Large-scale Dam Construction Research Articles

Integration of Tacit and Explicit Strategies in Sustainable Livelihood Recovery: A Case Study on Project-Affected Communities of a Hydropower Plant in West Java, Indonesia

Since the 1970s, large-scale dam construction has become a trend in developing countries. During the 1960–2020 period, 235 large-scale dams were built in Indonesia. However, all of them left a negative socio-economic impact. Explicit strategies to recover project-affected communities’ (PAC’) livelihoods have been implemented but need to be sustained. In 2011, the pumped storage innovation was adopted, and Upper Cisokan, West Java, became the pilot. The recovery of PAC livelihoods is also designed to be sustainable by integrating a “tacit and explicit strategy”. This paper aimed to determine the implementation and impact of this strategic innovation. The research was designed through a survey of 325 PAC families (975 persons) and in-depth interviews with 32 informants. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and dialectics. The result revealed that strategy integration could speed up the post-resettlement livelihood recovery time and collaborate with various local institutions in the academics, businessmen, community, government, media (ABCGM) scheme. In addition, increasing the number of PAC livelihoods by 155 percent and expanding the diversity of livelihoods from agricultural domination to MSMEs and the non-agricultural sector. The involvement of women and youth in livelihood recovery has also increased by 85 percent, especially in micro-, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and the non-agricultural sector.

Distribution and interaction characteristics of water quality at the stratified confluence reservoirs

The construction of large-scale dams creates tributary bays between the main and the tributary reservoirs. The water temperature and water quality in the tributary reservoirs are inevitably affected by backflow from the main reservoir. In this study, the spatial-temporal evolutions of water temperature, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and dissolved oxygen (DO) in the Baihetan reservoir and its four tributary reservoirs are investigated by building, validating and applying the TBD (temperature, BOD and DO) numerical model. The results show that the influence of the main reservoir on its tributary reservoirs show seasonal patterns. The water quality in the main reservoir is determined by inflow, reaeration and temperature-driven stratification, all of which exhibit seasonal patterns. Stratification determines the fate of inflow after it enters the reservoir, which leads to relatively low DO concentration in the middle layer of the Baihetan reservoir in summer and autumn. For the tributary reservoirs, water quality is also affected by the balancing between the upstream inflow and downstream backflow, which varies both seasonally, and as a function of the reservoir geometry. These results have great significance in analyzing and understanding the environmental impact of large hydraulic projects, which can be used as the basis for enacting hydraulic project plans and preserving the aquatic ecosystem in the reservoir areas.

Development of Hydropower and the Environmental Impacts of Hydroelectric Dam Construction in China

The need to mitigate climate change and reduce carbon emissions has resulted in an increasing demand for the transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy. Hydropower, in particular, has emerged as a prominent and extensively developed source of renewable energy in recent decades. This specific renewable energy harnesses the kinetic energy of falling or fast-flowing water to generate electricity. Despite being a dependable, adaptable, and cost-effective energy source, previous studies have highlighted the detrimental ecological effects of hydropower, ranging from altered land use to the disruption of natural habitats in the vicinity of dams. The main purpose of this study is two-fold. First, the change of renewable energy, particularly hydropower, is evaluated from 2000 to 2020 in China and globally, highlighting the leading role of hydropower in renewable energy generation. Second, this study aims to investigate the environmental influences of large hydroelectric dam construction and perform a case study of the Three Gorges Dam in China. The Pearson's linear correlation analysis was utilized to identify the association between hydropower and climate, and biodiversity, individually. Although dam construction can boost hydroelectricity generation, it can also have adverse effects on the regional climate and result in substantial depletion of biodiversity. This study will shed light on potentially reliable strategies to optimize the advantages of hydropower and minimize the negative environmental impacts of large-scale dam construction.

