The environmental changes and mitigation actions in the Three Gorges Reservoir region, China

The Three Gorges Dam (TGD) is by far the world's largest hydroelectric scheme. Due to its unprecedented magnitude, the TGD has been controversial ever since it was proposed in the early 20th century and building commenced in 1993. Recent problems, including geological disasters (e.g., landslides) in the uplands and algal blooms in the aquatic environment since the reservoir's partial filling to 156 m in 2006, suggest that the environmental challenge has never been greater than now. The environmental deterioration might be further intensified when the reservoir reaches its final water level of 175 m. Solving the environmental challenges will be essential for the sustainable development of the Three Gorges Reservoir region (TGRR), and environmental sustainability in the TGRR is a high priority for the nation considering its critical location in the Yangtze Basin, which contributes 40% of China's GDP. This article reviews primary environmental assessments for biodiversity conservation, the water environment, water level fluctuation zone, and the uplands after the partial filling in the reservoir region. It also discusses the success of mitigation efforts to date. Although there are successes in mitigation particularly in conservation of endangered plants and fishes, it seems likely that environmental conditions in the TGRR could only get worse in the short term. Building a partnership among the TGD stakeholders, including local residents, governments, and international communities is necessary to meet the mounting environmental challenge in the TGRR and beyond. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.