Flood control practices on small-medium rivers in Yunnan, China

摘要

This paper introduces the topographic, climatic, and socioeconomic characteristics associated with river flooding in Yunnan Province, China. Control of small-medium river flooding is crucial for disaster mitigation, protection of life, property, and the economy, and the improvement of the environment. Flood control measures on the small-medium rivers in Yunnan Province constitute 511 projects that have been planned in three stages, affecting 310 rivers (total length: 3008 km) and involving 4976 km of dikes or embankments. By 2015, management of 54% of the river length had been completed. Remaining problems such as lack of funds, poor planning, imperfect engineering and non-engineering solutions as well as the need to strengthen ecological regulations are discussed and some suggestions proposed.