Abstract
Abstract Poyang Lake, the largest freshwater lake in China, plays a key role in regulating the hydrology, water quality and ecosystem in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. Recent industrialization and urbanization in Jiangxi province have led to rapid increase in water consumption and water quality deterioration. In this research, a numerical model is developed to simulate the hydrodynamics and water quality evolutions in Poyang Lake and its surrounding river network. The study links an in-house one-dimensional river network model with a MIKE multi-layered three-dimensional hydro-environmental model. The validated model is used to investigate the impact of a proposed downstream barrage on Poyang Lake's flow and ecosystem. All of the five considered barrage operation schemes demonstrate the capability of increasing the water level and inundation area during the dry period, especially in the lake's downstream region. The barrage schemes help reduce the lake's nutrient concentrations, due to the enhanced dilution at higher water levels. Nonetheless, the barrage leads to DO depletion which could pose a threat to the aquatic wildlife and habitats. This study's findings contribute to a better understanding of the hydro-environmental influence of the proposed barrage and thus the optimisation of its operation to mitigate the adverse influence.
Highlights
Located in Jiangxi province in southeastern China, Poyang Lake is the largest freshwater lake of the country
The aim of this study is to develop a numerical model that can simulate the hydro-environmental evolution in the Poyang Lake, which has complicated geometry and experiences large water level fluctuations
In terms of hydrodynamic impact of the barrage, the schemes can effectively raise water levels in the lake in winter months, the water level rise becomes insignificant in the southern part of the lake, which has a large distance from the barrage
Summary
Located in Jiangxi province in southeastern China, Poyang Lake is the largest freshwater lake of the country. It sits on the southern bank of the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River, and has an area of 16.2 × 104 km[2], accounting for 9% of Yangtze River basin (Zhang et al b). More outflows from Poyang Lake to the Yangtze River reduced the water storage capability of Poyang Lake (Guo et al a). The main reasons behind the water level drop include decreasing rainfall and influx from upstream rivers, leading to a prolonged dry period. The main pollutants in the region include TN, TP, NH3-N and COD (Luo et al ), which can be directly tracked to the five major rivers as a result of increased industrial activities, municipal wastes and agricultural fertilizers and poultry farming (Chen et al )
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
