Impacts of the Yangtze River water transfer on the restoration of Lake Taihu

Abstract

In order to improve the water quality and to abate the jeopardy of water bloom in Lake Taihu, China, two experimental water transfers from the Yangtze River to Lake Taihu were conducted in winter–spring 2002 and in summer–autumn 2003. In this study, an ecological model (EcoTaihu) was introduced to assess their environmental effects. First, the model was re-calibrated and reverified for the periods of the water transfer, then numerical calculations with and without the water transfer were carried out. The percentage of the area where water quality was improved by the water transfer was calculated in seven sub-zones of the lake. The results show that the experimental water transfers in both of the periods have notable positive effects on debasing the concentration of phytoplankton, total nitrogen and dissolved oxygen in some sub-areas. The positive effects fluctuated with the duration of the water transfer, and were different for different water quality parameters and in different sub-zones. Among the five water quality parameters considered, chlorophyll a achieved the most significant improvement. There are no notable positive effects on the total phosphorus in any sub-zones. Meiliang Bay, Gonghu Bay and Northwest Zone had more positive effects than the east epigeal zone and Dongtaihu Bay. As the water transfer results in net input of nitrogen and phosphorus to Lake Taihu, it can only be used as an emergency measure to abate the jeopardy resulting from water bloom. Otherwise, the water transfer would increase the risk of eutrophication in Lake Taihu if the concentration of phosphorus and nitrogen in the influent water was not cut down to a reasonable level.