ABSTRACT: Fan Xiao, the respected Chinese geologist and environmentalist, recounts two visits he made to regions along the River that have been irrevocably changed by the Dam project. In 2012 and 2013, which marked the 10-year anniversary of the dam’s operation, Fan explored its impact on the environment and the people living upstream, along its immense reservoir, including at his hometown of . Water- ways have been disrupted due to siltation and the creation of sandbars; tributaries have become stagnant; water quality has drastically deteriorated due to pollution and other problems; dangerous landslides routinely alter the legendary Three Gorges scenery, which has become a shadow of its former grandeur. Fan also tells of the dam’s effects on the Author’s note: This article, based people living along the Yangtze and its tributaries. Ancient villages lie submerged under on my trips to the Three Gorges water, while the relocated communities have been handicapped; long-established patterns reservoir area in 2012 and 2013, was published, in part, in the 2014 January of agriculture have been erased and the tourism industry has not recovered, leaving the issue of Chinese National Geography. local citizens struggling to make do.

N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 4 | P R O B E I N T E R N AT I O N A L E D I TO R S : M U L A N , PAT R I C K FA R R E LL , PAT R I C I A A DA M S INTRODUCTION Following the Central Government’s State Council approval of the most seriously silted section of the Three Gorges reservoir’s 60-km “Three Gorges Post-Project Plan” in May 2011—an expensive long tail section (the upstream river channel where it meets the remedial program to address widespread environmental, geolog- reservoir) because this is precisely where the water begins to slow ical and economic problems created by the construction of the down. Now in the Jiangbeizui area of urban Chongqing, so much silt on the Yangtze River—the Chinese and foreign has accumulated along the banks that the watercourse has shifted media, once again, shone a spotlight on the world’s largest dam by as much as 80 meters. In the Liangtuo area, 5 km downstream project. This gigantic project, which dammed Asia’s longest river from Chaotianmen Port, silt has raised the Yangtze’s riverbed by 10 and the world’s third largest in terms of volume, has altered half meters since impoundment1 of the Three Gorges reservoir began. of ’s natural landscape and society. It is thus no wonder that the dam has received constant international attention. Chongqing, There is also currently a sandbar located at the mouth of the Jialing the major section of the Three Gorges reservoir area, has experi- River (where it enters the Yangtze), near to Jiangbeizui (downtown enced the most profound changes. Chongqing’s financial ). Experts who participated in the Three Gorges feasibility study in the 1980s were deeply concerned SEDIMENTATION IN THE RESERVOIR “A VERY about this eventuality. Their prediction is now gradually occurring. SERIOUS PROBLEM” Not far from the mouth of the Jialing, several dredging boats were I visited the Three Gorges reservoir area twice during the early operating in the Yangtze, though I was not sure if they were dredg- springs of 2012 and 2013. Chongqing was the final stop on my ing the waterway, or just digging sand for building materials. two visits. In 2013, water levels were dropping slowly and steadily so the reservoir could make room for the coming flood season’s Mr. Wen also mentioned two other places where siltation problems increased water flows. As a native of Chongqing, I was shocked are becoming serious: at the Lanniwan section of the Yangtze in by what I saw: large areas of deep sandbars had appeared in the Zhongxian County (about 250km downstream of urban Chongqing Chaotianmen and Jiangbeizui regions on the Yangtze’s north bank. and 350 km upstream of the dam), and at the section just in front Even more surprisingly, a massive dam had been created from of the dam. the gravel carried by the river flow, stretching like a huge dragon from the confluence of the Jialing (a tributary of the Yangtze) and Yangtze Rivers, all the way to the center of the Yangtze. Moreover, half of the road that originally led to a cement riverside pier was buried under sandbars, forcing the waterway to shift to the other side of the river. I was shocked. I have never seen anything like this in my life.

