Assessing the impact of the Three Gorges Reservoir on eco-hydrological
regimes in the middle and lower Yangtze River, China
Abstract
The flow regime is regarded as the key driver of the structure and
function of riverine ecosystems. To reveal the changes in the
ecohydrological pattern of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze
River after the impoundment of the Three Gorges Reservoir. Hydrological
data from Yichang, Hankou, and Datong stations from 1960 to 2020 were
selected to detect the annual mean flow changes trend by three
techniques. The degree of hydrological alteration was also evaluated
using the Indicators of Hydrologic Alteration (IHA)/Range of Variability
Approach (RVA). The results show that: (1) The average annual flow of
the Yangtze River from 1960 to 2020 shows a decreasing trend. (2) The
abrupt change of annual average flow occurred in the year 2003, which
reflects the significant effect of the Three Gorges reservoir on the
flow regime. The alteration degrees of the Yichang, Hankou, and Datong
gauge stations are 65%, 58%, and 46%, respectively. (3) The Three
Gorges Reservoir caused changes in the flow pattern of the Yangtze River
and had a particular impact on the fish population structure. The study
provides a scientific reference for the ecological protection of water
resources in the middle and lower reaches.