Fisheries
In response to concerns about the dam's likely impact on fisheries on the Mun River, a fish ladder was incorporated into the scheme to allow fish into the Mun River to spawn. However, the ladder appears to have been unsuccessful: a report from the World Commission on Dams found that of 265 fish species previously found in the Mun river, at least 50 had disappeared and numbers of others had declined significantly. The fish catch declined by 60-80%. However, it is uncertain what proportion of this decrease is attributable to the dam, and what proportion to other factors. There have since been reports that some of these species have started to reestablish themselves.
In response to protests, the government opened the dam gates temporarily in June 2001. Subsequently, a study by Ubon Ratchathani University recommended keeping the gates open for a further five years. Instead, the Cabinet decided to close the gates for eight months each year from November 2002.
Electricity generation
The World Commission on Dams report also raised doubts about the amount of power which the dam can produce. It argued that the dam could not reliable produce the anticipated amount of electricity, making it economically unviable. EGAT responded that such consistent electricity production was unnecessary, and that the dam was a useful source of electricity.
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