As early as October 2010, Wen Guanghua, director of the Chongq- ing Waterway Bureau, warned that sediment deposited along Chongqing’s waterway was becoming a “very serious problem.” He The so-called Lanniwan is the channel on the north side of Huanghua Island (indicated pointed out that the stretch between urban Chongqing’s Chao- by the arrow), which divides the Yangtze River in two, located 8km downstream of Zhongxian Town (the capital of Zhongxian County) and about 250km downstream of ur- tianmen Port and upstream to Honghuaqi in Jiangjin City was the ban Chongqing and 350 km upstream of the dam. Source: Google Earth, April 10, 2013.

1Impoundment refers to the accumulation of water in a reservoir behind a dam.

2 I visited the Lanniwan area in March 2012. There, I discovered able to pass through the Three Gorges reservoir area. But since Huanghua Island, located 8 km downstream of Zhongxian, the impoundment, around 70% of this sediment flow becomes trapped county’s capital. It is the only island in the entire Three Gorges in the reservoir each year. While it is true that the absolute amount reservoir, and divides the Yangtze River in two, with the so-called of silt accumulating in the reservoir is less than originally expected, Lanniwan being the channel on the north side. According to data the sediment-deposition ratio is much higher than expected. More provided by the Chongqing Waterway Bureau, prior to 2003 the importantly, the deposition of silt is highly concentrated in specific water in the Lanniwan was deep enough for shipping, even in the areas, such as at the reservoir’s tail, at bends in the river, at the es- dry season. But based on data released by Chongqing Jiaotong tuaries of Yangtze tributaries, and immediately in front of the dam, University experts, a total siltation volume of 103 million tons all of which negatively impact the navigability of the waterway. flowed down the Yangtze from 2003 to 2010, resulting in a buildup of sediment in the Lanniwan that now exceeds 50 meters deep. In GEOLOGICAL DISASTERS: MORE FREQUENT WHILE May 2011, the bureau closed Lanniwan channel because the river FILLING THE RESERVOIR course had become completely blocked by silt. On last year’s trip to Chongqing, I also visited and interviewed ex- perts at the Chongqing Geological Environment Monitoring Station. Before impoundment of the Three Gorges Dam reservoir (i.e. They informed me that since the first trial to fill the reservoir to 175 before the sluice gates were closed), the annual sediment flow into meters or its NPL (Normal Pool Level) began in September 2008, the reservoir from upstream of the Yangtze and its tributaries was the routine rising and falling of water has triggered numerous about 460 million tons, while the annual sediment yield discharged geological disasters, including earthquakes and landslides. As of from the reservoir area to the lower Yangtze, downstream of July 2011, at least 272 geological disasters and imminent disasters (a city approximately 40 km downstream of the dam), was (such as precariously situated rock masses) have been documented about 523 million tons. In other words, before impoundment, the in the Chongqing region of the reservoir area. These incidents were dynamic of sediment flows was stable. In geomorphic terms, there highly concentrated in the years 2008 and 2009, especially during was little or no accretion (buildup) of sediment. Before the dam the periods when the reservoir was being filled and lowered (im- began impounding, silt flowed into the reservoir area and contin- pounded and unloaded). During that time, there were 243 incidents, ued downstream unimpeded. 167 of which were identified as novel and unexpected, accounting for 68% of the total incidents. Data gathered between 2003 and 2008 determined that the annu- al sediment flow into the reservoir from upstream had decreased In an effort to reduce the occurrence of geological disasters caused to about 198 million tons, mainly because a number of large by the operation of the reservoir, the -based Changjiang Wa- reservoirs built upstream of the Three Gorges area were trapping ter Resources Commission (CWRC) asked dam authorities to reduce sediment. Meanwhile, during the same period, annual sediment the rate of impoundment and unloading, keeping the daily maximum flows out of the reservoir into the lower river section below the amplitude (changes in the reservoir level, up or down) to less than dam decreased to only 61 million tons. 0.5 meters. The measures suggested by the CWRC worked: docu- mented occurrences of geological disasters and related dangerous This means that, before the dam’s impoundment, almost 100% situations in the Chongqing area fell to 16 and 13 in 2010 and of the sediment flowing down the Yangtze and its tributaries was 2011 respectively.

