Drought Stalls 3 Gorges Dam

[liveonearth]

http://www.usatoday.com/weather/drought/2009-11-16-china-drought_N.htm?csp=34&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+usatoday-NewsTopStories+%28News+-+Top+Stories%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher

Drought stalls China's Three Gorges dam
located in central China in basin along Yangtze, reservoir 410 miles long
world's largest hydroelectric project
cost $23 billion
China wants to drive budding economy with power
many towns have been demolished to build it
1.4 million people relocated
been trying to fill reservoir since 9/15, target deadline was this month
full = 574 feet; Nov 2 got it up to 561 feet then stopped rising
officials say inflow is too low
(I wonder if there's a leak? could be thru land, not dam)
drought is increasing, 34% less flow this year than last year
drought getting worse downstream in Hunan and Jiangxi provinces: need water

LAND DESTABILIZED BY SATURATION
increased landslide risk
more anticipated as water reaches peak
saturation and fissures threaten (this supports my leak theory)
big city nearby at risk: Wanzhou district of Chongqing
some are saying this risk is another reason not to fill the dam (too quickly)
authorities deny that this is why it isn't full
fissures appearing in slopes, many people at risk
homes cracking