VARIATION OF RUNOFF IN THE YICHANG REACH OF YANGTZE RIVER AND ITS INFLUENCE TO THE CHINESE STURGEON SPAWNING UNDER THE CASCADED HYDROPOWER OPERATION

Based on the Gini coefficient and Mann-Kendall test, the runoff variation in the Yichang reach of Yangtze River from 1982 to 2017 was evaluated, and its influence to the Chinese sturgeon spawning below the Gezhouba Dam was discussed under the cascaded hydropower operation. The results showed that the runoff and Gini coefficient decreased significantly after the construction of Gezhouba Dam, which synchronously decreased the flow and water levels in spawning days of the Chinese sturgeon. Water temperature had no significant change. The analysis of the abruption revealed great change of hydrological conditions in the spawning days and Gini coefficient in 2004 and 2009, which are coincided with time of the second and fourth phase impoundment of the Three Gorges Reservoir. The correlation analysis indicated that the higher runoff and Gini coefficient would induce Chinese sturgeon to spawn in days with high flow and water levels. These results suggest that the ecological operation of the Three Gorges-Gezhouba cascaded hydropower could enhance the runoff with large inequality and create long duration of high flow pulses during flood seasons.