3 In early March 2012, I traveled to the Gorge of the Three Gorg- Experts at the monitoring station also informed me that since es, to visit Aunt Wang , a resident of Gongjiafang Village, located 2000, a budget of more than 10 billion yuan (1.6 billion USD) has about 4 kms downstream of the Wushan Port. “On November 23, been allocated to the geological disasters management program 2008, about four or five in the afternoon, I was in my home when I for the Three Gorges reservoir area. So far, 511 projects to stabi- heard a loud noise,” she told me. “I ran out of the house and was lize landmasses and riverbanks have been completed, and there shocked to see dust rising across the [Yangtze] river. Part of the will be more work to do in the future. In the Chongqing reservoir hill collapsed, causing huge waves, so powerful that they rushed region alone, more than 5,000 vulnerable locations have been to the south bank, where our village is located. Then they raced identified, including areas at risk of landslides, riverbank collapses back to the north shore, dragging a large number of fruit trees and dangerous rockfalls. Of these, some 4,500 are listed as high and topsoil into the risk. river, making it mud coloured. Fortunately The experts worry no one was hurt.” about another factor: nearly all of the 511 I believe that Aunt projects completed Wang2 was describ- are concentrated at ing the incident that sites where geological occurred during the disasters have already first trial to fill the occurred or where reservoir to its NPL. hazards were identi- During that attempt, it fied before the dam’s was filled to 172 me- construction. A large ters (rather than the number of equally planned 175 meters) hazardous sites, newly when the landslide created by the dam’s occurred. Chinese Landslide near Gongjiafang Village in of the Three Gorges, about 4 km downstream impoundment, have of the Wushan Port. Source: Online image. media reported that it measured more than 50,000 square meters, causing a water surge yet to be properly assessed, let alone dealt with. Moreover, many as high as 13 meters. The surge spread as far as Wushan Port, of the completed projects are now facing new problems, having breaking the cables of several boats and damaging facilities in the been damaged by repeated flooding and the continual impound- port. ment and unloading of the reservoir. Thus, there is an urgent need for maintenance work on these older stabilization projects. As these On May 18, 2009, Wu Gorge underwent a similar event in the experts make clear, there will be continual and extremely demand- same place when the water levels in the Three Gorges reservoir ing follow-up work in the future to deal with geological disasters in were dropping. This time, a slide measuring about 20,000 square the reservoir area. meters fell into the river, narrowing the waterway by close to 100 meters. The Chongqing Waterway Bureau was forced to suspend It is no wonder the “Three Gorges Post-Project Plan” approved by shipping for five hours as a result. the State Council in 2011 listed geological disaster prevention and

2Here, Fan Xiao is using “Aunt” as a term of respect.

4 management as one of the urgent areas requiring attention. As grass and shrubs covering the slopes. In some other important Zhang Hongtao, chief engineer of the Ministry of Land Resources, locations, such as in Zhongxian County, one of the well- put it, “The issue of managing geological disasters in the Three known attractions in the reservoir area, a large number of trees Gorges reservoir area is an incessant problem.” had been planted, but many of those along the riverbank died after the reservoir water level dropped, and only the occasional fresh, THE RESERVOIR AREA’S DRAWDOWN ZONE: leafy branch could be seen. PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES Throughout my trip to the Three Gorges reservoir area, I felt Toward the end of my trip, I visited Wang Liao, professor at the distress whenever I saw the ugly drawdown zone, which gradually School of Resource and Environmental Studies at Chongqing appears as the reservoir level drops, causing an uncomfortable University. She said that the water level fluctuations in the Three visual experience: barren rock, eroded soil and dying vegetation Gorges reservoir are completely different to what took place when brought about by fluctuating water levels, uncultivated strips of the Yangtze was in its natural state. Pre-dam vegetation growth land often littered with trapped garbage, and the dull and daunting cycles have been disturbed on both banks of the river, coupled with gray concrete slopes, all of which are in stark contrast to the green the constant erosion caused by dramatic changes in water levels. hillside above and clear water below. Without human intervention, it is extremely difficult for vegetation to recover along the reservoir’s drawdown zone after the water Although remedial programs are underway in some areas, my in- recedes. vestigation discovered that, for the most part, the problems remain and the challenges are still enormous. Several attempts to repair In order to deal with the landscape problems, soil erosion and the region’s ecology and protect its inhabitants seem to have had pollution in the reservoir’s drawdown zone, Chinese experts have some success, but many have not. For example, in the Jiangbeizui conducted extensive studies and experiments to restore vegetation, area, I saw vegetation along the reservoir shore growing well, with said Professor Wang. One trial project chose a combination of

