Salween River Basin Research Articles

Putting violent armed conflict in the center of the Salween hydropower debates

ABSTRACTRegional economic integration has become the dominant development pathway promoted, endorsed, and followed by many developing country governments in South East Asia and globally. Focusing on hydropower development, this article shows how forces of globalization manifested in the Myanmar government’s strategies to promote economic growth are shaping the Salween River basin’s development trajectory. Contesting the general belief that economic development would help the country’s transition to full democracy and achieve peace, it illustrates how hydropower development plans in the basin are closely interlinked with human rights issues. Well known for its long histories of violent conflict involving the Myanmar military and ethnic armed groups in various states, hydropower development in the Salween River is not only linked to the ongoing peace process in Myanmar but could also have direct implications on the actual significance of the process. Despite the signing of nationwide ceasefire agreements in 2012, hydropower dam projects could contribute to and trigger reoccurrences of violent armed conflict. Recognizing this conflict-prone and politically fragile condition as the main characteristics of Salween water governance is essential if we are to strive for sustainable and just development.

The Critically Endangered Myanmar snub-nosed monkey Rhinopithecus strykeri found in the Salween River Basin, China

AbstractThe Myanmar snub-nosed monkey Rhinopithecus strykeri was discovered in 2010 on the western slopes of the Gaoligong Mountains in the Irrawaddy River basin in Myanmar and subsequently in the same river basin in China, in 2011. Based on 2 years of surveying the remote and little disturbed forest of the Gaoligong Mountains National Nature Reserve in China, with outline transect sampling and infrared camera monitoring, a breeding group comprising > 70 individuals was found on the eastern slopes of the Gaoligong Mountains in the Salween River Basin. Given the Critically Endangered status of this primate (a total of < 950 individuals are estimated to remain in the wild), efforts to protect the relatively undisturbed habitat of this newly discovered population and to prevent hunting are essential for the long-term survival of this species.

Morphotectonic Study of the Brahmaputra Basin using Geoinformatics

Abstract The Brahmaputra river basin occupies an area of 580,000 km2 lying in Tibet (China), Bhutan, India and Bangladesh. It is bounded on the north by the Nyen-Chen-Tanghla mountains, on the east by the Salween river basin and Patkai range of hills, on the south by Nepal Himalayas and the Naga hills and on the west by the Ganga sub-basin. Brahmaputra river originates at an elevation of about 5150 m in southwest Tibet and flows for about 2900 km through Tibet (China), India and Bangladesh to its mouth in the Bay of Bengal. The Brahmaputra river basin is investigated to examine the influence of active structures by applying an integrated study on morphotectonics, SRTM, and seismic data. The indices for morphotectonic analysis, viz. basin elongation ratio (Re) indicated tectonically active, transverse topographic symmetry (T = 0.018-0.664) indicated asymmetric nature, asymmetric factor (AF=33) suggested tilt, valley floor width to valley height ratio (Vf = 0.0013-2.945) indicated active incision and mountain-front sinuosity (Smf = 1.11-1.68) values indicated active tectonics in the area. Two prominent knicks on the long profile at distances of about 1600 km and 1900 km closely correlate to the two prominent peaks on the SL index. The first one represents the Indus –Tsangpo suture zone after crossing which the Brahmaputra (Tsangpo) enters the Himalayas and the second one represents the zone where the Dihang (Brahmaputra) comes out of the Himalayas after crossing the Main Boundary Thrust. A great or major earthquake in the modern times, in this region may create havoc with huge loss of life and property due to high population density and rapidly developing infrastructure.

Estimating water availability across the Upper Salween and Mekong river basins

Abstract. According to Liu et al. (2014), borrowing, substituting and generating (BSG) are the main methods people used to acquire the discharge at ungauged stations. Two of the substitution (modelling and disaggregation) methods in combination with the borrowing idea are compared for simulating discharge for the Upper Salween and Mekong River Basin (USMRB). It is seen that with a simple borrowing/ disaggregating method, the Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) can reach 0.82. The similarity in the seasonal variation pattern is a more important requirement to identify if the two stations are to be considered as having hydrological similarity. From the experience obtained for the USMRB, an upstream station with shorter geographical distance may be more in hydrological similarity than a station in the far downstream. The NSE is quite low when borrowing occurs within the low altitude downstream region. The efficiency will be decreased when we borrow information from several stations which may be not in hydrological similarity.

