Dong Nai: Water level at Tri An hydropower plant is at its lowest in 12 years, nearing the dead water level, causing the lake bed to be exposed, and people can walk in the middle of the lake.
On May 13, Mr. Vo Tan Nhan, Director of Tri An Hydropower Company, said that the amount of water flowing into Tri An Lake during this year's dry season has decreased sharply, at times reaching 50.5 m. This is close to the lake's dead water level (50 m).
According to Mr. Nhan, this water level is the lowest in the past 12 years, just above 2009 (49.99 m). Despite the low water level, thanks to the inter-reservoir hydroelectric operation mechanism on the Dong Nai River, the company is still operating 4 generators. In the past few days, due to heavy rains, the water level in the reservoir has risen to 51 m.
"The average water flow into the lake last week was 200 m3/s, so there is no longer any worry about a lack of water for daily life and production downstream, and the risk of power shortages has also decreased," said Mr. Nhan.
The fishing boat left in the middle of the lake with a dry bottom and cracks due to drought. Photo: Phuoc Tuan
According to the leader of Tri An Hydropower Company, in addition to serving electricity production, the lake also has many other functions. Among them, it regulates water downstream for clean water production plants serving the daily life and production of nearly 12 million people in Dong Nai and Ho Chi Minh City. Therefore, water coordination is very important, with the goal of not allowing water shortages to occur.
Tri An Lake is 32,000 hectares wide, and was previously flooded. However, at this time, many upstream sections of the Dong Nai and La Nga rivers flowing into the lake have dried up. Traditional fishing ports for fishermen who want to reach the edge of the Dong Nai River have to drive motorbikes more than 10 km in the middle of the lake. The lake bed is cracked, the fish are dry and dead, and fishermen's nets and boats are also abandoned.
According to locals, in the dry season, when the water level of Tri An Lake drops, the road will be exposed, and the islands will be connected to the residential area without having to go by boat. In the rainy season, the road will be flooded, and the water will rise to the embankment. "Every year, the water level goes up and down according to the electricity production process, but this year the water level is deep, the lake is drier, and people who want to fish have to go further," said Toan, a fisherman in Phu Ly commune, Vinh Cuu district.
The trail in the middle of the lake during the dry season. Photo: Phuoc Tuan
Taking advantage of the low water level, many people took advantage of the situation to encroach on the semi-submerged areas of the lake, especially in communes bordering the forest such as Ma Da and Phu Ly in Vinh Cuu district. According to Mr. Nhan, because the lake is large and the semi-submerged areas border many areas deep in the forest, management is difficult. The company and local authorities have repeatedly inspected and handled these encroachments to ensure the security and safety of the lake.
Tri An Hydropower Plant was built in 1984, inaugurated and put into use in 1991. This is the largest hydropower project in the South with 4 turbines, total designed capacity of 400 MW. Together with Dong Nai Cultural Nature Reserve and Nam Cat Tien National Forest, Tri An Inland Water Reserve forms Dong Nai Biosphere Reserve.
Phuoc Tuan
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