(February 20, 2008) Chief engineer of the Three Gorges Reservoir Area Disaster Control Headquarters says the number of landslides and collapses in the dam’s reservoir area have nearly doubled between 2001 and 2003, reports Caijing magazine.
Possible earthquake and bank stability due to the reservoir
The possible earthquake issue due to Three Gorges reservoir has been emphasized by the government for a long time, and extensive researches have been made on the issue involved in the rock, geologic structure, osmosis, etc. A 300~800 m deep-hole earth stress observation is carried out at dam and reservoir site and the earthquake intensive observation is made on some fracture zones around the dam. According to the researches, the geologic structure is stable, and has no geological background for a
Geographical overview of the Three Gorges dam and reservoir, China—geologic hazards and environmental impacts
(2008) The Three Gorges dam and reservoir are an ongoing project that will involve a continuous process of construction, maintenance, monitoring, evaluation, and modification. Some of the history, construction characteristics, hydropower statistics, environmental and population impacts, monitoring, and current and potential hazards of the massive dam project are presented in this Microsoft PowerPoint® format.
Largest network for monitoring sinking land OK’d
(February 10, 2007) China’s largest network for monitoring land subsidence, or land sinking, has passed appraisal tests, the China Geological Survey, a bureau of the Chinese Ministry of Land and Resources, said yesterday.
China’s big dams: Are they safe?
(January 29, 2007) It goes without saying that flood control is one of the most important functions a dam project can fulfill. However, it is unrealistic to build a dam expecting it to achieve a permanent solution to a flood problem.
Quakes jolt Three Gorges area as huge reservoir fills
(October 29, 2006) The strongest earthquake to hit China’s Hubei province in two decades shook an area near the Three Gorges dam on Oct. 27, the same day the project’s rising reservoir reached the 2006 target of 156 metres above sea level.
China to build earthquake warning system at Three Gorges Reservoir area
(August 22, 2006) A network of 21 digital earthquake-monitoring stations is to be set up in the Chongqing section of the Three Gorges reservoir by the end of next year, to ‘prevent damage caused by earthquakes and other disasters.’
Three Gorges revisited
(May 3, 2006) Sichuan geologist Fan Xiao travels to the Three Gorges reservoir area, and reports on aspects of the project that continue to trouble Chinese experts.
Quake hits central China, 600 km downstream of Three Gorges
(November 26, 2005) The 5.7-magnitude earthquake, the biggest in the region in half a century, does not appear to have affected the Three Gorges project. It does, however, highlight experts’ concerns about building the world’s biggest dam in a geologically fragile area.
Dam on dangerous ground
(December 18, 2003) Two civil engineering professors at Wuhan University believe that earthquakes in the Three Gorges reservoir area are a real cause for concern, and call for more resources to be put into investigating the region’s seismic problems.
Minor tremors rattle Three Gorges during reservoir filling
(June 26, 2003) ‘The real danger comes from active faults in the vicinity of the dam site,’ which is located near six fault lines, a senior engineer warns in a recent Chinese newspaper report.
Dam the consequences
(July 11, 2002) Building yet another dam could threaten an ages-old engineering marvel in Sichuan and a key part of China’s heritage. But the project is going ahead as authorities smother public debate on its impact.
‘Earthquake risk’ from dams
(May 9, 2002) Large dams in mountainous regions could threaten people living near them by stressing the Earth’s crust to danger levels, a scientist says.
Issues in risk science earthquakes and a brave new China
(February 16, 2001) A study written by Dr. Paul Burton and Steve Cole from Benfield Hazard Research Centre describes historical Chinese earthquakes and Chinese efforts in predicting earthquakes.
As Yangtze Rises, China Must Choose
(August 7, 1998) As China’s worst Yangtze flood in half a century hits, the government must decide whether to submerge poor rural districts in order to save large cities like Wuhan. Environmentalist Dai Qing says the Three Gorges Dam would not help.
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