Impact of Dam Construction on Water Quality and Water Self-Purification Capacity of the Lancang River,

China. - Water resources management; 2009, vol. 23, no. 9, pp. 1763-1780;

GUOLIANG WEI (1 2) ; ZHIFENG YANG (1) ; BAOSHAN CUI (1) ; BING LI (2) ; HE CHEN (1) ; JUNHONG BAI
(1) ; SHIKUI DONG (1) ;

Affiliation(s) du ou des auteurs / Author(s) Affiliation(s):

(1) State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal
University, Beijing 100875, CHINE;

(2) Nuclear and Radiation Safety Centre, State Environmental Protection Administration, Beijing 100088,
CHINE;

Résumé / Abstract:

Along with the sequent completion of Manwan and Dachaoshan Dam, the river continuum of the middle
and lower reaches of the Lancang River was separated into three types of segments: reservoir, below-
dam segment and downstream flowing segment. The long-term series of water quality and river flow
data over 20 years were analyzed in order to study the impact of dam construction and operation on
water quality and water self-purification capacity of these different river segments. From pre-dam
period to the first 7 years after Manwan Dam had been accomplished, the water quality of Manwan
Reservoir became worse due to the accumulation of pollutants, and then to the next 5 years the water
quality became better in virtue of the water self-purification of the reservoir. The cooperative operation
of Manwan and Dachaoshan Dam had cumulatively positive impacts on water quality of their below-
dam segment but no impacts on that of downstream flowing segment. From pre-dam period to the first
7 years after the closure of Manwan Dam, the water self-purification capacity of Xiaowan―Manwan
segment for BODS, CODMn and NH3― N decreased. Also, the water self-purification capacity of
Manwan―Dachaoshan segment for BOD5 and CODMn decreased but for NH3―N increased. However,
the water self-purification capacity of Jinghong―Ganlanba segment changed contrary to
Manwan―Dachaoshan segment. In general, the construction of Manwan Dam negatively affected the
water self-purification capacity of reservoir and below-dam segment but impose little impact on that of
downstream flowing segment. This study suggested that it is necessary to pay attention to the effect of
complicated temporal and spatial characteristics of dam on aquatic ecosystem.

Revue / Journal Title:

Water resources management; ISSN 0920-4741; 2009, vol. 23, no. 9, pp. 1763-1780;

Editeur / Publisher: Springer, Dordrecht;

Mots-clés anglais / English Keywords, Asia; Far East; Qinghai-Xizang Plateau; China; pollution; spatial
variations; time variations; surface water; runoff; artificial lakes; impact statements; water resource
management; ecosystems; pollutants; accumulation; reservoirs; rivers; purification; water quality;
construction; dams; Mots-clés français / French Keywords, Asie; Extrême Orient; Plateau Tibet; Chine;
Rivière Lancang; Pollution; Variation spatiale; Variation temporelle; Eau surface; Ruissellement; Lac
artificiel; Etude impact milieu; Gestion ressource eau; Ecosystème; Polluant; Accumulation; Réservoir;
Rivière; Epuration; Qualité eau; Construction; Barrage; Mots-clés espagnols / Spanish Keywords, Asia;
Extremo Oriente; China; Polución; Variación espacial; Variación temporal; Agua superficie; Brillo; Lago
artificial; Estudio impacto medio; Gestión recurso agua; Ecosistema; Contaminante; Río; Depuración;
Calidad agua; Presa; Mots-clés d'auteur / Author Keywords, Dam; Water quality; Water self-purification
capacity; Impact; Reservoir; Below-dam segment; Downstream flowing segment;