On the morning of July 22, the construction ceremony for the Huangmaoxia Reservoir project was held in Dawan Town, Yingde, Qingyuan, Guangdong Province.
As the first project for flood control and prevention on the main stream of the Lianjiang River (连江), the Huangmaoxia Reservoir has an estimated total investment of 13.5 billion yuan. Upon completion, it will serve as a "critical puzzle piece" in the flood control system of the Beijiang River Basin, playing a key role in enhancing the flood defense system in the middle and lower reaches of the Lianjiang River Basin, strengthening water security, and driving regional development.
Construction site of Huangmaoxia Reservoir project
The Beijiang River, the second-largest river system in the Pearl River Basin, originates from the Nanling Mountains. With a total length of 468 kilometers, it flows through Shaoguan, Yingde, downtown Qingyuan, and major cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay (GBA), including Guangzhou, Foshan, and Zhaoqing. The watershed upstream of the Sixianjiao (思贤滘) section in Sanshui covers 46,710 square kilometers. Within Guangdong Province, the basin spans six cities and 25 counties (or districts), totaling 42,930 square kilometers.
Visual rendering of Huangmaoxia Reservoir
Visual rendering of land raising
In recent years, extreme weather has become increasingly frequent, repeatedly threatening the Beijiang River Basin with floods. Towns along the middle and lower reaches of the Lianjiang River are often inundated. As the largest tributary of the Beijiang River, the Lianjiang currently lacks control infrastructure, making it the weakest link in the existing flood prevention system.
Lianjiang River, the largest tributary of Beijiang River
Located six kilometers downstream of Dawan Town in Yingde, the Huangmaoxia Reservoir is classified as a Grade II large-scale project. It has a total storage capacity of 562 million cubic meters, including 547 million cubic meters for flood control. Designed primarily for flood mitigation, the reservoir also supports navigation, irrigation, and power generation, making it a comprehensive infrastructure project serving public well-being.
As a vital component of the Beijiang River flood control system, the Huangmaoxia Reservoir will further improve the flood defense system in the middle and lower reaches of the Beijiang River upon completion. It will ease flood pressure on key GBA cities such as Guangzhou, Foshan, and Qingyuan and significantly reduce the likelihood of activating temporary flood storage zones in the Feilaixia Reservoir area.
Location map of Huangmaoxia Reservoir
In terms of navigation, the Huangmaoxia Reservoir project will include the development of a Class IV waterway system, extending the reach of 500-ton vessels into the Lianjiang hinterland. This will significantly improve navigational conditions, enhance water transport efficiency, and facilitate regional logistics and economic exchanges.
As for power generation, the project, designed as a green energy initiative, is expected to generate over 100 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of clean electricity annually. This will significantly contribute to optimizing the regional energy system by injecting sustainable power into the region.
In terms of irrigation benefits, the project will enhance the reliability of the irrigation water supply for the Yingde Irrigation District along the Lianjiang River. By ensuring a stable supply of agricultural water, it will effectively support rural revitalization efforts.
Rendering of Dawan Town in Yingde, Qingyuan
Map of resettlement area for Huangmaoxia Reservoir
Editor | Zhang Xuanzhen (intern), Liu Lingzhi, James, Shen He
