Water Level of Three Gorges Reservoir Broke through 173 Meters

After 37 days of water impoundment, the water level of Three Gorges Reservoir broke through 173.5 meters on 20:00, October 16. The water storage of Three Gorges Dam of 2011 stepped into the final stage. The hydrologic data showed that the water level of Three Gorges Reservoir reached 173.3 meters on 16:00, October 16. There was a height difference of about 109 meters between the water levels at upper reaches and lower reaches of Three Gorges Dam. The 175 meters experimental water storage of Three Gorges Dam is on the point of completion.

With the stepping into the countdown of the last two meters of the 175 meters water storage of Three Gorges Dam, the maritime affairs department adopted a series of measures to ensure the navigation safety. Relevant local departments keep informing the vessels on Yangtze River the latest water condition, autumn flood and water level information. They also supervise and urge the vessels make good preparation for the heavy rain, dense fog and strong wind.

The real time hydrologic data showed that the inflow of Three Gorges Reservoir is about 13000 cubic meters per second while its outflow is about 9000 cubic meters per second. Hence, Three Gorges Dam impounds about 4000 cubic meters per second. We learned from Three Gorges Navigation Department that the discharge of Three Gorges Reservoir would not less than 8000 cubic meters per second in October. The water level will rise to 175 meters steadily in the end of October or in early November.

According to the navigation department and maritime affairs department, various measures were adopted to ensure the safety of Yangtze River bridges and navigation since the navigation condition is pretty complicated and changeable. The ultrahigh vessels would not be allowed to navigate on Three Gorges Reservoir.

175 meters is the designed normal storage level of Three Gorges Dam. Three Gorges Dam would start its impoundment in the end of the flood season. The navigation, electricity generating, flood control and drought resistance efficiency will be brought into full play after the completion of the 175 meters water storage.