In a move to ensure the safety of the Yangtze River basin during flood season, the world's largest clean energy corridor, comprising six cascade hydropower stations—Wudongde, Baihetan, Xiluodu, Xiangjiaba, Three Gorges, and Gezhouba—has successfully completed its annual drawdown process, freeing up a total of 35.8 billion cubic meters of flood control storage capacity.
The annual drawdown, also known as pre-flood drawdown, is a core routine procedure in reservoir water regulation. It involves the systematic lowering of the reservoir water level from near its normal storage level down to the flood control level before the main flood season arrives, thereby creating the necessary flood control storage capacity.
The four cascade reservoirs in the lower reaches of the Jinsha River—Wudongde, Baihetan, Xiluodu, and Xiangjiaba—initiated their drawdown on January 1, 2026, releasing a cumulative water volume of 15.2 billion cubic meters. This process was completed approximately two weeks ahead of the schedule required by operational regulations.
The water level at the Three Gorges Reservoir was drawn down to 147.78 meters at 9 PM on June 7. Through the coordinated joint operation of all six cascade reservoirs, a total flood control capacity of 35.8 billion cubic meters has been established, providing ample space for flood regulation and storage within the Yangtze River basin.
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