Epic landslide erosion from mountain roads in Yunnan, China – challenges for sustainable development

Abstract. Expanding systems of mountain roads in developing countries have significantly increased the risk of landslides and sedimentation, and have created vulnerabilities for residents and aquatic resources. We measured landslide erosion along seven road segments in steep terrain in the upper Salween River basin, Yunnan, China and estimated sediment delivery to channels. Landslide erosion rates along the roads ranged from 2780 to 48 235 Mg ha−1 yr−1, the upper end of this range being the highest rate ever reported along mountain roads. The two roads with the highest landslide erosion (FG1 = 12 966 Mg ha−1 yr−1; DXD = 48 235 Mg ha−1 yr−1) had some of the highest sediment delivery rates to channels (about 80 and 86%, respectively). Overall, 3 times more landslides occurred along cut slopes compared to fill slopes, but fill slope failures had a combined mass > 1.3 times that of cut slope failures. Many small landslides occurred along road cuts, but these were often trapped on the road surface. Given the magnitude of the landslide problem and the lack of attention to this issue, a more sustainable approach for mountain road development is outlined based on an analysis of landslide susceptibility and how thresholds for landslide trigger mechanisms would be modified by road location and different construction techniques.

Age structure and genetic diversity of Homatula pycnolepis in the Nujiang River basin

This study examined the age structure of the Loach, Homatula pycnolepis through the otolith growth rings in 204 individual specimens collected from the Xiaomengtong River of the Nujiang River (Salween River) basin in April, 2008. There were only two different age classes, 1 and 2 years of age-no 3 year olds were detected. The age structure of H. pycnolepis was simple. The complete mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b gene sequences (1140) of 80 individuals from 4 populations collected in the Nujiang River drainage were sequenced and a total of 44 variable sites were found among 4 different haplotypes. The global haplotype diversity (Hd) and nucleotide diversity (Pi) were calculated at 0.7595, 0.0151 respectively, and 0, 0 in each population, indicating a consistent lack of genetic diversity in each small population. There was obvious geographic structure in both the Nujiang River basin (NJB) group, and the Nanding River (NDR) group. The genetic distance between NJB and NDR was calculated at 0.0356, suggesting that genetic divergence resulted from long-term isolation of individual population. Such a simple age structure and a lack of genetic diversity in H. pycnolepis may potentially be due to small populations and locale fishing pressures. Accordingly, the results of this study prompt us to recommend that the NJB, NDR and Lancang River populations should be protected as three different evolutionary significant units or separated management units.

Using Global Datasets to Create Environmental Profiles for Data-Poor Regions: A Case from the Irrawaddy and Salween River Basins

The increasing availability of spatial data inspires the exploration of previously less-studied, yet regionally and nationally important areas, such as the Irrawaddy and Salween River Basins in Southeast Asia. This article documents our experience using global datasets to create environmental basin profiles in these two basins. Our approach draws on the concepts of freshwater vulnerability assessments that guided the selection of indicators. Data on land use, population distribution and fertilizer load were used. The unit of analysis was chosen to distinguish areas with similar bio-geographical characteristics, such as the critical delta areas. Results were further discussed for sub-areas that experience relatively the most pressure in terms of examined indicators within the studied area. The river mouths of both rivers had the most intensive land use and high population density. They are also home to important ecosystems and are sensitive to changes in upstream areas. Our study presents a concise and spatially distributed view of the environmental basin profiles of the Irrawaddy and Salween River Basins. The analysis also provides some interesting methodological insights about the potential of public macro-scale datasets for environmental assessment. The spatial approach allowed the analysis of different indicators, providing a platform for data integration as well as a visually powerful overview of the study area. Yet, the use of macro-scale datasets entails challenges. Despite improvements, the assessment process tends to be driven by the availability and quality of data, rather than by the actual research and management needs. The greatest utility of macro-scale datasets lies-at least in data-poor areas-in larger scale comparative analyses between the basins and their different sub-areas.

