In this blog you will:
- Learn about the Yangtze River and Three Gorges Dam in Hubei Province, China;
- Explore the social, ecological and economic implications of the dam through the social-ecological systems lens;
- Watch four videos I created during a recent trip to Three Gorges Dam;
- Learn how hydroelectric dams work, and about the social justice controversies surrounding hydroelectric dams in the developing world;
- Learn about the work of international nongovernment organizations striving to advance environmental and social justice in the Yangtze River region.
Three Gorges Dam is the largest hydroelectric dam in the world.
The dam is located in Yichang, in Hubei Province, China.
The Yangtze is the third largest river in the world. At 6300km (3900mi) it is the longest river in Asia. It's watershed drains nearly one-third of China's landmass and provides drinking water to one-third of the population.
The image on the right shows a close up the cement wall on the upstream side of Three Gorges Dam. About 28 million cubic meters of cement were used to build the dam. It is 2309 meters long (1.4mi). (image credit: Gervich, 2019)
I visited Three Gorges Dam in 2019 with the Middlebury School of the Environment and Chen Yidan Foundation.
Charles Chen Yidan founded the Chinese technology company, Tencent, which creates smartphone apps. The Chen Yidan Foundation funds the Yidan Prize in education, which honors educators and education researchers. Chen is among the world's largest donors to education related initiatives. (image credit: yidanprize.org. 2020)
The Middlebury School of the Environment offers experiential learning study abroad experiences to undergraduate students around the world. MSoE hosts a six-week program in China. (image credit: https://www.middlebury.edu/schools-abroad/summer-programs/school-environment. 2020)
In this blog I examine the dam from a social-ecological perspective.
Social-ecology explores the relationships among humans, our communities and societies, and the natural world.
In this picture, a young man uses a traditional dip net to fish downstream of Three Gorges Dam. (image credit: Gervich, 2019)
Social-ecological systems consist of four components:
- The parts of the system, such as the river, dam and the energy generated by the dam;
- Cause and effect relationships among the parts. For example, the flow of the river through turbines generates power which drives industrial development;
- Feedback loops that perpetuate the system. For instance, the dam creates industrial activity which promotes urbanization. Urbanization, in turn, promotes more industrial development;
- Leverage points that offer opportunities for managing the system for positive environmental change. This includes the work of environmental nongovernmental organizations that work to protect and conserve environmental resources and make progress toward environmental justice.
This picture shows a portion of the lock system at Three Gorges Dam. (image credit: Gervich, 2019)
MentalModeler.org provides an online platform for creating social-ecological systems maps.
Social-ecological systems maps are illustrations of the dynamics that occur among social, environmental, economic and political sectors (among others) in a particular location. These maps helps us visualize and interrogate the complexities of environmental challenges.
Mentalmodeler.org allows you to illustrate interconnections among social, economic and environmental elements through arrows and symbols. (image credit: mentalmodeler.org. 2020)
The Yangtze River at night is a popular place for tourists and entertainment. (image credit: Gervich, 2019)
THERE ARE FIVE MAIN COMPONENTS TO THE SOCIAL-ECOLOGICAL SYSTEM OF THREE GORGES DAM.
- The gorge, and its geomorphology and geology;
- the terrestrial and aquatic environments of the Yangtze River;
- the social environment and communities along the Yangtze River— both historic and rural, and new and urban;
- the dam, and the energy it produces;
- the economic and manufacturing activity created by the dam, as well as the shipping that supports these sectors.
Yangtze River and Three Gorges Dam Social-Ecological Systems Map 1.
Using mentalmodeler.org I've illustrated the most basic elements of the social-ecological system of Three Gorges Dam. I'll continue to build the model throughout the blog. Here I've outlined the basic components of the system as the river segments above and below the dam, and the dam itself. (image credit: Gervich, 2020)
On the right, Dioramas of the Yangtze River hydroelectric dams show the system of impoundments and reservoirs created by dam construction. (image credit: Gervich, 2019)
The video below uses a DIORAMA of the yangtze river and hydroelectric power stations to outline some features of this complex social-ecological system.
Video 1.
Google maps helps situate Three Gorges Dam in the mountainous terrain of central China, in Hubei Province.
Satellite imagery from Google Maps illustrates the topography of the region. This topography makes the Yangtze ideal for a series of dams. Narrow, tall, steep canyon walls allow for efficient storage of water. Satellite imagery also shows the urban development occurring around the dam. Prior to the dam's construction the Yangtze was dotted with small farming villages on the river's floodplain. That floodplain is now inundated with water, and urban areas are developing on the mountainsides that are now at the water's edge. (image credit: Google Maps, 2020)
The following video explains some of the Engineering details of Three Gorges Dam.
Video 2.
Yangtze River and Three Gorges Dam Social-Ecological Systems Map 2.
