Three Gorges Dam safely mitigates Yangtze River’s first flood of the year

The Three Gorges Dam saw the arrival of the Yangtze River's first flood of the year on July 2, with a peak flow rate of 53,000 cubic meters per second, according to its operator, China Three Gorges Corporation (CTG).

The inflow of the Three Gorges Reservoir receded to 31,000 cubic meters per second on July 4, indicating that the dam has controlled the first flood waters during heavy rains.

During this round of flooding, the outflow of the Three Gorges Dam was maintained at an average daily rate of 35,000 cubic meters per second, absorbing up to 18,000 cubic meters of water per second and resulting in a reduction of up to 30 percent of the flood waters.

The China Three Gorges Corporation said the dam was expected to absorb up to 18,000 cubic meters of water per second during this round of flooding, to take the edge off the deluge.

The massive dam is in Yichang, central China's Hubei Province. Before every flood season, its reservoir releases water to ensure enough storage capacity. When the deluge comes, the dam will impound water to whittle down the flood, thus protecting downstream cities and villages.

Since June, continuous downpours have lashed large parts of southern China, raising the water levels in many rivers to exceed warning levels.

The Three Gorges project is a multi-functional water control system, consisting of a 2,309-meter-long and 185-meter-high dam, a five-tier ship lock, a ship lift and 34 hydropower turbo-generators.

According to the latest hydrometeorological forecast, another round of floods is expected to reach the Three Gorges Reservoir in early July. CTG will closely monitor rainfall in the upper reaches, making every effort to combat flooding as part of CTG’s concerted efforts to protect the lives and property in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

“The Three Gorges Dam has played a big role in flood control since it began operation. In 2010 and 2012, we weathered the deluge of over 70,000 cubic meters per second, and ensured the safety of the downstream basin," said Bao Zhengfeng, director assistant of the Three Gorges Cascade Dispatch and Communication Center.