National Geographic News
June 9, 2006

‘Ultimately the life of this dam is very limited, unless they build other dams to prevent it from silting up,’ said Jennifer Turner, coordinator of the China Environment Forum at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington.

"Ultimately the life of this dam is very limited, unless they build other dams to prevent it from silting up," said Jennifer Turner, coordinator of the China Environment Forum at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C. In other words, Three Gorges could become clogged along its upstream wall with sediment that would normally be washed downriver and out to sea. "There are a dozen more dams planned further upstream, and they want to end up at Tiger Leaping Gorge. That’s significant in terms of the future destruction of parts of the river that are free flowing," Turner said. "Tiger Leaping Gorge is an area that’s symbolic of China. It’s like the Grand Canyon." China already boasts the world’s largest number of dams – 86,000 and counting. The debate over where and how others are built could have huge consequences for China’s rivers and beyond. "In general, the central government has tried to push for more public participation but [the federal government is] not a monolith," Turner said, noting the often primary importance of regional and local officials. "It’s hard, but who knows? The dam issue could lead to more openness in environmental policy and decision-making in China."