According to the “Sanxia Reservoir 2024 Water Storage Plan” approved by the Ministry of Water Resources, the Sanxia Reservoir officially began its 2024 water storage at a height of 175 meters on September 10.

Previously, the Wudongde, Baihetan, Xiluodu, and Xiangjiaba reservoirs downstream of the Jinsha River had started their water storage operations on August 1 and September 1, respectively, following the previous operating water levels. As of now, all cascade reservoirs under the jurisdiction of the Sanxia Corporation on the main stream of the Yangtze River have entered the water storage phase.

In order to carry out the water storage work of the Yangtze River cascade reservoirs, with the Sanxia Reservoir as the core, the Sanxia Corporation Basin Management Center, together with relevant internal and external units of the group, actively planned and scientifically deployed. Based on the early-stage dispatching of the cascade reservoirs in 2024 and the water inflow forecast during the water storage period, the center comprehensively considered the multi-party dispatching needs of the reservoirs during the water storage period. In early August, a joint water storage plan for the cascade reservoirs was organized and compiled, and submitted to the Yangtze River Water Resources Committee of the Ministry of Water Resources to actively promote the approval process of the water storage plan, ensuring that the water storage has a basis.

After the passage of the second flood on the Yangtze River, while ensuring flood control safety, the Sanxia Corporation actively coordinated with the Yangtze River Water Resources Committee of the Ministry of Water Resources to close the deep flood discharge holes of the Sanxia Reservoir at the appropriate time, optimize the reservation and mutual use of flood control storage capacity in the lower reaches of the Jinsha River, and maintain the high water level operation of the cascade reservoirs as much as possible, solidly preparing for the orderly connection between flood control and water storage. Since August, the reservoir has closely tracked the rolling water inflow forecast and changes in power supply area load demand. In the case of gradually reducing forecast water inflow, it has balanced the demand for energy supply. In late August, the outflow of the Sanxia Reservoir was gradually reduced from 17,000 cubic meters per second to 11,000 cubic meters per second, and the water level of the Sanxia Reservoir was maintained above 152 meters at the end of August, laying the foundation for later water storage. Since late August, the water inflow in the Yangtze River basin has been significantly lower than usual, with high temperatures persisting in Sichuan and Chongqing, and a high demand for water supply for power supply. As of the end of August, the total water to be stored in the lower reaches of the Jinsha River cascade and the Sanxia Reservoir was 2.2 billion cubic meters more than the same period last year. According to the later water inflow forecast, the water inflow in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River in September to October is about 30% less than the multi-year average, posing a severe challenge to the water storage work of the cascade reservoirs.

During the water storage period, the Sanxia Corporation will strictly follow the requirements of the Ministry of Water Resources’ approval, dynamically optimize the water storage process according to the rolling forecast of water inflow, scientifically respond to the situation of lower-than-usual water inflow, and intensify the safety monitoring of the hub and geological inspections of the reservoir banks. It will continue to do a good job in information reporting during the water storage period, ensuring the completion of the annual water storage task on the premise of ensuring the safety of the hub project, reservoir banks, and upstream and downstream areas.