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The Thirsty Dragon: China’s Control of the Mekong
May 8th, 2020
Via The Diplomat, a report on how China – whether through its own dams or the financing and construction of dams in other countries – is largely in the driver’s seat when it comes to the Mekong: A recently published report by Eyes on Earth, Inc. has pointed the finger at Chinese dams holding back water […]
Read more »The Thirsty Dragon: Mekong Dams Threaten Tonle Sap Lake
April 27th, 2020
Via China Dialogue, a report on how the use and construction of dams on the Mekong will determine the future of Southeast Asia’s largest lake, Tonle Sap Lake: As the Tonle Sap floodplain empties into the Mekong this spring, the Cambodians who rely on these waters face bleak prospects, with fish catches reportedly 10 to 20% of previous years. […]
Read more »The Thirsty Dragon: Science Shows Chinese Dams Are Devastating the Mekong
April 22nd, 2020
Via Foreign Policy, a report on new data demonstrating a devastating effect on downstream Mekong water supplies that feed millions of people: Eleven massive dams straddle the mighty Mekong River before it leaves China and flows into Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and on into Vietnam. Yet I have long been skeptical that China could use […]
Read more »American West May Be Entering Worst ‘Megadrought’ In History
April 18th, 2020
Via Smithsonian Magazine, a very sobering article on the perilous water future facing the American West: Drought has scorched western North America for the better part of two decades, withering crops, draining rivers and fueling fires. Scientists now warn that this trend could be just the beginning of an extended megadrought that ranks among the […]
Read more »The Thirsty Dragon: China Limited the Mekong’s Flow – Other Countries Suffered a Drought
April 13th, 2020
Courtesy of The New York Times, a report on new research showing that Beijing’s engineers appear to have directly caused the record low levels of water in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam: A narrow section of water flowed through the dried-out riverbed of the Mekong near Sangkhom, Thailand, in January. As China was stricken by […]
Read more »Day Zero For Colorado River?
April 1st, 2020
Via Sustainable Waters, rather sobering commentary and analysis of the grave future facing the Colorado River and its two main lake reservoirs: America’s two largest reservoirs — Lake Mead and Lake Powell on the Colorado River — could both run of out water in just five years. I really wish this was an April Fool’s […]
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