Integrating hydrological, landscape ecological, and economic assessment during hydropower exploitation in the upper Yangtze River

Comprehensive investigation of hydrological processes associated with landscape ecology and economic development plays a key role in watershed management, and is less developed in watersheds with large-scale cascade dams. With the abundant hydropower resources and its unprecedented advantages, hydropower exploitation in the upper Yangtze River (Jinsha River) is critical to energy structure adjustment in China. Therefore, we integrated hydrological modeling, landscape ecology analysis, and economic analysis in the dammed Jinsha River. With climate variations in the Jinsha River Basin, the average flow near the uppermost dams in the mainstream grew from 796 m3 s−1 (1990s), to 918 m3 s−1 (2000s), and further to 1025 m3 s−1 (2010s). During 1991 to 2017, the source power in the headwater region grew slightly, but varied little in the downstream area. In the lower dammed Jinsha River, analysis of landscape indicators showed that the landscape was enriched, while the landscape type distribution was more uniform. Moreover, hydropower exploitation brought benefits to regional economic development. Principal component analysis further highlighted the landscape ecological and economic variations with high loadings in the first principal component. With the non-significant temporal variations and normal spatial fluctuations in flow discharge, the landscape pattern was basically stable, and the utilization of hydropower can be sustainable in the Jinsha River. In addition, hydropower development drove local economic development. Based on the integrated analysis of hydrological, landscape ecological, and economic assessment at the watershed scale, our results stressed the significance of hydropower exploitation in the Jinsha River. However, more attention should be paid to the warming climate during hydropower exploitation. These findings are valuable for the scientific planning of hydropower bases in watersheds with large-scale cascade dams, and have substantial implications for sustainable hydropower development.