Using MentalModeler.org I have added a feedback loop that shows the system dynamics among Three Gorges Dam, the energy it creates and industrial development powered by that energy, and the associated shipping and lock system. (image credit: Gervich, 2020)
The image to the right shows a dinner cruise ship on the Yangtze River, downstream of Three Gorges Dam. The river, and communities along the river, are major transportation hubs for shipping and tourism. (image credit: Gervich, 2020)
The ecology of the Yangtze River is unique and diverse.
But Three Gorges dam is changing that.
At its headwaters in Tibet the Yangtze is called the Jinsha. The Jinsha is a fast moving glacial torrent. At this point it is cold and well oxygenated with a substrate of large rocks and boulders. Biodiversity is naturally low, as not many aquatic species can thrive in this habitat. (image credit: David Stanley, 2019. https://www.flickr.com/photos/79721788@N00/48382985682)
As it flows into Yunnan Province and the Three Parallel Rivers Area it grows in size. Biodiversity increases, as more aquatic species can tolerate the slightly slower flow rate. Water temperatures are still low and dissolved oxygen remains high. The stream substrate is slightly smaller rocks and pebbles, offering more habitat diversity. (Image credit: ©Scott Warren. https://www.greenqueen.com.hk/green-queen-giving-the-nature-conservancy-hong-kong-earths-activists/mountains-and-upper-yangtze-river-in-yunnan/)
The series of dams on the Yangtze in Sichuan and Hubei Province create reservoirs. Essentially, lakes where the fast moving, cold water river once flowed. Dissolved oxygen is reduced, and the rocky substrate is replaced by mud and sand as the river drops its sediment load. These USGS images show the reservoir created by Three Gorges Dam. They show the same stretch of river before and after the dam's construction. (Image credit: USGS, 2015. https://twitter.com/usgs/status/565262919597056000).
The system is home to several rare, threatened and endangered species.
Yangtze finless porpoise are also endemic to the river. The Yangtze porpoise is thought to be extirpated from the wild, with a few individuals remaining in captive breeding and habitat restoration projects in central China.
The Nature Conservancy also works to protect the unique ecological resources of the yangtze river.
(image credit: https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/asia-pacific/china/stories-in-china/hydropower-and-restoration-along-china-s-great-rivers/. 2020)
The next video sheds light on some of the social and ecological changes OCCURRING within the Yangtze River system as a result of hydroelectric development.
Video 3.
Yangtze River and Three Gorges Dam Social-Ecological Systems Map 3.
In this portion of the SES map I have added dynamics related to the ecological changes occurring in the Yangtze River region as a result of the dam's construction. This includes changes to river ecology such as water temperature and dissolved oxygen levels, as well as rates of flow. These physical alterations bring implications for the biotic life of the system. (image credit: Gervich, 2020)
The image to the right illustrates a portion of the lock system at Three Gorges Dam. (image credit: Gervich, 2019)
Scholarly case study research documents the complexity of changes to the Yangtze's ecological and social communities.
Kellogg, Z., Zhou X. 2014. Impact of the construction of a large dam on riparian vegetation cover
at different elevation zones as observed from remotely sensed data. International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and
Geoinformation. 32. 19-34. Documents vegetation change after construction of Three Gorges Dam. Fluctuating water levels scour the river bank and remove vegetation. Some areas see an increase in vegetation as upper elevation mountainsides are made accessible for agriculture. (image credit: Kellogg., Zhou. 2014)
Aird, S. China’s Three Gorges: The Impact of Dam Construction on
Emerging Human Rights. Human Rights Brief. Documents displacement of villagers along the Yangtze as a result of dam construction, as well as loss of cultural traditions and natural heritage sites. (image credits: Winkler, Chirstel A. date unknown. Aird, S. date unknown)
Brooke Wilmsen & Andrew van Hulten (2017) Following resettled people
over time: the value of longitudinal data collection for understanding the livelihood impacts of
the Three Gorges Dam, China, Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal, 35:1, 94-105. This before/after case study documents the transitions of two villages. Generally speaking, income levels have risen for villagers along the Yangtze. Food has also become more secure. (image credit: Wilmsen., van Hulten, 2017)
Kittinger, J., Coontz, K., Yuan, Z., Han, D., Zhao, X., Wilcox, B. 2010. Toward Holistic Evaluation and Assessment: Linking
Ecosystems and Human Well-Being for the Three
Gorges Dam. EcoHealth. Documents transformations in attainment of United Nations Millennial Ecosystem Assessment Goals among Yangtze River communities after the dam's construction. (image credit: Kittinger et. al. 2010)
Yangtze River and Three Gorges Dam Social-Ecological Systems Map 4.
This final rendition of the SES map of the Yangtze and dam includes the social dynamics of displaced residents and urbanization, as well as the resulting loss of cultural traditions. Several nongovernmental organizations are working to reveal the environmental and social injustices in the region, as well as support villages transitioning to new lifeways. (image credit: Gervich, 2020)
Parks along the river provide valuable recreation space and respite from the surrounding urban jungle. (image credit: Gervich, 2019)