Three Gorges Reservoir completes drawdown operation
2026-06-11 20:06:26
By Chen Zai
At 9 pm June 7, the Three Gorges Reservoir's water level was lowered to 147.78 meters, meeting its drawdown target earlier than schedule. The water level fell about 27 meters, freeing about 20.8 billion cubic meters of flood-control capacity.
At 9 pm June 7, the Three Gorges Reservoir's water level was lowered to 147.78 meters, meeting its drawdown target earlier than schedule. The water level fell about 27 meters, freeing about 20.8 billion cubic meters of flood-control capacity.
Three Gorges Dam. Photo by Lin Hai.
By June 8, reservoirs in a coordinated operation freed about 65.4 billion cubic meters of flood-control storage. This provides roughly 79.8 billion cubic meters of adjustable flood storage capacity, which will help manage potential major floods in the Yangtze River Basin during the 2026 flood season.
Upstream reservoirs discharged water at about 2,800 cubic meters per second into the Yangtze's middle and lower reaches. This raised water levels by 0.5 to 2.0 meters, securing city water supplies and improving navigation.
The Changjiang Water Resources Commission also conducted sediment-reduction and ecological operation trials at major reservoirs. These trials helped preserve the Three Gorges Reservoir's storage capacity, supported fish reproduction, and improved the Yangtze's aquatic ecosystem.