A New Genus of Glyptosternine Catfish (Siluriformes: Sisoridae) with Descriptions of Two New Species from Yunnan, China

Creteuchiloglanis, new genus, is established for three species previously placed in Pareuchiloglanis (P. gongshanensis, P. kamengensis, and P. macropterus) and two new species described herein. Creteuchiloglanis is distributed in the upper Mekong River (Lancang-Jiang) basin west to the Brahmaputra River basin and is distinguished from Pareuchiloglanis by a unique combination of characteristics involving the form of the connection of the lower lip to the maxillary barbel, premaxillary tooth patches, and the morphology of the dilator, operculi, sternohyoideus, and adductor pelvicalis superficialis muscles. Creteuchiloglanis brachypterus, new species, from the upper Irrawaddy River basin in China, is diagnosed by a unique combination of characteristics involving pectoral- and pelvic-fin length, caudal-peduncle length and depth, pelvic-fin position, caudal-fin length, eye size, body and head depth, and coloration. Creteuchiloglanis longipectoralis, new species, from the upper Mekong River (Lancang-Jiang) basin, is diagnosed by a unique combination of characteristics involving pectoral- and pelvic-fin length, caudal-peduncle length and depth, pelvic-fin position, body and head depth, post-adipose fin distance, number of dorsal-fin rays, and coloration. New diagnoses are provided for previously described congeners C. gongshanensis from the upper Salween River (Nu-Jiang) basin, C. kamengensis from the Brahmaputra basin, and C. macropterus from the upper Irrawaddy River and upper Salween (Nu-Jiang) basins.

Response of hydrological processes to land‐cover and climate changes in Kejie watershed, south‐west China

AbstractLand‐cover/climate changes and their impacts on hydrological processes are of widespread concern and a great challenge to researchers and policy makers. Kejie Watershed in the Salween River Basin in Yunnan, south‐west China, has been reforested extensively during the past two decades. In terms of climate change, there has been a marked increase in temperature. The impact of these changes on hydrological processes required investigation: hence, this paper assesses aspects of changes in land cover and climate. The response of hydrological processes to land‐cover/climate changes was examined using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) and impacts of single factor, land‐use/climate change on hydrological processes were differentiated. Land‐cover maps revealed extensive reforestation at the expense of grassland, cropland, and barren land. A significant monotonic trend and noticeable changes had occurred in annual temperature over the long term. Long‐term changes in annual rainfall and streamflow were weak; and changes in monthly rainfall (May, June, July, and September) were apparent. Hydrological simulations showed that the impact of climate change on surface water, baseflow, and streamflow was offset by the impact of land‐cover change. Seasonal variation in streamflow was influenced by seasonal variation in rainfall. The earlier onset of monsoon and the variability of rainfall resulted in extreme monthly streamflow. Land‐cover change played a dominant role in mean annual values; seasonal variation in surface water and streamflow was influenced mainly by seasonal variation in rainfall; and land‐cover change played a regulating role in this. Surface water is more sensitive to land‐cover change and climate change: an increase in surface water in September and May due to increased rainfall was offset by a decrease in surface water due to land‐cover change. A decrease in baseflow caused by changes in rainfall and temperature was offset by an increase in baseflow due to land‐cover change. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Landwater variation in four major river basins of the Indochina peninsula as revealed by GRACE

Abstract We estimated mass variations in four major river basins—the Mekong, Irrawaddy, Salween and Chao Phraya river basins—of the Indochina Peninsula using the newly released GRACE (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment) monthly gravity field solutions of UTCSR RL02 (University of Texas at Austin, Center for Space Research Release 02), JPL RL02 (Jet Propulsion Laboratory Release 02) and GFZ RL03 (GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam Release 03). The estimated variations were compared with that calculated from a numerical model. The results show that there is a good agreement between the GRACE estimations and the model calculation for the Mekong and Irrawaddy basins, while the aggreement for the Salween and Chao Phraya basins is poor, mainly due to the spatial scale of the areas concerned. The comparison over the combined area of the four river basins shows fairly good agreement, although there are small quantitative discrepancies. The amplitudes of the annual signals of the GRACE solutions are 0.9- to 1.4-fold larger than that of the hydrological model, and the phases are delayed about 1 month compared with the model signal. The phase differences are probably due to improper treatments of the groundwater storage process in the hydrological model, suggesting that the GRACE data possibly provide constraints to the model parameters.

