A Visit to the Yangtze River and the Three Gorges Dam: Reflections from a People to People Ambassador Program in China

A general description of the Three Gorges project is given, followed by a discussion of the benefits that the undertaking will provide. Attention is also given to some of the project’s drawbacks. It is noted that numerous initiatives with civil engineering ramifications are under way in China, including an increased emphasis on soil conservation programs, new rules requiring industrial and municipal wastewater treatment, emphasis on pollution source reduction rather than just end-of-pipe treatment, and reforms in the regulatory structures for water resources management.