Environmental Management of the Three Gorges Project

The environmental management of the Three Gorges Project is discussed in this paper. The management experiences and methods during the periods of the feasibility study, construction, and partial operation are described in detail. The pollution control management in the reservoir area is described. The resettlement problems are discussed in brief. Some suggestions for the environmental management are presented from the viewpoint of sustainability management. People-centered management should be promoted in the future operation. The environmental monitoring and investigations should be further made to fully understand the environmental realty related to the dam operation, the reservoir inflow and outflow, sedimentation and the resident's lives around the reservoir. The mitigation measures should be executed to reduce the negative impacts of the Three Gorges Project. The environmental management experiences can be used for other hydropower projects to heighten the management level of the hydropower industry.