bcbm
1st June 2011, 19:30
XINZHOU, China — As deputy Communist Party secretary of the Yangtze River management station in Xinzhou, Ba Qiansheng is supposed to keep a close eye on rising waters. A sign across the street from his office lists flood-warning levels, and large red characters say that swimming is prohibited.
But these days, the idea of a flood seems ludicrous. On one side of the giant sluice gate at Xinzhou, the water is shallow; on the other side, there's almost no water at all. The channel that is supposed to connect with the Yangtze is filled with foot-deep cracks baking in the sun where the river used to be.
"It's the lowest it's been in 70 years," Ba said.
Asked why that would be, Ba shifted nervously for a moment. "We don't yet know the reason," Ba said.
Pushed for an answer, Ba said there's been no rain and then, with considerable hesitation added that, "It's possible that the dam is part of the reason."
continued:
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/05/30/114979/is-three-gorges-dam-making-chinas.html#ixzz1O3BoHat1
But these days, the idea of a flood seems ludicrous. On one side of the giant sluice gate at Xinzhou, the water is shallow; on the other side, there's almost no water at all. The channel that is supposed to connect with the Yangtze is filled with foot-deep cracks baking in the sun where the river used to be.
"It's the lowest it's been in 70 years," Ba said.
Asked why that would be, Ba shifted nervously for a moment. "We don't yet know the reason," Ba said.
Pushed for an answer, Ba said there's been no rain and then, with considerable hesitation added that, "It's possible that the dam is part of the reason."
continued:
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/05/30/114979/is-three-gorges-dam-making-chinas.html#ixzz1O3BoHat1