Impacts of Dams on Water Level and Riverbank of Lower Mekong Basin

Abstract

Dams development in Lower Mekong Basin (LMB) can help mitigate regional energy crisis and improve resilience to global extreme events. However, the trade-off can produce various risks, particularly to aquatic environment as transboundary impacts. The Xayaburi dam has been constructing in LMB and will be completed in 2019. We revealed several tangible environmental changes such as water level and riverbank. Actual field survey was conducted from 2014 to 2016 with local participation. Local people informed that risk caused by the construction and part operation of the dams. As water level was unregulated then fish stock change and agricultural area along riverbank were destroyed because of unforeseen flood. Local tourism sites also obtained risk from rapid and immediate high level of water with sediment contamination. River island and riverbank ecosystem also have been degraded, which has negatively affected migration birds and fish habitat. The number of wild Mekong giant catfish is reduced and lately will be subjected to extinct status. Thus, transboundary environmental impacts have to be considered from all levels of stakeholders using education and communication as soft intervention. The potential environmental and geopolitical risks of dam development required appropriated monitoring system associated with social engagement units to sustain LMB environment.