Dam Safety

Earthquakes Triggered by Dams

Sichuan earthquake damages building, 14 May 2008
Sichuan earthquake damages building, 14 May 2008 Miniwiki Earthquakes can be induced by dams. Globally, there are over 100 identified cases of earthquakes that scientists believe were triggered by reservoirs (see Gupta 2002). The most serious case may be the 7.9-magnitude Sichuan earthquake in May 2008, which killed an estimated 80,000 people and has been linked to the construction of the Zipingpu Dam. How Do Dams Trigger Earthquakes? In a paper prepared for the World Commission on Dams, Dr. V. P Jauhari wrote the following about this phenomenon, known as Reservoir-Induced Seismicity (RIS):

Two killed after dams burst at Brazil iron mine, many missing | Reuters

Dam break at Mariana, Brazil
Friday, November 6, 2015
Once again, a dam break brought utter devastation to Brazil. Read the story from Reuters News.

Global Dam Safety and Security Challenges

Thursday, October 20, 2011
Originally published in Volume 10 Number 4 of the The CIP ReportCenter for Infrastructure Protection and Homeland Security (CIP/HS)George Mason University, School of Law With over 54,000 large dams worldwide, dam safety is a major and growing global concern. In a changing climate, dam safety and security is no longer just an issue of aging infrastructure but also of intensifying water conflicts, food security, and appropriate adaptation measures to climate change. Below are just some of the many examples of dam safety and security issues from around the world. Dam Safety and Earthquakes While

The Myitsone Dam on the Irrawaddy River: A Briefing

Wednesday, September 28, 2011
1. BackgroundProject Overview The Myitsone Hydroelectric Project is located at the confluence of the Mali and N'Mai rivers and is the largest of seven dams (total capacity 13,360 MW) planned along the Irrawaddy, Mali Hka, and N'Mai Hka rivers in Burma. Scheduled for completion in 2019, Myitsone will become the 15th largest hydropower station in the world, with installed capacity at 6,000 MW. The dam project is expected to costs USD $3.6 billion dollars and is being developed by Myanmar Ministry of Electric Power-1, China Power Investment Corporation, and Asia World Company of Burma. Region

Sinohydro Denies Dam Unsafe

Monday, June 20, 2011
This article was originally published in The South China Morning Post Some workers on Malaysia's biggest dam, due to open next year, claim concrete is being diluted with water - and passing quality tests Sinohydro, China's biggest dam builder, has rejected accusations it used unsafe construction methods to build Malaysia's Bakun dam, but acknowledges its construction processes did not fully adhere to correct procedures. Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have alleged that under the watch of Sinohydro, a Chinese state-owned enterprise, improper construction practices in the dam were widespre

China's Nu River Hangs in the Balance, Part 3

The Nu River from above
This is part three of a three-part blog describing my recent trip to the Nu River valley in April 2011. All names have been changed to protect the identity of the interviewees. Part 1 sets the scene and Part 2 introduces voices from the ground. Where to Go From Here?The Nu River from above Katy Yan We ended our journey with a trip to the top of a mountain. Among the clouds, at an organic tea farm set among the foothills of the Himalayas, I had a perfect view of the Nu River as it meandered through the mountains. Many mountain towns have been relocated by the government to (sometimes litera

China's Nu River Hangs in the Balance, Part 1

The Nu River's first bend in northern Yunnan Province, China
This is part one of a three-part blog describing my recent trip to the Nu River valley in April 2011. All names have been changed to protect the identity of the interviewees. Part 2 introduces the voices from the ground and Part 3 discusses the Nu River's future. The Nu River's first bend in northern Yunnan Province, China Green Watershed As a Chinese American growing up in the US, I saw China's mountains, rivers and valleys through my mom's traditional scroll paintings. Idyllic villages and small cottages dot green mountainsides of bamboo, pine, and palm. My recent journey

China’s Government Proposes New Dam Building Spree

Baoshan Village on the upper Yangtze River
Monday, February 28, 2011
Baoshan Village on the upper Yangtze River Li Hong Update: China's State Council announces blueprint for dam construction that includes controversial projects like the Nu/Salween cascade and the Xiaonanhai Dam. Under its 12th Five-Year Plan, the Chinese government proposes to build 120 gigawatts of new hydropower plants on the Nu/Salween, Lancang/Upper Mekong, Jinsha/Upper Yangtze, and the Yarlung Tsangpo (which becomes the Brahmaputra). This equals more than one new Three Gorges Dam every year for the next five years, and is more than any other country has built in its entire history. China

A Flood of Dam Safety Problems

The latest dam burst in northeast Brazil
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
From September 2010 World Rivers Review The catastrophic flooding in Pakistan provides a terrifying warning of how global warming is changing the hydrological cycle. Almost every month seems to bring unprecedented rainstorms and floods somewhere across the world, and their severity and frequency seems to be rapidly worsening. These floods pose a major threat to the world's dams, and to the many millions of people who live below them. Here we report on a few of the worst examples of dam-induced flooding in recent months. Brazil Northeast Brazil - better known for severe drought - was hit by d

World Rivers Review: Focus on Rivers, Water and Climate - September 2010

Risky Business in the Face of Climate Change Catastrophic flooding in Pakistan, dam breaks around the world, and drought-caused blackouts in Africa provide ample warning of how global warming is changing the hydrological cycle. This special issue on rivers, water and climate examines the risks associated with building dams at a time when we can't predict either high or low flows. Get the full story on what these challenges mean for dam safety, river-based communities, energy production, and the environment – and the solutions that can help us survive. Download the September 2010 issue Downs

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