EXTENDING YOUR KNOWLEDGE

These questions are more general than the Interactive computer corrected questions. In fact, many of the questions may not have one correct answer. The purpose of these questions is to provide the users of the RAK with an opportunity to evaluate and apply their understanding of the impacts of water management in the Mekong basin.

In order to answer these questions you can return to the material in the main text to review information on each topic, you can get some ideas about the answer by discussing the issues they raise with some of your colleagues, or you can utilize the RAK web site and Bulletin Board to get help from other RAK users or from one of the content experts that participated in the development of the RAK.

1. Dams are built for a number of different reasons. Identify what these reasons are, and for each type of dam briefly describe how it may be relevant to the development of the Mekong River system.

2. Define the difference between a "run of the river dam" and a "reservoir dam" and discuss the possible physical and ecological impacts from each type of dam on the river. Include references to possible upstream and downstream effects.

3. Describe the possible long distance and "down stream" impacts of dams that are now built or being planned, for the headwaters and tributaries of the Mekong River. For example is it possible for these dams to have specific impacts on the fisheries of Tonle Sap and the rice harvests of Cambodia and Vietnam.

4. Not all impacts on the flow of water in river systems come from the building of dams. Discuss the potential impacts on the flow of water and floodplain ecology that is created by the building of polders and levees.

5. Discuss the possible future developments in the Mekong basin from hydroelectric power, water transfer, river channelization and the construction of polders and levees. In your opinion what will be the advantages and disadvantages of these development projects.