Sections of river in Laos and Thailand at significantly below average levels
The section of the Mekong River running through Cambodia is escaping the record low water levels that are plaguing large portions of the river in northern Laos and Thailand, according to the Mekong River Commission.
River levels at four measuring stations on the Mekong in Laos and Thailand are currently lower than those recorded in 1992 and 1993, the period of the most extreme regional drought since records began in 1913, the MRC said in a statement.
“It is too early in the dry season to say whether or not this indicates record-low water levels for the mainstream Mekong, however all mainstream water levels measured north of Stung Treng are significantly below the average for this time of year and are expected to decrease further for another month,” according to the statement.
The commission, an inter-governmental body consisting of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, said the Mekong has been hit by drought conditions that are particularly affecting northern Thailand, northern Laos and China’s southern Yunnan province combined with a drier wet season last year.
Damian Kean, the MRC’s communications officer, said yesterday that the Mekong in Cambodia is being spared the drastically low water levels.
“In the southern reaches of the [Lower Mekong Basin], the mainstream Mekong is being fed by tributaries that are not in drought affected areas, which means that water levels will be closer to normal than in the north,” Mr Kean wrote in an e-mail from Vientiane, Laos.
He added the drought is a naturally occurring phenomenon caused by low rainfall, but possible effects include a dangerous shortage of water for drinking and agriculture. The reduced water flow could also affect aquatic life in the Mekong and impact food safety, Mr Kean said, adding that cargo and tourist boats have reduced or stopped operations altogether because the water levels are so low in the northern reaches of the river.
Tarng Teng, director of the provincial Department of Water Resource and Meteorology in Stung Treng province, which borders Laos, said yesterday by telephone that the water levels of the Mekong in his province are on a par with the levels from last year.
“Right now, the water level is normal,” he said.
Sin Chham, chief of the hydrology office at the Stung Treng provincial Water Resource Department, confirmed that although there might be small changes to the level of the Mekong, on average, the river has remained the same.
Yesterday, Mr Chham’s office measured the Mekong’s level at 2.03 meters compared to 2.23 meters, which was recorded on March 18, 2009.
“Sometimes it reduces 0.01 or 0.02 cm a day and sometimes it is stable for two days,” he said. “The water level is similar to last year.”
