Water storage at the Three Gorges Dam begins - June 2003

Water storage at the Three Gorges Dam begins - June 2003

The Three Gorges Dam, located in Yichang, Hubei Province, China, is one of the world's largest hydroelectric dams damming the Yangtze River. The start of water storage was an important milestone in the construction of the Three Gorges Dam, and at the same time had a significant impact on the hydrological environment and local economy in the downstream area.

Construction Background and Objectives
Construction of the Three Gorges Dam officially began in 1993. The objectives of the project are to ensure large-scale hydropower generation, flood control, and water resource management in the Yangtze River Basin. The total construction cost was estimated at about 180 billion yuan (about 2.2 trillion yen at the exchange rate of the time), and construction proceeded over a period of about 17 years. When the dam was completed, the total generating capacity was expected to reach 22.5 GW, with an annual output of approximately 100 billion kWh. This was enough to meet several percent of China's domestic electricity demand at the time.

Impact of the Start of Water Storage
With the start of water storage in June 2003, the water level of the Yangtze River rose to 135 meters. This forced about 1.4 million residents to relocate, and new residential areas and infrastructure were built at a rapid pace. While the flood-prevention effects of the Three Gorges Dam were highly praised, the following environmental and social impacts were also pointed out.

1) Deterioration of water quality: The storage of water has slowed the flow of water, making it easier for pollutants in the water to accumulate. Industrial wastewater and domestic wastewater were particularly affected. 2.
Ecosystem changes: The ecosystem of the Yangtze River has changed, especially the habitat of the Yangtze River dolphin (Baiji), which is endemic to the area. 3.
3. increase in landslides: Water level fluctuations caused ground instability, resulting in frequent landslides and land subsidence around Hubei Province and Chongqing City.

Impact on Economic and Energy Policies
The start of power generation at the Three Gorges Dam has also had a major impact on China's energy strategy. As part of a policy to reduce the country's dependence on coal and increase the ratio of clean energy, the Three Gorges Dam played a central role in the national project. In addition, after the completion of the dam, tourism developed in the surrounding areas, and tourism industries such as Three Gorges cruises flourished.

Future Prospects
The Three Gorges Dam still plays an important role in China's electricity supply, but in recent years there have been concerns about water level fluctuations due to climate change and water resource management issues in the upper reaches of the dam. In particular, in 2020, record-breaking rainfall caused the maximum storage level of the Three Gorges Dam to exceed the alert level, testing its flood control capacity. The operation of the Three Gorges Dam and its environmental impacts will continue to require careful monitoring and evaluation.