Three Gorges Reservoir retains 30% of the peak floodwater

The Three Gorges Reservoir, owned and operated by China Three Gorges Corporation (CTG), recorded the largest flood since the flood season began this year as water inflow hit 45,000 cubic meters per second on July 18.

The reservoir freed up 1.28 billion cubic meters of flood-control capacity in advance as part of its efforts to retain the flood, formed as a result of the recent sustained heavy rainfall in the Yangtze River basin.

The operation, which discharged water at a rate of about 31,300 cubic meters per second, retained about 30 percent of the peak floodwater, reducing the flood control pressure in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

During this flood season, CTG has reinforced inspection and successfully forecast the magnitude of the current floods one week in advance. Starting from July 11, the Three Gorges Reservoir gradually increased its outflow to free up 1.28 billion cubic meters of flood-control capacity in advance to retain some of the flood water, effectively mitigating the flood control risks for the banks of the Jingjiang River.