The reservoir area’s drawdown zone in Shibaozhai in Zhongxian County. The well- known Three Gorges reservoir attraction has undergone dramatic changes, with many of the trees along the riverbank dy- ing after the reservoir water level dropped. Source: Fan Xiao, March 2012.

5 submergible species of local plants, and arranged them in groups ter have dramatically diminished while readings of Grade IV water along the reservoir shore according to their ability to withstand have significantly increased. Meanwhile, Grades V, V+, and even various water depths. However, she also noted that this pilot proj- worse, have been identified in several sections. ect is isolated to just a few places. Because the reservoir area is so large, and its drawdown belt is so long, it is difficult to implement An outbreak of water blooms—or algal blooms—was discovered widely. for the first time in the Three Gorges reservoir area in June 2003, coinciding with the first impoundment of the reservoir. Since then, In addition to these problems, pollution of the Yangtze is wors- incidents of algal blooms have become increasingly frequent and ening. According to an independent report entitled “Yangtze are a nightmare for the quality of water in the reservoir area. Protection and Development 20093,” the water quality of the During my March 2012 trip, I traveled to several tributaries where Yangtze’s main channel had declined to Grades II to IV*, with an the most serious blooms had occurred—including the Pengxi River average Grade of III, from an average of Grade of II prior to 2003. (which flows from Kaixian County to ), the Daning The report concluded that, while the overall situation is basically River (in Wushan County), the Meixi River (in ), and stable, it is likely to get worse before getting better, with the section the Caotang River (in Fengjie County). I didn’t see any sign of the upstream of Cuntan near urban Chongqing downstream to Fengjie water blooms due to the low temperatures and continuous rains, (County) becoming an area of increased pollution. but I was still struck by the stagnant state of the water in those rivers, as well as their dark green colour.

In Wushan Port, where the Daning River joins the Yangtze, I smelled a strong and unpleasant odour emitting from the water, which looked green-to-dark green with heavy turbidity. When waiting for a boat, several ladies working for travel companies told me that a few years ago around the same time, the water was the colour of “soy sauce,” not just unpleasant, but disgusting.

It is no wonder that the tributaries in the Three Gorges reservoir area and reservoir bays, like the Wushan Port, are the locations of the most serious water blooms: they are backwater areas where water flows very slowly and water exchange is more difficult. From a scientific perspective, a river’s ability to assimilate and purify itself of pollutants is much weaker when slow-moving or almost The reservoir area’s drawdown zone in the Bawu Gorge of the Lesser Three Gorges along the Daning River. Source: Fan Xiao, March 2012. stationary than when free flowing. It is no surprise, therefore, that the water quality of these tributaries is deteriorating. Based on the The situation along the Yangtze’s tributaries in the Three Gorges analysis of major indexes such as chemical-oxygen demand (COD), reservoir area is also getting worse. According to the report, prior ammonia-nitrogen (major oxygen-demanding pollutants) and oth- to 2003, tributary water averaged between Grades II and III, but ers, the 2009 report concluded that the assimilative and purifying has since deteriorated. According to my review of the report’s capacity of Three Gorges reservoir had decreased by nearly 50% data, in the 40 main tributaries surveyed, readings of Grade II wa- compared to before 2003.

