Xiluodu and Xiangjiaba cascade hydropower stations cope with heavy rainfall in southwest China

The Xiluodu and Xiangjiba dams, owned by China Three Gorges Corporation (CTG), have played a major role in combating the heavy rainfall that has been battering southwest China since middle August.

Due to sustained rainstorms in the region, Fu River, Tuo River, Jialing River and Min River and their tributaries in Sichuan province have been hit by major flooding recently.

To bolster the water retention efforts in the Sichuan section of the Yangtze River and the cities along the upper reaches of the Jinsha River, Xiangjiabei hydropower plant has been reducing the discharge flow of its reservoir since August 16. It retained as much as 70% of the peak floodwater, mitigating flood control pressure for the Chongqing section of the Yangtze River, the Three Gorges Project and the middle and lower reaches of the river.

Through joint efforts, Xiluodu and Xiangjiaba cascade hydropower stations retained nearly 1 billion cubic meters of floodwater a day on average and up to 71% of peak floodwater, breaking historical records in flood season in terms of retention rate of peak floodwater, minimum discharge flow and daily floodwater retention.