Flood control authorities are getting the Yellow River ready for
the coming flood season. After three years of experiments, the
first water-and-sand adjustment programs are now being carried
out.
To guarantee the safety of the reservoirs, the Wanjiahe,
Sanmenxia and Xiaolangdi reservoirs on the Yellow River are to
release over 5 billion cubic meters of water before the coming
flood season.
The river's flood control authorities have hammered out plans to
make use of the water to flush away sand on the riverbed.
Wang Zhenyu from?the Yellow River Flood Control Office
said, "After the first three sand adjustment experiments, the
volume of water running through the lower half of the Yellow River
has increased from less than 2000 to 3000 cubic meters per second.
The change will effectively stop the reduction of the river
bed."
3.4 billion cubic meters of water will be released to lower the
water level at the Xiaolangdi Reservoir to 225 meters, the safe
level for the flood season.
Once the adjustment project gets underway, 2800 cubic meters' water
will be released every second.
The project will start on Thursday and last for two weeks.
Maintenance work on the power station at the reservoir has been
completed in preparation for the project. Shipping and fishing
activities have been banned during the period.
(CCTV.com June 16, 2005)