Water in Mekong River falls to critical level, sand dunes

[webfact]

Water in Mekong River falls to critical level, sand dunes

By TNA

 

 

NAKHON PHANOM, Dec 3  – The water levels of the Mekong River have fallen to a critical level, posing threats to people’s livelihoods, farming activities and tour boat operations.

 

The Mekong water level in the northeastern province of Nakhon Phanom dropped to one of the lowest on record and fell at the fastest pace in 50 years.

 

Low rainfall in the past rainy season and water retention of Chinese dams are blamed for the worrying situation.  Farmers have faced problems and higher burden to find sufficient water.

 

Sand bars have emerged in the river and interrupted boat services.

 

A 62-year-old tour boat operator Narong Taosri said the water levels had fluctuated until it dropped unprecedentedly this time of the year.

 

Water color turned to ocean-like turquoise; “although it looked nice it could mean disaster will follow,” he said.

 

Full story: https://www.pattayamail.com/thailandnews/water-in-mekong-river-falls-to-critical-level-sand-dunes-279037

 

-- © Copyright Pattaya Mail 2019-12-03

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[Vacuum]

38 minutes ago, webfact said:

Farmers have faced problems and higher burden to find sufficient water.

They should ask their master (China) to share some water.

[FNQ]

Dam, Dam, Dam, was / is to be expected.

 

[ChrisY1]

Government corruption by all...Thailand, Cambodia and Laos....greed again will wreck many lives.....food security disappearing along the Mekong!

[legend49]

It will be open season for dry river crossings by tourists soon, LOL.

[RichardColeman]

I'm sure that the water will arrive before the bodies get found

[Isaan sailor]

When China is your upriver neighbor, they control your river.  And since the Regime has such tight relations with the ChiComs—maybe they can beg for a few more liters.

[Isaan sailor]

In just a few years, we have witnesses the destruction of one of the world’s most magnificent river systems.  Thanks to China...

Edited December 4, 2019 by Isaan sailor

[Burma Bill]

3 hours ago, legend49 said:

It will be open season for dry river crossings by tourists soon, LOL.

Yes indeed - no TM6, TM30 or visa fees etc. but choose an unguarded or remote stretch!

[malathione]

6 minutes ago, Isaan sailor said:

In just a few years, we have witnesses the destruction of one of the world’s most magnificent river systems.  Thanks to China...

Not just China. All these Mekong basin countries is to blame. Thailand for buying a large percentage of the produced power making these projects feasible; Cambodia, buying some power and making its own dams on the mainstream while whining about the effects of the dams; Vietnam for complaining about the effects on the delta while building its own dams. Laos, they just build and sell power. China's contribution to the overall flow in the Mekong is an average of 16% if I recall correctly; dry season contribution rises to 20 odd percent. These are from before all the current dams were built.

[ThomasThBKK]

18 minutes ago, Isaan sailor said:

In just a few years, we have witnesses the destruction of one of the world’s most magnificent river systems.  Thanks to China...

Yeah it's disgusting, absolutely. We have some land directly at the mekong near chiang khan, it looked so beautiful, now it's complete <deleted>, there are times you could literally walk over to laos.

Edited December 4, 2019 by ThomasThBKK

[digger70]

19 hours ago, Vacuum said:

They should ask their master (China) to share some water.

The farmers could get a Bore Drilled or put some Spears down in /next to the river, We even done that in a river that stopped running in Georgetown in NQLD Australia. Put 4 spears down in the sand/gravel riverbed, connected them up to a Big diesel pump. 33000 Gallon an Hr . Good for  Centre pivot  Irrigator.

[Redline]

And it’s the beginning of dry season.  Time to start begging the Chinese, and giving them more of whatever they want  

[ratcatcher]

I imagine this might be a good read.................

[emptypockets]

On 12/4/2019 at 12:19 PM, rhyddid said:

China and Lao are the guilty parts, too many Hydropower Dam on the China side,  Laos is much more then that, we counting over 100s of Hrydropowers in all the  Mekong Tributaries, so there is no more water going into the Mekong, as they "Profit Squeezing" investment need full reservoirs.

Shame on China, much more shame on Lao government for their careless greed! 

You do realise how hydro power stations work don't you? If there is no water flowing through them they don't generate power.

Your statement about no more water going into the Mekong is patently false.