3The report was jointly produced by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Changjiang Water Resources Commission (CWRC) and the World Wildlife Fund, and involved prominent members of China’s scientific community: Yang Guishan, chief scientist of the Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Weng Lida, former director of the Yangtze Water Resources Protection Bureau of the CWRC and Li Lifeng from the WWF (China Branch).

6 THE BEST AGRICULTURAL BELTS LOST TO THE RESERVOIR Historically, the Chongqing region of the Yangtze valley is not only the most populous, with towns and villages concentrated along both riverbanks, it is also the most prosperous agricultural zone, producing many famous agricultural products, including two well- known crops native to the area: the navel orange of Fengjie (Coun- ty) and mustard of Fuling (City). Both have earned worldwide, top quality reputations. During my 2012 trip, I had one question in mind: what happened to these products after the reservoir was filled?

It may seem strange, but even though the reservoir’s Chongqing Mustard, one of the best-known native products, grows on the slopes along the region is more or less geographically homogeneous, the cultivation Yangtze in Baisheng Town in Fuling City. Source: Fan Xiao, March 2012. of Fengjie’s orange and Fuling’s mustard, are limited to a very few plots that offer unique conditions such as microclimates, access to unsuitable for growing the famous orange: the higher the altitude, sunlight, particular soils and so forth. the worse its quality and taste. Villagers gave me several oranges grown at different heights, allowing me to taste the difference. The For example, the best Fengjie orange farms are highly concentrat- contrast was obvious. ed in the vicinity of the Kuimen area in the , including Baidi, Caotang, Zhuyi and Yongle. There, the oranges are the major I confirmed with agricultural experts in Chongqing that the higher source of income for local farmers. In Baidi Town, near the Yangtze the altitude, the worse the quality and taste of the orange. Dif- River, a villager told me that the best oranges grow on slopes up to ferences in microclimate, particularly temperature, soil, humidity, 600 meters above sea level, and that the “cream of the crop” are precipitation, wind, and other factors, deeply affect its growth. found in the lowest “yellow sand soil” zone closest to the Yangtze. They are also concerned about other factors affecting the orange’s Unfortunately, the ideal “yellow sand soil” zone was lost entirely quality as a result of changes along the reservoir. It appears that when the reservoir was filled to 175 meters. The villager also said its skin has become thicker, its water content has decreased, and that prior to impoundment, villagers in Baidi Town had an average its storage period has diminished; changes caused mainly by alter- of 0.6 to 0.7 mu (1 mu=1/15 ha) of farmland, more than half ations to the growing conditions following the dam’s construction. of which was used for growing the orange. He said that now, with more than half of the land formerly used for orchards flooded by In Bagua Village in Baisheng Town, villagers told me that the best the reservoir, villagers use an average of 0.2 mu, resulting in a mustard grows in a zone below 300 meters above sea level, significant reduction of crops and decline in income. especially along belts close to the riverbank, where the soil is par- ticularly good for growing the mustard. The annual output of those When visiting another village, near a tributary of the Caotang belts was once as high as 10,000 jin (1 jin=0.5 kilograms) per River in Caotang Town, I heard the same story: almost all the best mu. Unfortunately, as one villager said with a sigh, almost all those orchards for growing the Fengjie orange were flooded by the reser- belts were lost to the reservoir. According to other villagers, before voir when it reached its NPL. It is unfortunate, a Caotang Town vil- the dam authority began impounding, the township’s government lager told me, but the higher slopes along the reservoir shore are launched a campaign to move the topsoil from the belts close to

