Preliminary analysis on characteristics of water and sediment movement and environmental disasters changes in the Three Gorges reservoir area

Since Three Gorges reservoir impounded water in 2003, extensive field observation data has been obtained, which provide favorable conditions to study the water and sediment movement and the environment in the reservoir area. Based on the actual operation of the reservoir, the main changes of flood propagation, suspended sediment movement, eutrophication in the reservoir water as well as disasters such as landslides along the bank after water storage are analysed preliminarily in this paper. It is showed herein that there are much differences between before and after impounding. The new features in these processes are likely to cause impacts on long-term running of the Three Gorges project. The issues which are discussed are considered to be important and worthy of further research and need to be paid more attention in the future operation of the project. The results of the analysis in the paper indicate some exploratory directions or ways for future study.