IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i20p9125-d1503334.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Impacts of Large Hydropower Projects on the Ecological Environment of Watersheds: A Case Study of Ertan Reservoir Area

Author

Listed:
  • Yixian Xiao

    (State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
    College of Geography and Planning, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China)

  • Li He

    (State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
    College of Geography and Planning, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China)

  • Xin Chen

    (State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
    College of Geography and Planning, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China)

  • Zhengwei He

    (State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
    College of Geography and Planning, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China)

  • Yangqi Lai

    (State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
    College of Geography and Planning, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China)

  • Fang Luo

    (State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
    College of Geography and Planning, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China)

  • Yuxin Cen

    (State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
    College of Geography and Planning, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China)

  • Dan Li

    (State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
    College of Geography and Planning, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China)

  • Run Jin

    (State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China
    College of Geography and Planning, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China)

Abstract

Ertan Hydroelectric Power Station was the first large-scale water conservancy facility in western China, and with its completion, the ecological pattern of the reservoir area has changed dramatically; however, the changes in habitat quality before and after the completion of the reservoir have not yet been systematically monitored and evaluated. In this study, we analyzed the spatial and temporal characteristics of the remote sensing ecological index (RSEI), used CA-Markov model and GeoDetector, evaluated the ecological environment of the Ertan Reservoir area in each five-year period from 1995 to 2020, simulated the ecological quality of the Ertan Reservoir area in 2025, and revealed the nine drivers and their interactions affecting ecological quality of the watershed from a geologic point of view, and finally put forward reasonable planning and targeted protection suggestions. Finally, rational planning and targeted protection recommendations were proposed. The main results were as follows: (1) After the completion of the Ertan Hydropower Station, the spatial distribution of the RSEI in the reservoir area varied significantly, with a trend of “rising-declining-rising” in time, and the area share of “good” area increased the most, by 19.83%. (2) The degree of grading of each driving factor had different degrees of influence on the size of the RSEI value, and its interaction enhanced the spatial differentiation of the RSEI. (3) The average value of the RSEI is 0.66 in 2025, and the ecological environment quality will show a steady improvement in five years. The results of the study can provide a reference for constructing RSEI indicators for large hydropower facilities.