7 the riverbank to above the 175 meter mark, in an attempt to keep NEWLY BUILT TOWNS STRUGGLE AFTER ANCIENT TOWNS the best soil conditions for growing the top quality and quantity of FLOODED BY RESERVOIR mustard. Regrettably, the effort failed because the project was too In the spring of 2013, I took a tourist boat at the Wushan Port, big to finish in time. along the Daning River upstream from the county seat of Wushan to Dachang Town. With the water level having risen by more than Most surprisingly, however, the villagers also said that even the 100 meters and the water surface area now dozens of times wider land remaining for growing mustard is being diverted for use in the than prior to 2003, the landscape has been fundamentally changed government’s so-called “golden fruit trees project” in the Three in the Lesser Three Gorges (or Small Three Gorges, a section of Gorges reservoir area. The project mandates that all arable land the Daning River, a Yangtze tributary) and the Mini Three Gorges grow lychee trees with a subsidy of 200 yuan for per mu of farm- (a section of the Madu River, a Daning River tributary). As my tour land. Villagers in Fuling are very worried about the policy, because revealed, the natural fine arts gallery of scenic wonders that once local farmers have traditionally been accustomed to an annual unfolded on the rivers’ banks is no longer as dazzling or splendid cropping system: one season for mustard and the next for corn. as I had seen before; the cliffs are not sheer, the mountains no Leaving aside the value of corn, farmers were able to earn up to longer steep, waters no longer clear as a result of the significant 2,000 yuan per mu from their mustard crops alone. They are now rise in water levels in both the Daning and Madu rivers. concerned that their total earnings will decline if they are forced to only grow lychee. I also found that the small tourist boats that had previously gath- ered at Wushan Port had disappeared, replaced by big cruise ships Their fears are well grounded. If the government’s policy is with hundreds of seats, which now course the Lesser Three Gorges. implemented and all arable land is used to grow lychee, rather than Bigger motorboats with more than 40 seats have also replaced the mustard or other crops, local farmers, most of them already relo- small wooden boats with seven or eight seats that once cruised cated because of the dam, will be challenged by a number of new along the Mini Three Gorges. Staff working for a local travel com- issues. First, as it takes years for lychee trees to mature and bear pany told me that even though the water surface has widened and fruit, how will they make a living during those years without income boating conditions have improved in recent years, the number of from the farmland? Second, even if conditions are good for grow- tourists has not increased. There has been no growth in the roughly ing lychee trees, how will its produce compete with the products 700,000 to 800,000 or so yearly tourists visiting the Lesser Three from the south, which are well known for their taste and sell well Gorges after impoundment began. According to the staff, a major domestically and overseas? Third, and no less important, unlike reason for this is that the Lesser Three Gorges is not as attractive mustard, which local people are good at processing and can store as it was before the impoundment. I had the same feeling when I easily, how can local farmers market lychees, given their short saw the dwarfed mountains and cliffs on both banks of the nearly shelf life? Whatever the outcome, the government’s policy and stagnant Daning River, and especially when looking at the ugly implementation strategy reminded me of the “Great Leap Forward” drawdown belts along the once-spectacular gorges. era in the 1950s, when farmers in the countryside were forced to do certain things, and prohibited from doing others, resulting While the boat approached the port of Dachang Town, the tour in a great famine. As it is, local farmers in the reservoir area are guide repeatedly alerted us to our arrival at the “ancient town of being forced to grow something they are unfamiliar with, instead of Dachang.” But in fact, Dachang’s real 1,700-year-old site, one of mustard, which is most suitable. The government’s policy is crazy China’s best-preserved ancient towns, had been submerged. We and ridiculous. were actually arriving at the new town of Dachang, built atop a hill

8 The “Old Town” in the new town of Dachang, which was built atop a hill some 10 kms downstream of the original Dachang. The 1,700-year-old site, one of China’s best-preserved ancient towns, is now submerged. Source: Fan Xiao, March 2012.

