Three Gorges Dam Braces for Flood Peak, Flood Control Enters Critical Stage in the Yangtze River Basin

Three Gorges Dam Braces for Flood Peak, Flood Control Enters Critical Stage in the Yangtze River BasinOn July 11, Nanfang Daily learned that the upper reaches of the Yangtze River will experience multiple rises in water levels over the next week, with the Three Gorges Dam expected to face a flood peak with an inflow of approximately 45,000 cubic meters per second around July 12.The Three Gorges Dam, a "national treasure" within the Yangtze River Basin's flood control system, plays a crucial role in this year's flood season

Three Gorges Dam Braces for Flood Peak, Flood Control Enters Critical Stage in the Yangtze River Basin

On July 11, Nanfang Daily learned that the upper reaches of the Yangtze River will experience multiple rises in water levels over the next week, with the Three Gorges Dam expected to face a flood peak with an inflow of approximately 45,000 cubic meters per second around July 12.

The Three Gorges Dam, a "national treasure" within the Yangtze River Basin's flood control system, plays a crucial role in this year's flood season. CCTV reports indicate that since the onset of the plum rains in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River on June 18, the Yangtze River Water Conservancy Commission, following the Ministry of Water Resources' deployment, has effectively utilized the flood detention capacity of the Three Gorges Dam, storing up to 83.4 billion cubic meters of floodwater to date. Meanwhile, other pivotal reservoirs have actively cooperated in flood detention, effectively reducing the flood peak water levels at the Lianhuatang, Hankou, Jiujiang, and Datong stations in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River by approximately 1.7 meters, 1.0 meters, 0.6 meters, and 0.4 meters, respectively. This series of measures significantly alleviated the flood pressure in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, successfully preventing the Lianhuatang station from exceeding the guaranteed water level and avoiding the need for flood diversion in the Chenglingji area.

In response to the levee breach at the Tuanzhouyuan embankment in Huarong County, Yueyang City, Hunan Province, the Three Gorges Dam continues to act as a "stabilizing force." The Yangtze River Water Conservancy Commission persistently detained upstream inflows and accelerated the drainage from the Dongting Lake area, enabling the water level at the Qili Mountain station to drop below the warning level a day ahead of schedule, effectively reducing the defense pressure on the Qian-Tuan embankment and the difficulty of levee repair.

As a result of continuous flood detention in the previous stage, the water level at the Three Gorges Dam has risen to 159.90 meters, approximately 15 meters higher than the average water level for the same period, marking the highest water level for the same period during the dam's normal operation. Since July 8, the main rain zone in the Yangtze River Basin has shifted from the middle and lower reaches to the upper reaches, and the inflow into the Three Gorges Dam has gradually increased to over 30,000 cubic meters per second.

According to hydrological and meteorological forecasts as of July 10, the Sichuan, Chongqing, and Three Gorges Reservoir areas will continue to experience heavy rainfall over the next ten days, resulting in multiple rounds of rising water levels in tributaries such as the Minjiang and Jialiang rivers. The Three Gorges Dam will face two significant rises in water levels in mid-July, with a peak inflow of approximately 45,000 cubic meters per second around July 12. The group of reservoirs in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, with the Three Gorges Dam as the core, will face a test of upstream floodwaters in the future.

In response to the upcoming flood peak, the Yangtze River Water Conservancy Commission has implemented a series of measures. Firstly, they will further increase the outflow from the Three Gorges Dam based on upstream inflow conditions. Secondly, they will coordinate other upstream main and tributary reservoirs to cooperate in flood detention, controlling the water level at the Three Gorges Dam before the flood peak arrives to prepare for its flood detention and peak-shaving function. During dispatching, they will fully consider the flood situation in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, striving to minimize the risk of the water levels at key control stations, which have already receded below the warning level, exceeding the warning level again.

The Yangtze River Basin is about to enter the "Seven Down Eight Up" critical period for flood control. The Yangtze River Water Conservancy Commission will continue to coordinate the unified joint dispatching of water conservancy projects in the basin, ensuring flood safety in the basin, based on rainfall and inflow conditions in the Yangtze River Basin, considering flood control needs in the upper, middle, and lower reaches, and balancing the comprehensive utilization of water resources for navigation, power generation, and other purposes.

