Prediction of Ecological Impacts of the Planned Xiaonanhai Power Dam on the Rare and Endemic Fishes Nature Reserve in the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River

The planned Xiaonanhai power dam which is located in the rare and endemic fishes nature reserve in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River is the largest project of Chongqing City during the 11th 5-year-plan.Ecological impacts of the Xiaonanhai power dam on the rare and endemic fishes nature reserve in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River were predicted and analyzed.Results show that once the dam is built up,it will seriously alter the hydrological characteristics such as current speed,water temperature,water quality,etc.as well as the structure and function of the 72.5 km river section in the nature reserve,eliminating spawning grounds and habitats of some rare and endemic fishes including Myxocyprinus asiaticus,Coreius guichenoti,Leptobotia elongata,Procypris rabaudi and Rhinogobio ventralis.In order to mitigate the ecological impacts of the dam on the nature reserve,some applicable countermeasures were put forward.