Research overview on the influence of the Three Gorges project construction on Dongting Lake

Reservoir construction in an upper reach of the river may change the natural hydrological process in the river downstream. Water and sediment process change of the downstream river and lake which links to the river are related closely to the changes of the Upper reaches. Many scholars are interested in that what kind of influence will produce on the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River,especially the Dongting Lake after the operation of the Three Gorges project on the Yangtze River. On the basis of reading nearly 100 articles related to the influence of the construction of the Three Gorges Project on the Dongting Lake,this article reviews the responses of the Dongting Lake to the construction of the Three Gorges Reservoir. The water and sediment situation changes,the flood and sediment diversion changes of the Jingjiang River,and the evolution of Chenglingji water level and flow of the Dongting Lake after the operation of the Three Gorges Reservoir are summarized,and the trends and directions of future research on this subject was also prospected. This work will provide reference for further study on the relationship between Dongting Lake and the construction of Three Gorges project.