The Three Gorges Dam, as the head of the reservoir group in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, plays an irreplaceable role in flood control, power generation, navigation, and comprehensive utilization of water resources. This year, the Three Gorges Dam has demonstrated outstanding performance in responding to flood challenges, effectively safeguarding the safety of the Yangtze River Basin.

To better address potential flood risks in the future, efforts need to be strengthened in the following areas:

• Strengthen hydrological and meteorological monitoring and forecasting: Accurately and promptly grasp the rainfall and inflow conditions in the basin to provide scientific basis for reservoir dispatching.

• Enhance reservoir dispatching coordination: Establish and improve the joint reservoir dispatching mechanism for the Yangtze River Basin to enhance the coordinated combat capability of the reservoir group.

• Strengthen flood control emergency preparations: Improve flood control emergency plans, strengthen the stockpiling of flood control materials, and enhance emergency response capabilities.

• Strengthen public education and publicity: Enhance public awareness of flood control and guide public participation in flood control work.

Facing the upcoming flood peak challenge, the Three Gorges Dam will continue to play its role as a "national treasure," working with other reservoirs to jointly safeguard theof the Yangtze River Basin.

The following is a further analysis and interpretation of the above content:

1. The crucial role of the Three Gorges Dam in flood control:

As the largest water conservancy project in the Yangtze River Basin, the Three Gorges Dam plays an irreplaceable role in flood control, power generation, navigation, and the comprehensive utilization of water resources. During this year's flood season, the Three Gorges Dam has effectively utilized its flood detention capacity, significantly reducing flood peak water levels in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, alleviating flood pressure, and providing ample water resource guarantees for downstream areas.

2. The significance of the "Seven Down Eight Up" critical period for flood control:

"Seven Down Eight Up" is a period characterized by concentrated rainfall and the most complex flood situation in the Yangtze River Basin, making it a critical period for flood control. The Yangtze River Water Conservancy Commission will continue to coordinate the unified joint dispatching of water conservancy projects in the basin, ensuring flood safety in the basin, based on rainfall and inflow conditions in the Yangtze River Basin, considering flood control needs in the upper, middle, and lower reaches, and balancing the comprehensive utilization of water resources for navigation, power generation, and other purposes.

3. Measures to address the flood peak challenge:

To effectively respond to the upcoming flood peak challenge, the Yangtze River Water Conservancy Commission will implement a series of measures, including:

• Increasing the outflow from the Three Gorges Dam: By increasing outflow, the water level at the Three Gorges Dam can be lowered, preparing for the arrival of the flood peak.

• Coordinating other upstream main and tributary reservoirs to cooperate in flood detention: Coordinating other reservoirs to detain floodwaters can jointly alleviate the flood pressure on the Three Gorges Dam.

• Fully considering the flood situation in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River: During dispatching, they will comprehensively consider the flood situation in the upper, middle, and lower reaches, striving to minimize the risk of the water levels at key control stations, which have already receded below the warning level, exceeding the warning level again.

4. The importance of strengthening flood control efforts:

Facing a complex flood situation, strengthening flood control efforts is crucial. It is necessary to strengthen hydrological and meteorological monitoring and forecasting, reservoir dispatching coordination, flood control emergency preparations, and public education and publicity to ensure the safety of the Yangtze River Basin.

5. Expectations for the Three Gorges Dam:

As a "national treasure," the Three Gorges Dam plays an irreplaceable role in flood control, power generation, navigation, and the comprehensive utilization of water resources. It is believed that the Three Gorges Dam will continue to leverage its advantages, working together with other reservoirs to jointly safeguard the safety of the Yangtze River Basin and contribute to economic and social development.

Based on the analysis and interpretation of the above content, we can draw the following conclusions:

Flood control in the Yangtze River Basin is a systematic endeavor that requires the concerted efforts and collaboration of multiple departments. As a "national treasure" within the Yangtze River Basin's flood control system, the Three Gorges Dam will play an even more critical role in future flood control efforts. It is believed that through collaborative efforts, the Yangtze River Basin will successfully navigate the flood season, providing strong support for economic and social development.

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