Sithane Neua, Sikhottabong District, Vientiane 01000, Lao PDR Telephone: (856-21) 263 263. Facsimile: (856-21) 263 264 The ISH 0306 Study Development of Guidelines for Hydropower Environmental Impact Mitigation and Risk Management in the Lower Mekong Mainstream and Tributaries Volume 4 – Final Case Study Report Mainstream Dams Assessment Including Alternative Scheme Layouts March 2018 The Final Reports constitutes six volumes: Volume 1: Version 3.0 – Hydropower Risks and Impact Mitigation Guidelines and Recommendations Volume 2: Version 3.0 – Hydropower Risks and Impact Mitigation MANUAL – Key Hydropower Risks, Impacts and Vulnerabilities and General Mitigation Options for Lower Mekong Volume 3: Version 2.0 – Final Knowledge Base and Supporting Documents Volume 4: Version 2.0 – Final Case Study Report – Mainstream Dams Assessment Including Alternative Scheme Layouts Volume 5: ISH0306 Proposed Update of the Preliminary Design Guidance (PDG) and Hydropower Development Strategy Volume 6: Final Closure Report TABLE OF CONTENTS Abbreviations ...................................................................................................................................................... 8 Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................................... 10 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Don Sahong Brief
    DON SAHONG DAM BRIEF VERY HIGH RISK FOR CAMBODIA January 2014 Key Messages: - The Don Sahong Dam would block the only channel suitable for year-round fish migration between Cambodia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) and Thailand. - Would cause a very high risk for national and local fisheries with impacts likely to be experienced throughout the Lower Mekong Basin and repercussions for food security and nutrition for at least 75% of Cambodia’s population, and the nation’s economy. - There currently exist no proven methods to mitigate the dam’s impact on Mekong fisheries. - The EIA and supporting documents submitted by Mega First incorporates inappropriate methodologies with recommendations not supported by scientific evidence. - Financial returns of the US$300 million dam are limited and disproportionate with the expected high risks. - Construction and operation of the dam would likely hasten the extinction of the remaining 85 Critically Endangered Mekong River population Irrawaddy dolphins. - The Don Sahong Dam The proposed 260 MW Don Sahong Dam is one of twelve hydropower projects currently being studied and proposed for construction on the lower stretches of the Mekong River. Located 1.5 kilometres from the Lao-Cambodian border in Champasak Province, Lao PDR, the dam will block the Hou Sahong channel, one of the main dry season channels that comprise the Khone Falls section of the Mekong. The Don Sahong would be the second dam, after Xayaburi, which is also located in Lao PDR, to be approved for construction on the mainstream of the Lower Mekong River. Lao PDR has prioritized hydropower development with the electricity generated from the Don Sahong and Xayaburi Dams being planned for export to Thailand.
    [Show full text]
  • For Don Sahong Hydropower Project
    Mekong River Commission Office of the Secretariat in Phnom Penh (OSP) Office of the Secretariat in Vientiane (OSV), 576 National Road, #2, Chak Angre Krom, Office of the Chief Executive Officer P.O. Box 623, Phnom Penh, Cambodia 184 Fa Ngoum Road, Tel. (855‐23) 425 353. Fax (855‐23) 425 363 P.O. Box 6101, Vientiane, Lao PDR Tel: (856‐21) 263 263. Fax: (856‐21) 263 264 REPORT OF REGIONAL PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON THE DON SAHONG HYDROPOWER PROJECT Grand Champasak Hotel Pakse, Lao PDR 12 December, 2014 Contents Table of Abbreviations ............................................................................................................................. iii List of Figures ........................................................................................................................................... iv Part 1: Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 1 Rationale ................................................................................................................................................... 1 Objectives of the consultation .................................................................................................................. 1 Pre‐consultation activities ........................................................................................................................ 2 Methodology ............................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Don Sahong Hydropower Project, Lao Pdr Environmental Impact Assessment
    MFCBMFCBMFCB NCC DON SAHONG HYDROPOWER PROJECT, LAO PDR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT FINAL JANUARY 2013 Prepared for: MEGA FIRST CORPORATION BERHAD Prepared By: National Consulting Company Vientiane, Lao PDR MFCBMFCBMFCB NCC ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT - DON SAHONG HYDROPOWER PROJECT TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ......................................................................................................................VII 1 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND.............................................................................1-1 1.1 PROJECT LOCATION ................................................................................................................. 1-1 1.2 PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT ...................................................................................................... 1-3 1.3 PROJECT NEED AND RATIONALE ............................................................................................... 1-3 1.4 INSTITUTIONAL, POLICY AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK....................................................................... 1-4 1.4.1 Lao Regulatory Framework..........................................................................................1-4 1.4.2 Relevant Laws..............................................................................................................1-4 1.4.3 Decrees, Regulations and International Conventions..................................................1-6 1.4.4 Best Practice ................................................................................................................1-8
