Over the past two decades, the development of
upstream water resources for power and irrigation has
partly affected the aquatic resources and people of
Khong district. In addition, a study in 2001 found that
removing vegetation from riverbanks and islands to
cultivate crops had probably accelerated erosion.
Bank erosion has affected villages across the district.
With water flows fluctuating in the wet season and a
30-fold difference between water discharges in the
wet and dry seasons, the riverbanks are moving
closer to gardens and houses.