Numerical modeling of the hydro-environment of Poyang Lake, China

Poyang Lake, the largest freshwater lake in China, plays a key role in regulating the hydrology, water quality and ecosystem in the middle reaches of Yangtze River. Recent development and urbanization in Jiangxi province have driven rapid increase in water consumption and deterioration of water quality, exerting pressure on water utilization in the Lake’s basin. In this paper, a numerical model is developed and utilized to simulate the hydrodynamics and water quality of Poyang Lake. The model couples 1-D river network model and 2-D water quality model. The impact of the proposed downstream barrage on Poyang Lake’s hydrodynamics and water quality is investigated. The model is validated against measured data. It is concluded that the established integrated model is capable of accurately simulating the hydrodynamic and water-quality processes of the Lake; and the proposed barrage’s operation has large effects on the wetland distribution and water resources availability.