Effects of a Proposed Hydraulic Project on the Hydrodynamics in the Poyang Lake Floodplain System, China

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health Vol. 18; no. 15; p. 8072
• Main Authors: Zhao, Guizhang, Li, Yunliang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 30.07.2021; MDPI
• Subjects: Computational fluid dynamics; Dam construction; Dams; Downstream; Downstream effects; Finite volume method; Floodplains; Floods; Flow velocity; Fluid flow; Fluid mechanics; Hydraulics; Hydrodynamics; Hydroelectric power; Hydrology; Investigations; Lakes; Local government; Precipitation; Rivers; Sediment transport; Topography; Trends; Water levels; Water outflow; Water quality; Water shortages; Water supply; Water temperature; China; Poyang Lake; Yangtze River
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18158072

Knowledge of dam construction in floodplain systems and its hydrodynamic effects plays a critical role in managing various kinds of floodplains. This study uses 3D floodplain hydrodynamic modeling to explore the possible effects of a proposed hydraulic project in Poyang Lake (PLHP) on the hydrodynamics, exemplified by a large floodplain system. Simulations showed that the water levels across most lake regions presented more significant changes than in the floodplain areas during the study period. The increased water levels upstream from the PLHP (~1.0 m) were distinctly higher than that downstream (~0.1 m). The PLHP may decrease the magnitude of the water velocities in the main channels of the lake, whereas velocities may experience mostly minor changes in the floodplains, depending upon the altered flow dynamics and transport. On average, the water temperature may exhibit mostly minor changes (~<1.0 °C) for both the horizontal and vertical scales within the flood-pulse-influenced lake system. Additionally, the model results indicated that the outflow process caused by the PLHP may be altered from the natural discharge into the Yangtze River to frequent backflow events during the storage period, demonstrating the non-negligible effect of the PLHP on the water supply for the downstream Yangtze River in the future.