some 10 kms downstream of the original site, at the center of location. When relocation was ordered, the Wen family raised funds which the local government had reconstructed the “Old Town.” and tried to rebuild the courtyard themselves in the new location. Dozens of the houses and courtyards from the ancient town were But the local government rejected their plan and rebuilt against rebuilt using the original materials, including bricks, tiles, roof the owner’s wishes. Consequently, the Wen family had no option but beams, pillars and so forth. Visitors must pay an admission fee to to live in the new Wen Family’s Courtyard. The local government, get in for a tour and, with a cruel twist; the original owners of the however, has been trying to force the family to move out. houses and buildings have been forced to become renters, and are only allowed to operate tourist businesses in their former homes if Outside the “Old Town,” the rest of Dachang was also quiet, with they paid a fee to the government. few pedestrians on the street and many shops with closed doors. Local residents were mainly gathered outside the “Old Town” A girl selling snacks at the entrance told me that she lives in the and near the wharf by the riverbank, selling tourists boiled eggs, Wen Family’s Courtyard (Wenjiadayuan) inside the “Old Town”. As I peanuts, and baked sweet potatoes. On the day I visited, there were understand it, the Wen family had formerly lived in the old and well- only 100 or so people there, those who took the same tourist boat known courtyard for more than 300 years. It had been one of the as I did. It was said that normally there are several hundred visitors, most valuable and best-preserved courtyards in the entire Three with a maximum of a thousand on a busy day. An old lady selling Gorges area, and was a very popular tourist destination before re- peanuts told me that she had been working almost the entire day

9 but hadn’t sold a single bag; a bag of peanuts costs three yuan (50 altered ecosystems and economies described here will provide a cents). rare and essential glimpse of the harsh consequences of the Three Gorges Dam on the people who live in its immense shadow. In my view, the dearth of industry in the reservoir area today is associated with the relocation of old towns, which had functioned * China has established a water-quality classification system based as regional centers for the gathering of people and exchange of on the purpose of use and protection targets, following Environ- goods. To be sure, it is difficult for newly built towns to function well mental Quality Standard GB3838-2002: so soon after their relocation. But problems have afflicted the re- building process as well. From a topographical perspective, it’s not easy to find good locations for the construction of new towns. For 1. Grade I – Mainly applicable to the sources of water this reason, relocated towns in both Yunyang and Kaixian counties bodies and national nature preserves. were moved far from their original locations. In other cases, certain geographical conditions and geological risks that should have been 2. Grade II – Mainly applicable to class A water source taken into consideration were not. The rebuilt towns of Wushan, protection areas for centralized drinking water supply, Wanzhou and Fuling are good examples of this mistake, being sanctuaries for rare species of fish, and spawning located higher up the steep slopes from the old towns, with limited grounds for fish and shrimps. space, and higher risk of geological disasters such as landslides. In the Chongqing section of the reservoir, the rebuilding of the 3. Grade III – Mainly applicable to class B water source new county seat for Fengjie County provides one of the greatest protection areas for centralized drinking water supply, examples of failed rebuilding. The new town is not only far from the sanctuaries for common species of fish, and original landmark—the Kuimen area in the Qutang Gorge, one of swimming zones. the most famous attractions in the reservoir area (at the confluence of the Yangtze and Meixi Rivers)—but because of problems with 4. Grade IV – Mainly applicable to water bodies for the terrain, Fengjie Town itself has been divided into a few narrow general industrial water supply and recreational strips along the Yangtze, which has resulted in headaches for local waters in which there is no direct human contact with traffic. the water.

CONCLUSION 5. Grade V – Mainly applicable to water bodies for Sometimes lost in the grand scale of the Three Gorges Dam project agricultural water supply and for general landscape are the many changes that have dramatically affected individuals requirements. and communities. Yet it is at the micro level where the impacts are most intensely felt. Countless citizens have been affected and are 6. Grade V+ – Essentially useless. struggling to adapt to the new reality of disrupted ecosystems and disrupted lives. It is hoped that the first-hand stories and details of

View an image gallery of photographs taken by Fan Xiao during his 2012 and 2013 trips to the Three Gorges reservoir area here: http://journal.probeinternational.org/2014/11/24/photo-gallery-astonishing-changes-in-the-life-and-environment-of-chongqing

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