Volume 19 Issue 1
Mar.  2026
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Article Navigation >  Water Science and Engineering  > 2026  >  19(1): 56-66
Hai-lan Su, Xin-xin Chen, Jun-hong Zhang, Zi-wen Wang, Ya-xin Guo, Shuo Ouyang. 2026: Quantitative analysis of water exchange between Yangtze River and Dongting Lake. Water Science and Engineering, 19(1): 56-66. doi: 10.1016/j.wse.2025.12.007
Citation: Hai-lan Su, Xin-xin Chen, Jun-hong Zhang, Zi-wen Wang, Ya-xin Guo, Shuo Ouyang. 2026: Quantitative analysis of water exchange between Yangtze River and Dongting Lake. Water Science and Engineering, 19(1): 56-66. doi: 10.1016/j.wse.2025.12.007
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Quantitative analysis of water exchange between Yangtze River and Dongting Lake

doi: 10.1016/j.wse.2025.12.007

  • a. Key Laboratory of Resources Conversion and Pollution Control of the State Ethnic Affairs Commission, College of Resources and Environmental Science, South-Central Minzu University, Wuhan 430074, China;

  • b. Central Southern China Electric Power Design Institute Co., Ltd., China Power Engineering Consulting Group, Wuhan 430071, China;

  • c. State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China;

  • d. Bureau of Hydrology, Changjiang Water Resources Commission, Wuhan 430010, China

Funds:

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 52579028), the Hubei Provincial Natural Science Foundation (Grant No. 2024AFB849), the Joint Funds of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. U24B20105), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of South-Central Minzu University (Grants No. CZZ24020 and CZH25018), and the Fund for Academic Innovation Teams of South-Central Minzu University (Grant No. XTZ24019).

  • Received Date: 2025-05-14
  • Accepted Date: 2025-11-18
    • Available Online: 2026-03-28
    Abstract
  • The Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) is one of the largest hydroelectric projects in the world, with significant impacts on the hydrology and ecology of the Yangtze River Basin. Understanding the effects of TGR operation on surrounding water systems, especially the Jingjiang Reach and Dongting Lake, is crucial for local water resources management and flood control. This study evaluated the impact of the TGR on water diversion in the Jingjiang Reach and outflow from Dongting Lake using observed data and sedimentation patterns before and after TGR operation. A coupled one-/two-demensional hydrodynamic model was developed to simulate hydrological processes. The relationship between TGR scheduling and Dongting Lake inflow and outflow across different periods was quantified. The results indicated that after TGR operation began, riverbed erosion significantly lowered tributary water levels under equivalent main stream flow. Lake inflow through the three Jingjiang Reach outlets increased during drawdown and water supplement periods but decreased during flood and impounding periods. Lake outflow increased during drawdown, flood, and water supplement periods but declined significantly during the impounding period. The contributions of factors varied considerably. Reservoir scheduling accounted for 328.86% of inflow changes at the Taiping outlet during the drawdown period but only 20.72% during the flood season. River topography changes contributed 157.41% to lake outflow changes during the drawdown period, but only 1.85% during the water supplement period. These findings enhance our understanding of river—lake system evolution and support improved management strategies.

     

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