(February 10, 2009) When the Chinese state media reported last week that China’s wheat-producing provinces have been hit by the worst drought in 50 years, the story immediately went global. But when we checked official Chinese news sites we noticed something odd. Many of the photos and video clips popping up under the “worst drought in 50 years” banner showed soldiers and farmers hosing down wheat fields with water. Lots of water.
Update: Three Gorges dam not responsible for drought – official
Officials are struggling to maintain power output at the Three Gorges and Gezhouba dams as water flow into the Three Gorges section of the Yangtze River is the lowest in 130 years.
42.27 million Chinese affected by floods, drought
42.27 million Chinese have been affected by floods and drought so far this year, the Office of the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters said on Monday.
Sichuan water to ease Chongqing drought
Chengdu: The central government has ordered water facilities in Southwest China’s Sichuan Province to help the drought-stricken city of Chongqing, the largest municipality in China.
Flood, drought fears in a haywire climate
(February 23, 2007) China is on alert this year for the extremes of natural disasters. Water Resources Vice Minister E Jingping has warned local governments of the increasing possibility of floods in major rivers, and droughts elsewhere.
'Dam not responsible for drought'
by Guan Xiaofeng, China Daily October 24, 2006 The severe drought which plagued Southwest China’s Sichuan Province and Chongqing Municipality this summer was not caused by the Three Gorges Dam, a meteorological […]
Heatwave puts China's giant dam in the dock
‘Startlingly, no scientific evaluation of the possible impact on the local weather was ever conducted as part of the feasibility study of Three Gorges dam.’
Alarm bells sound as China goes dry
(August 22, 2006) ‘Economic growth cannot be allowed to come at a steep environmental cost,’ says Ma Jun, author of a book on China’s water crisis. ‘It is time for the government to cope with the realities of declining water stocks.’
Yangtze River suffers rare drought in flood season
(August 14, 2006) The Yangtze is in the grip of a rare drought, with water in many sections of the river at historically low levels. Navigation authorities have reinforced patrols along the waterway, warning vessels against running aground.
Drought alert for parched Sichuan
(August 14, 2006) Lack of rain and heatwave making safe drinking water scarce.
Drought paralyses big hydro scheme
(May 30, 2006) The severe northern drought has shut down the Xiaolangdi Dam, the largest and most expensive hydro-electric scheme on the Yellow River.
Sichuan drought could pull plug in Chengdu
(March 31, 2006) The extreme lack of water, due to a drought in Sichuan province, has seriously affected the ability to generate power. The province has prepared its last remaining backup coal-fueled generator as the power grid strains to supply electricity.
China to invest billions on water resources
(February 23, 2006) Beijing announces plans to spend US$48 million in the next few years shoring up embankments and building water-control projects.
Dam implicated in dangerous downstream drought
The Three Gorges dam is partly to blame for dangerously low water levels in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River that have caused dozens of ships to run aground, official Chinese media reports say.
As flood season arrives, China combats 'drought and flood' climate
The ‘northern drought, southern flood’ pattern has become a recurring climatic trend in China, and has already affected tens of millions of people nationwide this year.
Patricia Adams
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