Asia & Indo-Pacific
Southeast Asia Program

Mekong Policy Project

Reducing Risks in the Mekong Basin

Addressing the regional environmental and social impacts along the Mekong River to improve food security, stability and cross-country relations.

In Southeast Asia Research

As a biodiversity hotspot that is home to more than 60 million people, the Lower Mekong River Basin plays a vital role as the region’s “rice bowl,” the world’s largest freshwater fishery and provider of livelihoods. Stimson’s Mekong Policy Project interacts with a wide range of local and international NGOs, government departments, and academic institutions in addressing environmental, political, and economic challenges in the region.

We lead the discourse on transboundary effects of hydropower dams along the Mekong River, the basin’s significant impacts on regional relations, and the future of water and energy collaboration among a crowded field of regional development frameworks.

Feature
New Evidence: How China Turned Off the Tap on the Mekong River
While China received uncommonly high levels of rain, its dams on the Mekong River held back more water than ever - while downstream countries suffered through drought.
Brian Eyler • Regan Kwan • Courtney Weatherby

Monitoring the Mekong

Maps, Imagery, & Analysis of Impacts on the River

Infographic
Earthquake Hits northern Laos. Can Surrounding Mekong Dams Survive the Shock?
27 Mekong dams lie within a 200km radius of Wednesday’s 6.1 earthquake in northern Laos.
Brian Eyler
Infographic
Cambodia’s Tonle Sap Lake Recede Earlier than Normal
The Mekong’s mighty monsoon pulse is weakened by dams and drought and brings devastation to Southeast Asia’s great lake
Brian Eyler
Infographic
Tonle Sap Lake Finally Begins to Expand After Weakened Mekong Monsoon Pulse
A weak Tonle Sap expansion will lead to drastic reductions in fish catch and a possible food security crisis in the Mekong.
Brian Eyler
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Latest

Infographic
Kamphong Khleang village on the Tonle Sap, Cambodia comparison November 2017 to November 2019
This large fishing village along Southeast Asia’s largest lake in Cambodia should be underwater, instead its bone dry.
Brian Eyler
Infographic
The Mekong is turning from brown to blue – and this is not good!
A crystal clear Mekong at this time of year is a sign that the mighty river system is reaching a point of no return.
Brian Eyler
Infographic
Comparing drought to normal conditions on the Mekong River along the Thai/Lao Border
The Mekong’s banks should be flooding over, instead it has never been so dry.
Brian Eyler
Infographic
Earthquake Hits northern Laos. Can Surrounding Mekong Dams Survive the Shock?
27 Mekong dams lie within a 200km radius of Wednesday’s 6.1 earthquake in northern Laos.
Brian Eyler
Infographic
Cambodia’s Tonle Sap Lake Recede Earlier than Normal
The Mekong’s mighty monsoon pulse is weakened by dams and drought and brings devastation to Southeast Asia’s great lake
Brian Eyler
Infographic
Tonle Sap Lake Finally Begins to Expand After Weakened Mekong Monsoon Pulse
A weak Tonle Sap expansion will lead to drastic reductions in fish catch and a possible food security crisis in the Mekong.
Brian Eyler
Infographic
Kampong Khleang Fishing Village on Tonle Sap Still Shows Drought Conditions
A fishing village typically surrounded by water at this time of year sits dry, waiting for the Tonle Sap to flood.
Brian Eyler
Infographic
Don Sahong Dam nearly complete on Mekong in southern Laos
This 2nd Mekong mainstream dam in Laos has irrevocably altered the 4,000 Islands region, one of the Mekong’s and the world’s most pristine natural areas.
Brian Eyler
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News & Commentary

Stimson in the News
Brian Eyler Quoted on MRC Summit
Brian Eyler
Op-Ed
Jake Brunner and Brian Eyler Op-Ed on the Mekong Cooperation
Brian Eyler
Stimson in the News
Brian Eyler and Courtney Weatherby Op-Ed on Clean Energy along the Mekong
Brian Eyler • Courtney Weatherby
Stimson in the News
Brian Eyler Op-Ed on Tropical Neighbors Chasing Energy Goals
Brian Eyler
Commentary
Field Notes — Tonle Sap Lake
Brian Eyler
Stimson in the News
Brian Eyler Quoted on Smart Planning to Save the Mekong Delta
Brian Eyler
Stimson in the News
Stimson Report on Emerging Energy Trends in Mekong Subregion cited
Brian Eyler • Courtney Weatherby
Stimson in the News
Courtney Weatherby and Brian Eyler on Solar and Wind in Mekong
Brian Eyler • Courtney Weatherby
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Events

  • Past
  • Event
Development and Human Rights in Cambodia
  • May 29, 2018
  • Past
  • Event
Power Shift: Emerging Trends in the Greater Mekong Subregion’s Energy Sector
  • July 25, 2017
  • Past
  • Event
Hun Sen’s Cambodia and the 2017 Commune Elections
  • June 8, 2017
  • Past
  • Event
Letters from the Mekong: A Call for Strategic Basin-Wide Energy Planning in Laos
  • October 13, 2016
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