Plans to dam China's last wild river have been circulating since 2003, but now it seems that conservationists could emerge victorious
Stuart Leavenworth reports: "Conservationists have had little to celebrate amid China’s dam-building boom of the last half century. In the Nu River gorge, they appear to be on the cusp of a rare victory." Leavenworth also explains the reasons for the optimism:
Yunnan’s provincial secretary recently announced a halt to small hydroelectric projects on tributaries of the Nu. He also advocated the creation of a national park in the region. Many think that announcement signals the shelving of plans for the Nu dams, which would displace thousands of villagers and forever alter the gorge’s natural scenery.
A combination of factors has contributed to the change of momentum: geologists have uncovered the threat of earthquakes in the area and "China’s anti-corruption campaign has swept up Yunnan officials supportive of the China Huadian Corp., the company planning the dams," explains Leavenworth. China is also reported to have an energy glut.
The article offers maps and many pictures, to offer more context and insight into the people and places found along the Nu River—described by some as the Grand Canyon of the East.
FULL STORY: China May Shelve Plans to Build Dams on Its Last Wild River
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Chicago to Turn High-Rise Offices into Housing
Four commercial buildings in the Chicago Loop have been approved for redevelopment into housing in a bid to revitalize the city’s downtown post-pandemic.
New Park Opens in the Santa Clarita Valley
The City of Santa Clarita just celebrated the grand opening of its 38th park, the 10.5-acre Skyline Ranch Park.
U.S. Supreme Court: California's Impact Fees May Violate Takings Clause
A California property owner took El Dorado County to state court after paying a traffic impact fee he felt was exorbitant. He lost in trial court, appellate court, and the California Supreme Court denied review. Then the U.S. Supreme Court acted.
How Urban Form Impacts Housing Affordability
The way we design cities affects housing costs differently than you might think.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Town of Zionsville
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.