Abstract
Development of large scale hydropower is proceeding rapidly in the Mekong basin without adequate consideration of the severe and cumulative impacts the dams and reservoirs will, and are already beginning to, have on biodiversity, livelihoods and the economies of the lower Mekong countries. Migratory aquatic species will be particularly affected, and global experience indicates that fishways proposed for large mainstream and tributary dams will not provide effective amelioration. An offset strategy of remediating small weirs, flood control devices, regulators and irrigation works on tributaries and flood plains is more likely to be an effective and economically efficient means of supplementing fisheries to compensate for the negative impact of mainstream dams. Mainstream hydropower developments may result in future stranded assets, high electricity costs and even threaten the sovereignty of lower Mekong countries.
Highlights
The Mekong River system is known to support an extraordinary diversity of freshwater species and a globally significant fishery (Hortle, 2009a), development of hydropower in the basin proceeds apace (Geheb, 2018), with only scant consideration given to the biological resources being lost (Intralawan et al, 2018)
In this commentary we outline key management issues and environmental consequences arising from the present trajectory for hydropower development in the Mekong basin
There are other environmental issues confronting the people of the Mekong basin which will impact the river, including climate change, but at least over the couple of decades the impact of dams already constructed and under construction is expected to far outweigh impacts arising from changing climate (Lauri et al, 2012; Ngo et al, 2016)
Summary
The Mekong River system is known to support an extraordinary diversity of freshwater species and a globally significant fishery (Hortle, 2009a), development of hydropower in the basin proceeds apace (Geheb, 2018), with only scant consideration given to the biological resources being lost (Intralawan et al, 2018). In this commentary we outline key management issues and environmental consequences arising from the present trajectory for hydropower development in the Mekong basin. There are other environmental issues confronting the people of the Mekong basin which will impact the river, including climate change, but at least over the couple of decades the impact of dams already constructed and under construction is expected to far outweigh impacts arising from changing climate (Lauri et al, 2012; Ngo et al, 2016)
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