Suggested Citation

  • Yixian Xiao & Li He & Xin Chen & Zhengwei He & Yangqi Lai & Fang Luo & Yuxin Cen & Dan Li & Run Jin, 2024. "Impacts of Large Hydropower Projects on the Ecological Environment of Watersheds: A Case Study of Ertan Reservoir Area," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-23, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:20:p:9125-:d:1503334
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/20/9125/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/20/9125/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yizhuo Liu & Tinggang Zhou & Wenping Yu, 2024. "Analysis of Changes in Ecological Environment Quality and Influencing Factors in Chongqing Based on a Remote-Sensing Ecological Index Mode," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-17, February.
    2. Alistair W. R. Seddon & Marc Macias-Fauria & Peter R. Long & David Benz & Kathy J. Willis, 2016. "Sensitivity of global terrestrial ecosystems to climate variability," Nature, Nature, vol. 531(7593), pages 229-232, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Mengmeng Gao & Nan Yang & Qiong Liu, 2024. "What Drives Vegetation Evolution in the Middle Reaches of the Yellow River Basin, Climate Change or Human Activities?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-21, November.
    2. Shulin Chen & Zhenghao Zhu & Xiaotong Liu & Li Yang, 2022. "Variation in Vegetation and Its Driving Force in the Pearl River Delta Region of China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-15, August.
    3. Yuhao Jin & Han Zhang & Yuchao Yan & Peitong Cong, 2020. "A Semi-Parametric Geographically Weighted Regression Approach to Exploring Driving Factors of Fractional Vegetation Cover: A Case Study of Guangdong," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-19, September.
    4. Ruoyan Zhang & Shengqiang Zhou & Ru Chen, 2025. "Moderating effects of grassland ecological compensation policy in linking climatic risk and farmers' livelihood resilience in China," Economic Growth Centre Working Paper Series 2502, Nanyang Technological University, School of Social Sciences, Economic Growth Centre.
    5. Cecilia Parracciani & Robert Buitenwerf & Jens-Christian Svenning, 2023. "Impacts of Climate Change on Vegetation in Kenya: Future Projections and Implications for Protected Areas," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-20, November.
    6. Hasibuan, Abdul Muis & Gregg, Daniel & Stringer, Randy, 2020. "Accounting for diverse risk attitudes in measures of risk perceptions: A case study of climate change risk for small-scale citrus farmers in Indonesia," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    7. Meng Wang & Zhengfeng An, 2022. "Regional and Phased Vegetation Responses to Climate Change Are Different in Southwest China," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-21, July.
    8. Luca Rindi & Jianyu He & Mara Miculan & Matteo Dell’Acqua & Mario Enrico Pè & Lisandro Benedetti-Cecchi, 2025. "Legacies of temperature fluctuations promote stability in marine biofilm communities," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-13, December.
    9. Kexin Zhang & Jiajia Luo & Jiaoting Peng & Hongchang Zhang & Yan Ji & Hong Wang, 2022. "Analysis of Extreme Temperature Variations on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau in Southwestern China over the Past 60 Years," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-17, July.
    10. Tengfei Yuan & Shaojian Huang & Peng Zhang & Zhengcheng Song & Jun Ge & Xin Miao & Yujuan Wang & Qiaotong Pang & Dong Peng & Peipei Wu & Junjiong Shao & Peipei Zhang & Yabo Wang & Hongyan Guo & Weidon, 2024. "Potential decoupling of CO2 and Hg uptake process by global vegetation in the 21st century," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    11. Yue Pan & Jian Gong & Jingye Li, 2022. "Assessment of Remote Sensing Ecological Quality by Introducing Water and Air Quality Indicators: A Case Study of Wuhan, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-22, December.
    12. Lin Jin & Zhijie Zhang, 2024. "Assessing Environmental Sustainability in the Transnational Basin of the Tumen River Based on Remote Sensing Data and a Geographical Detector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-17, September.
    13. Xi Liu & Guoming Du & Xiaodie Zhang & Xing Li & Shining Lv & Yinghao He, 2024. "Vegetation Dynamics and Driving Mechanisms Considering Time-Lag and Accumulation Effects: A Case Study of Hubao–Egyu Urban Agglomeration," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-17, August.
    14. Yue, Ping & Zhang, Qiang & Ren, Xueyuan & Yang, Zesu & Li, Hongyu & Yang, Yang, 2022. "Environmental and biophysical effects of evapotranspiration in semiarid grassland and maize cropland ecosystems over the summer monsoon transition zone of China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 264(C).
    15. Fangfang Sun & Chengcheng Dong & Longlong Zhao & Jinsong Chen & Li Wang & Ruixia Jiang & Hongzhong Li, 2025. "Spatiotemporal Variation and Influencing Factors of Ecological Quality in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Based on the Unified Remote Sensing Ecological Index over the Past 30 Years," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-24, May.
    16. Mingxing Zhong, 2025. "The Interactive Coercive Relationship Between Urbanization and Eco-Environmental Quality in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-16, June.
    17. Haochen Yu & Zhengfu Bian & Shouguo Mu & Junfang Yuan & Fu Chen, 2020. "Effects of Climate Change on Land Cover Change and Vegetation Dynamics in Xinjiang, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-25, July.
    18. Wanlu Liu & Lulu Liu & Jiangbo Gao, 2020. "Adapting to climate change: gaps and strategies for Central Asia," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 25(8), pages 1439-1459, December.
    19. Weiliang Wang & Xinran Li & Haijing Lv & Yu Tian, 2023. "What Are the Correlations between Human Disturbance, the Spatial Pattern of the Urban Landscape, and Eco-Environmental Quality?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-24, January.
    20. Bimal Kumar Dora & Sunil Bhat & Arghya Mitra & Damien Ernst & Adrian Halinka & Daria Zychma & Pawel Sowa, 2025. "The Global Electricity Grid: A Comprehensive Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-39, February.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:20:p:9125-:d:1503334. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.