A River and Its Dams

More than 140 dams are currently planned, under construction or commissioned for different rivers in the Mekong Basin. If constructed, this will radically alter the basin’s hydrology, its ecology and, consequently, the lives of millions who depend upon it. How can dams be built to minimize these social and environmental impacts? This short looks at three different dams.

The Xayabouli dams officially broke ground in November 2012, the Namtheun Hin Boun Expansion Project is considered a well implemented dam, and finally, the Don Sahong in southern Laos which has been given the go ahead by the Lao government.