A Meta-Analysis of Environmental Tradeoffs of Hydropower Dams in the Sekong, Sesan, and Srepok (3S) Rivers of the Lower Mekong Basin

The authors completed a meta-analysis of aquatic and riparian environmental losses from current, planned, and proposed hydropower dams in the 3S and LMB using 46 papers and reports from the past three decades. More than 50% of studies evaluated hydrologic change from dam development, 33% quantified sediment alteration, and 30% estimated fish production changes. Freshwater fish diversity, non-fish species, primary production, trophic ecology, and nutrient loading objectives were less commonly studied. This study visualized human and environmental tradeoffs of 3S dams from the reviewed papers. Overall, Lower Sesan 2, the proposed Sekong Dam, and planned Lower Srepok 3A and Lower Sesan 3 have considerable environmental impacts.

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Authors

Null, S.E., A. Farshid, G. Goodrum, C.A. Gray, S. Lohani, C.N. Morrisett, L. Prudencio, and R. Sor

Publication Date

30 December 2020

Publication Name

Water

Topics

hydropower planning; fish; hydrologic alteration; biodiversity; 3S Basin; connectivity