A Meta-Analysis of Environmental Tradeoffs of Hydropower Dams in the Sekong, Sesan, and Srepok (3S) Rivers of the Lower Mekong Basin

摘要: In Mekong riparian countries, hydropower development provides energy, but also threatens biodiversity, ecosystems, food security, and an unparalleled freshwater fishery. The Sekong, Sesan, Srepok Rivers (3S Basin) are major tributaries to the Lower River (LMB), making up 10% of watershed supporting nearly 40% fish species LMB. Forty-five dams have been built, under construction, or planned in 3S Basin. We completed a meta-analysis aquatic environmental losses from current, planned, proposed LMB using 46 papers reports past three decades. Proposed mainstem Stung Treng Sambor were not included our analysis because Cambodia recently announced moratorium on dams. More than 50% studies evaluated hydrologic change dam development, 33% quantified sediment alteration, 30% estimated production changes. Freshwater diversity, non-fish species, primary production, trophic ecology, nutrient loading objectives less commonly studied. visualized human tradeoffs reviewed papers. Overall, Sesan 2, Sekong Dam, 3A 3 considerable impacts. Tradeoff analyses should include by representing organisms, habitats, ecosystems quantify costs maintain biodiversity extraordinary fishery