Impact of dam construction on precipitation: a regional perspective

Context Numerous dams have been built in China to develop hydropower, a sustainable and clean energy source. In recent years, the impact of dam construction on the regional climate has gradually attracted the attention of researchers. Aims This study has evaluated the impact of large-scale dam construction on regional precipitation. Methods This paper used the precipitation data of more than 2400 national stations of the China National Meteorological Information Center from 1990 to 2012. The regional precipitation data before and after the construction of the Xiaolangdi Dam and the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River were analysed using geostatistical tools. Wavelet transform and Yamamoto signal-to-noise ratio analysis were further adopted. Key results Analysis of the variation points of precipitation characteristics confirmed the correlation between dam construction and regional precipitation; the precipitation values in the two dam study areas had an increasing trend after the completion of the dams, and the fitting trend line showed an obvious increasing trend. Conclusions According to the analysis of precipitation variation points, it can be concluded that the establishment of the dam affected the precipitation in the area of ∼200 km upstream and increased the precipitation value in this area. The study showed that dam construction has a strong correlation with regional precipitation. Implications It is speculated that the construction of super dams will have a greater impact on precipitation.

Morphodynamics and Evolution of Estuarine Sandspits along the Bight of Benin Coast, West Africa

It is well known that estuarine systems are significantly affected by hydrodynamic conditions such as river discharge, storm surges, waves and tidal conditions. In addition to this, human interferences through developmental projects have the capability of disrupting the natural morphological processes occurring at estuaries. In West Africa, the goal to improve standards of living through large-scale dam construction, offshore ports and coastal erosion countermeasures has triggered alarming changes in the morphodynamics of estuarine systems. The estuaries at the Volta River mouth (Ghana) and “Bouche du Roi” inlet (Benin), located along the Bight of Benin coast, West Africa, were selected as two case study sites to examine their long-term morphodynamics and sandspit evolution. In this study, we primarily analyzed estuarine morphology using remotely sensed images acquired from 1984 to 2020. We further estimated the longshore sediment transport for this region using results from the image analysis and the depth of active sediment motion. Our results reveal that the longshore sediment transport rates for this region are in the magnitude of 105–106 m3/year. Comparative analysis with other estuaries and sandy coasts suggests that the longshore sediment transport along this coast has one of the largest rates estimated in the world.

Lowering water level of Dongting lake of the Mid-Yangtze River in response to large-scale dam construction: A 60-year analysis

River-lake systems, crucial to both the ecological environment and societal development, have been affected by increasing anthropogenic activities in addition to climate and environmental changes. Here, annual water discharge and sediment load data (1956–2017) and rainfall data (1960–2016) from Dongting Lake in the middle catchment of the Yangtze River were analysed at four major inlets and one outlet, and their connections with lake level variations were evaluated using multiple analytical methods. The results show that minor fluctuations were found in rainfall and discharge during the study period, but the sediment load entering Dongting Lake decreased significantly from 231 mt/year (before 1969) to 123 mt/year (1970–2002) and then 17 mt/year (after 2003, post TGD). The variation in the sediment was mainly induced by increasing anthropogenic activities in the lake system. During period 1 (before 1969), human impact was weak compared to the dominant natural forces. However, anthropogenic force showed an increasing contribution to the loss of sediment load since then, as it increased from 43.0% (1970–1987, post cut-off engineering) to 64.8% (1988–2002, post Gezhou Dam) and extended to 90.2% during 2003–2017 (post TGD). Nevertheless, continuous sediment accumulation over the past decades in the lake has caused a rising water level. During period 1, high sediment input contributed to an average annual increase of 13.96 cm in the lake level, but it decreased significantly to 1.94 cm year−1 during 1970–2002 due to intensive anthropogenic regulations. Since 2003, the completion of the TGD intercepted abundant sediment, eventually leading to a shift from net deposition to net loss of the sediment budget in Dongting Lake, and consequently, the lake level fell. In the future, if the net sediment supply was kept below ~18 mt/year, the lake level would continue to fall, causing severe problems to the lake ecosystem, especially during drought years.

The dynamics of farmer migration and resettlement in the Dhidhessa River Basin, Ethiopia

ABSTRACT The Dhidhessa River Basin (DRB), in the Abbay River Basin in Ethiopia, is undergoing large-scale dam construction for sugarcane irrigation. We focused on the dynamics of population migration, settlement, relocation and water resource development in the DRB using primary and secondary data. Two major migration waves were observed in the basin: the first in 1984–1986 during a severe drought and the second during 2005–2017. Most rural migrants were “pulled” by government initiative in the period 1984–2017, while a few migrated of their own accord due to famine. We found that the first migration wave from eastern Ethiopia (Harar) to DRB was due to scarcity of water, land and rainfall and the migration positively affected migrant livelihoods. In the second phase, dam construction displaced settled farmers and migrants, adversely affecting their livelihoods. Analysis is needed that considers the wellbeing of the displaced agrarian society and the migrant population in the dam-affected area.

