Increasing level of chatter about the safety of the Three Gorges dam, whose construction was plagued by corruption, shortcuts & rushing (sound familiar?). China is experiencing serious floods & smaller dams have already failed. No clear picture of what's going on.
"Central and southern China are being ravaged by floods
The massive Three Gorges Dam is no cure for the woes of people further down the Yangzi" -
@economist economist.com/china/2020/07/… #thedamtruth
The massive Three Gorges Dam is no cure for the woes of people further down the Yangzi" -
@economist economist.com/china/2020/07/… #thedamtruth
@economist "Climate change may have caused extreme weather unusually early in the year, producing more rain than hydro-engineering can handle." The "unusual" is becoming usual. See WAC Bennett dam's reservoir filling faster than expected & inconveniently having to spill water down to #SiteC
@economist China "has realised this is like an arms race with nature that we can’t really win”... There's "a new draft law on protecting the entire Yangzi river basin, including restoration of riverside ecosystems that may help to reduce flooding." Nature knew better all along.. cc #SiteC
@economist But the Three Gorges Dam's inability to control floods as promised, now that climate change has intensified rains, is separate from the question of whether it's safe. Rumours may just be a function of public awareness of the general risk to public safety posed by dams?
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