VOA慢速英语--湄公河水位降至“令人担忧”的水平

An intergovernmental organization says water levels in the Mekong River have dropped to "worrying levels" since the start of 2021.

The drop was partly caused by a restriction¹ on flows from a hydropower plant in China's Yunnan province, the Mekong River Commission (MRC) said in a recent statement. The MRC includes Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam.

The important waterway has turned blue along the Thai-Laos border – from its usual cloudy brown color – signaling lower water and reduced levels of sediment². Lower levels of sediment could be the result of outflow restrictions³ from China's Jinghong hydropower station, the organization said.

The statement said other reasons for the drop were lower rainfall, flow changes upstream and hydropower operations in Mekong tributaries⁴.

"There have been sudden rises and falls in water levels immediately downstream of Jinghong and further down to Vientiane," said Winai Wongpimool. He is the director of the MRC's Technical Support Division.

Such changes can affect fish migration⁵, agriculture and transportation that nearly 70 million people depend on for financial support and food security.

"To help the Lower Mekong countries manage risks more effectively, we call on China and the Lower Mekong countries themselves to share their water release plans with us," Winai said.

The MRC said normal conditions could return if large amounts of water are released from Chinese dams.

China's Ministry⁶ of Foreign Affairs disputed the organization's findings and said there are many causes of downstream drought.

Last year, China promised to share data from its dam projects with MRC member countries. In January, Chinese officials informed neighbors that its dams were filling reservoirs until January 25.

The MRC said outflow levels at Jinghong Dam were 785 cubic meters per second in early January, before rising to 1,400 cubic meters per second in mid-January.

However, levels dropped again in February and were 800 cubic meters per second as of February 11, the MRC said.

China said the dam's outflow has continually been more than 1,000 cubic meters per second since the end of January. It said that level is nearly two times more than the natural flow of the river. It called on the MRC "to avoid causing public misunderstanding."

Words in This Story

sediment – n. materials that collect at the bottom of a liquid

hydropower – n. the production of electricity by the force of fast moving water

upstream – adv. along a river in the opposite direction of the way the water is mo\ving

tributary⁷ – n. a stream feeding a larger stream or a lake

manage – v. to have control of something, such as a business, department, sports team, etc.

drought – n. a period of extended dryness caused by a lack of rain

reservoir – n. a place where a liquid is stored

1 restriction   

n.限制，约束

参考例句：

• The park is open to the public without restriction.这个公园对公众开放，没有任何限制。
• The 30 mph speed restriction applies in all built-up areas.每小时限速30英里适用于所有建筑物聚集区。

2 sediment   

n.沉淀，沉渣，沉积(物)

参考例句：

• The sediment settled and the water was clear.杂质沉淀后，水变清了。
• Sediment begins to choke the channel's opening.沉积物开始淤塞河道口。

3 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

4 tributaries   

n. 支流

参考例句：

• In such areas small tributaries or gullies will not show. 在这些地区，小的支流和冲沟显示不出来。
• These tributaries are subsequent streams which erode strike valley. 这些支流系即为蚀出走向谷的次生河。

5 migration   

n.迁移，移居，（鸟类等的）迁徙

参考例句：

• Swallows begin their migration south in autumn.燕子在秋季开始向南方迁移。
• He described the vernal migration of birds in detail.他详细地描述了鸟的春季移居。

6 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

7 tributary   

n.支流；纳贡国；adj.附庸的；辅助的；支流的

参考例句：

• There was a tributary road near the end of the village.村的尽头有条岔道。
• As the largest tributary of Jinsha river,Yalong river is abundant in hydropower resources.雅砻江是金沙江的最大支流，水力资源十分丰富。