Регламентация эксплуатации приплотинных территорий крупных гидротехнических сооружений

Analysis of the international experience of ensuring the safety of large hydraulic structures has shown high degree of the large-scale dam construction and operation on surrounding areas, far beyond the responsibility of hydropower engineers. It is nearly impossible to ensure the safety of these territories within the framework of the dam safety, the lack of regulations and approaches to ensure the security of these territories not only in Russia but also in other countries. It is proposed to introduce the object of state regulation “dam territory” within the boundaries of the established experimentally the most intense impact of a large GTS on the surrounding primarily geological environment, established in the framework of various scientific studies, including the author’s study of the temporal and spatial features of the dynamic impact of the working GTS on residential areas near the Zhigulevskaya HPP. A comparison of different possible approaches to the regulation of the operation of dams in the framework of existing legislation for the purpose of maximum use, such as departmental, territorial, basin, environmental approaches, analyzed the pros and cons of each approach. A comprehensive approach to the regulation of the operation of dams is proposed, making the most of the advantages of each approach and taking into account all the parameters of the impact of the dam on the surrounding areas.

Potential Disruption of Flood Dynamics in the Lower Mekong River Basin Due to Upstream Flow Regulation

The Mekong River Basin (MRB) is undergoing unprecedented changes due to the recent acceleration in large-scale dam construction. While the hydrology of the MRB is well understood and the effects of some of the existing dams have been studied, the potential effects of the planned dams on flood pulse dynamics over the entire Lower Mekong remains unexamined. Here, using hydrodynamic model simulations, we show that the effects of flow regulation on downstream river-floodplain dynamics are relatively predictable along the mainstream Mekong, but flow regulations could potentially disrupt the flood dynamics in the Tonle Sap River (TSR) and small distributaries in the Mekong Delta. Results suggest that TSR flow reversal could cease if the Mekong flood pulse is dampened by 50% and delayed by one-month. While flood occurrence in the vicinity of the Tonle Sap Lake and middle reach of the delta could increase due to enhanced low flow, it could decrease by up to five months in other areas due to dampened high flow, particularly during dry years. Further, areas flooded for less than five months and over six months are likely to be impacted significantly by flow regulations, but those flooded for 5–6 months could be impacted the least.

Responses of fish assemblage structure to large-scale weir construction in riverine ecosystems

Worldwide, increasing amounts of dams and weirs have been established in rivers in recent decades, often with drastic effects on their ecosystems. Between late 2009 and 2011, 16 large-scale dams were built in the main channels of the four largest rivers in South Korea, eight of these along the main channel of Nakdong River (300 km, 520 km in total). We studied the effect of these constructions on the fish community in the riparian zone based on intensive fish field surveys conducted in the littoral zone during 2007–2017, analysis of fishermen's catch data and molecular analysis of the diet of the keystone species, largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). Our results, based on RDA and GLM analyses, showed that environmental characteristics and fish species composition changed significantly with dam construction. Total fish abundance and biomass decreased after the start of the weir construction and fish richness decreased with time. The abundance and biomass of exotic fish decreased during construction but recovered afterwards, leading to higher proportions of exotics. Dominance and Shannon indices did not change significantly from before to after construction, while the Evenness index showed a significant decreasing trend. A comparison of the diet composition of largemouth bass showed decreasing genetic variation after construction. The changes in Functional Feeding Group (FFG) of the benthic communities at the study sites did not coincide with FFG changes in the prey items of largemouth bass, indicating a transition in feeding mode from before to after construction. In conclusion, the endemic and native fish species were most sensitive and showed lower resilience to disturbance by the large-scale dam construction than the translocated and exotic species, and the lake-like ecosystems after construction markedly improved the competitive capacity of these exotic fish over the native and endemic species in the riparian zone of the river.