Two new species of the sisorid Genus Oreoglanis Smith from Yunnan, China (Teleostei: Sisoridae)

Two new species of the genus Oreoglanis, O. jingdongensis and O. immaculatus are described from the Mekong and Salween River basins, respectively, of Yunnan Province, China. Oreoglanis jingdongensis can be distinguished from other Oreoglanis species by the following characters: lower lip with a distinct median notch, posterior edge smooth or with indentations; caudal fin lunate and lower lobe longer than upper lobe. Oreoglanis immaculatus can be distinguished from its congeners by the following features: lower lip with a strait median notch, posterior edge with indentations; caudal fin emarginate and lower lobe about the same length as upper lobe, having no yellow patches on sides of body below adipose fin.

Akrokolioplax, a new genus of Southeast Asian labeonine fishes (Teleostei: Cyprinidae)

Akrokolioplax, new genus, is erected for the reception of Epalzeorhynchos bicornis Wu, 1977. It shares with the remaining species of Epalzeorhynchos what have usually been called “rostral lateral lobes” on the snout, which are non-homologous structures used to distinguish the two genera from all other Labeoninae genera. Akrokolioplax and Epalzeorhynchos differ in the position and structure of these lobes, and also in the morphology of the oromandibular structures. A detailed redescription is also provided for the type species of this monotypic genus, A. bicornis. It is presently known from the upper Salween River (=Nu Jiang in Chinese) basin in Yunnan (South China), Myanmar and Thailand.

Revision of the cyprinid genus Placocheilus Wu, 1977 in China, with description of a new species from Yunnan

Placocheilus is re-diagnosed on the basis of oromandibular structures compared to those of closely related groups. It is represented in China by three species restricted to Yunnan, namely P. caudofasciatus from the Tengtiaohe River (Nam Na), P. cryptonemus from the Nujiang Rive (upper Salween River basin), and P. robustus, herein described as a new species from the Yuanjiang River (Red River basin). P. robustus n. sp. is differentiated from its congeners in having a stout caudal peduncle (depth 72.4–82.5% of its length) and the medium-sized scaleless midventral region of belly extended slightly beyond halfway from the pectoral- to pelvic-fin origin. It is further distinguished from P. caudofasciatusin having a coarsely crenulated rostral fold with 18–23 indentations on its distal margin and a smaller mental adhesive disc (length 66.7–71.4% of its width and 37.0–43.1% of the head length).

Revision ofAcanthopsoides Fowler, 1934 (Cypriniformes: Cobitidae), with the description of new species

The genusAcanthopsoides Fowler, 1934 is revised;Neacanthopsis Smith, 1945 is placed in the synonymy ofAcanthopsoides. In addition toAcanthopsoides gracilis Fowler, 1934 andAcanthopsoides gracilentus (Smith, 1945), four new species are described in the genus. These areA. delphax of the Salween, Chao Phraya and Mekong river basins,A. hapalias of the Mekong River basin,A. molobrion from peninsular Thailand, Malaysia and Borneo, andA. robertsi from the Kapuas River basin and adjacent areas, Borneo. The known distribution of the genus includes most of Southeast Asia.Acanthopsoides gracilis, A. gracilentus, and Adelphax are sympatric: Amolobrion and A. robertsi in the Kapuas River basin andA. gracilentus, A. delphax andA. hapalias in the Mekong River basin may be also. The increase in the diversityof Acanthopsoides recognized herein may be indicative of the level of the unknown diversity of the Southeast Asian freshwater fish fauna in general.