    [Show full text]
  • Letters from the MEKONG OBSTACLES to EQUITABLE HYDROPOWER DEVELOPMENT PLANNING in the LOWER MEKONG BASIN
    Obstacles to Equitable Hydropower Development Planning in the Lower Mekong Basin Letters from the MEKONG OBSTACLES TO EQUITABLE HYDROPOWER DEVELOPMENT PLANNING IN THE LOWER MEKONG BASIN by Richard Cronin and Courtney Weatherby SEPTEMBER 2014 STIMSON CENTER 1 © 2014 The Stimson Center All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written consent from the Stimson Center. Photo credits: Cover, pages 4, 14, and back cover by Courtney Weatherby Page 12 by Rich Cronin STIMSON 1111 19th Street, NW, 12th Floor Washington, DC 20036 Tel: 202.223.5956 | Fax: 202.238.9604 www.stimson.org CONTENTS Introduction 5 Shared River, Shared Future 7 Key Takeaways for Policymakers, Funders, and Project-Planners 7 Mixed Trends Spur Action and Hope 9 Workshop Discussion 10 “The Definite Future”: China’s Projects on the River 11 Where to Go From Here? 15 Endnotes 17 About the Authors 18 About Stimson 18 STIMSON CENTER 3 THE CUMULATIVE IMPACT OF EVEN SOME DAMS WILL PUT AT RISK THE FOOD SECURITY AND LIVELIHOODS OF TENS OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE INTRODUCTION This issue brief, the first in a new series of “Letters from the Mekong,” discusses the cur- rent status of hydropower planning, development, cooperation and decision-making in the Mekong Basin. Hydropower dams, especially large dams on major tributaries and mainstreams, have long been highly controversial because of their negative impact on other components of the water-food-energy-livelihoods “nexus.” In the lower, Southeast Asian half of the 5,080-kilometer Mekong River, with an ecology that has evolved over millions of years to annual extremes of flood and drought, the primary problem of large dams is that they interfere with the river’s life-giving hydrology, block the spawning migration of highly important catch fisheries.
    [Show full text]
  • A Dangerous Trajectory for the Mekong River UPDATE on the STATUS of MEKONG MAINSTREAM DAMS
    Fishermen navigate the rapids in Siphandone, close to the site of the Don Sahong Dam, June 2017 A Dangerous Trajectory for the Mekong River UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF MEKONG MAINSTREAM DAMS s the world’s largest inland freshwater fi shery, the Mekong River feeds more than 60 million Apeople who live within its basin. Its extraordinary aquatic biodiversity is second only to the Amazon. The Mekong River and its tributaries support a large number of globally threatened species, and provide habitat for diverse fi sh, plants and invertebrate. The Mekong’s connectivity and fl ood-drought cycles are essential to maintain its rich fi sheries, ecology, and the sediment and nutrient balance necessary for sustainable production of food crops on its fertile fl oodplains. Despite the signifi cance of the Mekong River Basin to the completed a regional consultation process under the people of mainland Southeast Asia, a dam-building boom is framework of the 1995 Mekong Agreement. Dams on the underway, threatening the basin’s vital ecosystems. A cascade Mekong River mainstream will block the major fish of dams is planned for the Mekong mainstream, with many migrations that feed and provide income to millions of people, more dams proposed and under construction on its and threaten the ecological integrity of the entire river system. tributaries. Two dams are already under construction on the The impacts of dams planned and under construction on the lower Mekong River mainstream - the Xayaburi and Don lower stretch of the Mekong River are compounded by a Sahong Dams. The Pak Beng Dam, the third project cascade of dams on the upper Mekong River, or Lancang, as proposed for construction within the cascade, has recently it is known in China.
    [Show full text]
  • MRC Hydropower Mitigation Guidelines
    Mekong River Commission P.O. Box 6101, 184 Fa Ngoum Road, Unit 18 Ban Sithane Neua, Sikhottabong District, Vientiane 01000, Lao PDR Telephone: (856-21) 263 263. Facsimile: (856-21) 263 264 The ISH 0306 Study Development of Guidelines for Hydropower Environmental Impact Mitigation and Risk Management in the Lower Mekong Mainstream and Tributaries Volume 1 – Hydropower Risks and Impact Mitigation Guidelines and Recommendations, Final Version March 2018 The Final Reports constitutes 6 volumes: Volume 1: Version 3.0 – Hydropower Risks and Impact Mitigation Guidelines and Recommendations Volume 2: Version 3.0 – Hydropower Risks and Impact Mitigation MANUAL – Key Hydropower Risks, Impacts and Vulnerabilities and General Mitigation Options for Lower Mekong Volume 3: Version 2.0 – Final Knowledge Base and Supporting Documents Volume 4: Draft Case Study Report, Version 2.0 - Final Mainstream Dams Assessment Including Alternative Scheme Layouts Volume 5: ISH0306 Proposed Update of the Preliminary Design Guidance (PDG) and Hydropower Development Strategy Volume 6: Final Closure Report 2 TABLE OF CONTENT Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................................. 8 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 12 1.2.1 Overall Basin Development Context .................................................................................... 13 1.2.2
    [Show full text]