The Socio-Political History of China’s Three Gorges Dam

Around the world, the construction of large-scale dams has become a controversial environmental issue. A significant example of such a dam is the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River in China. The Yangtze River, considered the cradle of Chinese civilization, has fundamentally shaped Chinese livelihood, culture, transportation, and agriculture. Despite international and local dissent, as of 2012, the Three Gorges Dam has become a reality. Having fundamentally altered the river system, the biodiversity of the area is now threatened by flooded habitats upstream, drought downstream and a change in nutrient distribution. However, to better understand the reasoning behind the construction of the Three Gorges Dam, a deeper historical, cultural and political basis needs to be recognized. This paper will investigate how the specific history of China has led to the construction of the Dam. Throughout the 20th century, political leaders envisioned the Dam as a symbol of Chinese industrialization and modernization. Ironically, it was considered the ultimate achievement in China’s development. Communist views of mastery over nature played an important role in such political views. These views are not limited to China; the idea that humans should control nature for economic benefit is still evident throughout the world. Beyond the context of China, the Three Gorges Dam is a symbol of the larger systems that value economic benefit and industrialization over a sustainable environment.

Water resource developments in Ethiopia: potential benefits and negative impacts on the environment, vector-borne diseases, and food security

To satisfy the growing demand for electricity, Ethiopia plans to increase its electricity production five-fold between 2010 and 2015, mainly through the construction of dams. A literature review shows that while dams can boost power and agricultural production, promote economic development, and facilitate flood control, they can also lead to environmental, ecological, and socioeconomic changes. Several case studies show that dams may alter the composition and density of vectors and intermediate host species, increase the incidence of malaria schistosomiasis and possibly lymphatic filariasis, and lead to eutrophication of reservoirs, soil erosion, and earthquakes. There is evidence that dams and commercial irrigation schemes can increase soil and water degradation, vulnerability to drought, and food insecurity in riverine and lacustrine areas downstream of dams. It appears that dams in Ethiopia are also vulnerable to high soil erosion rates and earthquakes. Consequently, the current and proposed large-scale dam construction program in Ethiopia requires in-depth research to improve our understanding of the unintended negative effects of projects and to guide the location, design, and implementation of appropriate preventive and remedial programs.

Will initiatives to promote hydroelectricity consumption be effective? Evidence from univariate and panel LM unit root tests with structural breaks

This paper examines whether initiatives to promote hydroelectricity consumption are likely to be effective by applying univariate and panel Lagrange Multiplier (LM) unit root tests to hydroelectricity consumption in 55 countries over the period 1965–2011. We find that for the panel, as well as about four-fifths of individual countries, that hydroelectricity consumption is stationary. This result implies that shocks to hydroelectricity consumption in most countries will only result in temporary deviations from the long-run growth path. An important consequence of this finding is that initiatives designed to have permanent positive effects on hydroelectricity consumption, such as large-scale dam construction, are unlikely to be effective in increasing the share of hydroelectricity, relative to consumption of fossil fuels.

Minding history and world-scale dynamics in hazards research: the making of hazardous soils in The Gambia and Hungary

Hazards can result from combined social and environmental processes. However, it remains commonplace to treat the occurrence of hazards as if isolated from what happens in other, at times faraway places and as if history did not matter. To illustrate how world-scale interconnections and historical processes impinge on the appearance of current hazards, I discuss case studies of soil acidification from The Gambia and Hungary. In the former, pressures from international financial institutions to raise export-oriented cash-crop productivity resulted in the 1980s construction of large-scale dams for wet rice cultivation and other development projects. The result has been the progressive activation of acid sulphate soils that threaten lowland cultivation and freshwater sources. In Hungary, internal social turmoil and contradictions influenced by the US-USSR conflict led to rapid industrialisation of farming and the intensification of export-oriented agricultural production in the mid-1960s. The consequent increasing reliance on agrochemicals has spread the incidence of soil acidification. Both of these cases demonstrate that localised hazards, entailing long-term deleterious consequences, cannot be fully explained or confronted without addressing historical and multiple-scale social processes.

GIS Method for Haul Road Layout Planning in Large Earthmoving Projects: Framework and Analysis

This study presents a geographic information system (GIS)-based method for determining the optimal layout of a haul route for large earthmoving projects. The methodology focuses on the use of cost distance measurements to implement a least-cost path analysis to calculate the route with the shortest weighted distance between cut and fill areas. Various factors such as truck speed, construction costs, and land use that affect haul road layout are investigated. Linear interpolations based on linguistic evaluations of experienced field experts are utilized to quantify the factors. An earthmoving project from a large-scale dam construction was used as a case study to verify the applicability of the proposed method, and the route produced with the new method was compared to real road design data. The results showed the potential of the method as a practical approach to determining the optimal haul route for earthmoving.