AsianScientist (Dec. 29, 2017) – In a study published in Science Magazine, a team of researchers at Arizona State University have proposed a mathematical model to reduce the impact of hydropower dams on the livelihood of fishermen and farmers along the Mekong River.
Nearly 100 hydropower dams are planned for construction along tributaries off the Mekong River’s 2,700-mile stretch. The river, one of the world’s largest, flows through Burma, China, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and Cambodia. It is an economic engine for fishermen and a food source for millions of people worldwide. While the dams are expected to provide clean energy to the region, if not managed properly, they have the potential to offset natural river patterns, which would damage food production, supply and business.
In this study, Arizona State University Professor John Sabo and collaborators have developed a mathematical model that allows dam operators to generate power in ways that also protect—and possibly improve—food supplies and businesses throughout the Mekong river basin. The proposed solution can be applied to other large river systems around the world facing similar tradeoffs.
“We have figured out the relationship between river flows and fish catch, and we have developed an algorithm for dam operators to use that will increase fish harvests and still generate power,” said Sabo. “Dams are going to be built no matter how much fuss we make. Our research shows how we can be more strategic about the buildout and operations of these dams in the Mekong.”
The Mekong river floods annually, and it is known that those floods are important for fisheries. However, the researchers demonstrated that seasonal droughts are equally important. Long droughts combined with short floods may create the ideal conditions for terrestrial nutrients to be entrained into the freshwater system.
With that in mind, the algorithm presented by the researchers recommended long low-flow periods punctuated by pulses of flooding, which will allow dam operators to co-manage their power generation priorities while protecting livelihoods for fisheries downstream.
“We have taken this conversation around fisheries and dams in the Mekong from a ‘yes-or-no’ conversation to a ‘good idea-bad idea’ conversation, and we have come up with an alternative—a mathematical formula—that has the possibility to achieve dam operator goals while protecting fisheries,” said Assistant Professor Gordon Holtgrieve at the University of Washington, who is a co-author of the study.
The article can be found at: Sabo et al. (2017) Designing River Flows to Improve Food Security Futures in the Lower Mekong Basin.
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Source: Arizona State University; Photo: John Sabo.
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