On October 9th at 7 PM, a significant update came from the Xingzi hydrological station, situated at Poyang Lake, China’s largest freshwater lake. It recorded a water level of 7.99 meters, marking the second earliest moment in history that it has fallen below what is considered an extremely low water mark.
In an evening announcement, the Jiangxi Provincial Hydrology Monitoring Center revealed that the province has seen an average rainfall of just 63 millimeters since September. This figure is 40% below the normal amount expected for this time of year. The situation is dire as water levels in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River have remained low, with the Xingzi station first dipping below the low water mark of 12 meters on September 10th, and subsequently falling below 10 meters shortly after.
As it stands, Poyang Lake, which flows into the Yangtze River, has seen its water area shrink to 291 square kilometers and its volume drop to 925 million cubic meters. This is alarmingly just one-thirteenth and one-thirty-first of the typical maximum annual water levels. Fortunately, residents in the nearby counties have not yet experienced any difficulties in sourcing water.
With the lake’s levels continuing to decline, the “Earth Tree” phenomenon has re-emerged in the waters of Jinxi Lake, located within Jinxi County of Nanchang. Well-known landmarks such as Xieshan Island and Shizhongshan Cave are now fully exposed, revealing more grassland in Poyang Lake, especially within Lushan City’s jurisdiction.
Looking ahead, hydrological authorities are closely monitoring the situation. Based on current rainfall patterns and future weather forecasts, they predict that water levels in Poyang Lake will likely keep dropping. They are urging local agencies and the public to stay vigilant, adopt water conservation measures, and prepare for any potential negative effects that could arise from this critical situation.
