Regional hydropolitics of the transboundary impacts of the Lancang cascade dams

An analysis of differing hydropolitical evaluations of transboundary effects related to Lancang (Upper Mekong) River dams finds that: (1) the downstream effects of dams are extremely complex and cannot be classified simply as positive or negative, especially given political sensitivity and limitations on data accessibility; (2) all related drivers should be considered when assessing the impacts of hydrological change in the lower Mekong River, not just those of the Lancang dams; and (3) significant downstream impacts of the two operating dams of Manwan and Dachaoshan are limited in scale to diurnal changes, primarily in the narrow channel north of Vientiane.