Satellite imagery controls boundary rivers’ water transfer

16 June 2009

Satellite-based imagery enables to exert operational and efficient control over the flow of boundary rivers. Currently, canal construction activities for water transfer from Hailar River (upper reach of the Argun River on the Chinese border) into the lake Dalainor (Dalai or Kulun lake) are widely discussed by the public. Satellite-based monitoring of the construction area supported by ScanEx RDC is carried out by NGO «Transparent World».

Construction of the 18 km long and 54 m wide canal is carried out in Hulunber region (Inner Mongolia, People’s Republic of China). Water transfer project was a concern of the Russian side already in 2007. Interference in the hydrological regime of rivers can result in crucial changes in the ecosystem of the region as a whole. A wide range of reasons may create a tense atmosphere in the Argun river basin: increasing water supply deficit in steppe areas of Dauriya and China, water quality impairment of boundary water bodies, etc. The expected water intake will be two-thirds of the current water flow of Argun river from the territory of China: 1.05 cubic km per year (or 33.3 cubic meters per second). The Governor of Chita Region Ravil Geniatulin, RIA Novosti reported on June 9, asked the Russian federal authorities to” operationally check the information on the canal construction project status from Argun (Hailar) river to Dalai lake based on the satellite imagery ».

NGO Transparent World specialists supported by ScanEx RDC started to monitor canal construction from Hailar river towards Dalainor lake in spring using satellite images.

Detailed space images illustrate the start of construction activities in June-July 2008. Currently the structure is in form of a ditch of 7 km long and 50-60 m wide. The canal is filled with water and connected to the Hulungol river bed. About 15-30 m away from the Hailar river bed, the waterworks are being constructed for flow control.

Hailar/Argun water transfer project is connected with a large-scale project of economic development of Chinese regions. Last June China started the water pipeline construction near Dalai lake with a capacity of 30 million cu.m./year to copper-molibdenic mine. Satellite-based data indicate the completion of the trench construction under the water pipeline by June 30, 2008.

Roman Chalov, one of the leading river water bed specialists, Head of Soil Erosion and River Bed Processes Lab of the Lomonosov Moscow State University’s Geographic Department, shared his opinion on this problem: — Average annual water flow rate in Argun river estuary (upstream Shilka river junction) is 400 cubic meters per second. After recomputing the above 30 million cubic m. into water flow rate we get only 1 cubic meter per second. Even if we assume the flow rate in Argun, where it becomes a boundary river, as 50-60 cubic m per second, it is still a “next-to-nothing” value. The flow volume in the canal is estimated as 30-35 cubic meters per second. Water drawoff will have an impact on Argun, however, not as dramatic one, as they try to present. It is important to sign agreement on joint, complex and scientifically reasonable usage of water resources and conduction of joint studies, - said Roman Chalov. – Otherwise, China, Kazakhstan and Ukraine, using waters of Argun or Sungari, Irtysh or Severski Donets, will bring us a lot of trouble”.

In her turn, ScanEx Vice-President Olga Gershenzon assured: — Space monitoring of waterworks construction activities near Russian-Chinese border will be continued. Satellite-based data may be a good help in resolution of such strategic trans-border issues.

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Source: ScanEx