How does the canal transport goods to Sihanoukville? Its outlet on the sea is 50km from the port. Will they take river barges on the ocean?

The MRC gives hint at their preferred next steps for Cambodia on this issue. I’ll post an article next week to unpack this.

#UpcomingEvent : Join us next week for a discussion on the opportunities for collaboration under the #Mekong - U.S. Partnership. Featuring Leng Phalla, Kanokwan May Chodchoey, and Lyndal Hugo. Moderated by Brian Eyler.

📅 May 9
⏰9:00 - 10:00 AM EDT

stimson.org/event/mekong-u…

Correction from last week: Ian G. Baird reached out to clarify that river levels are lower than recent years, but not normal in the flooded forest. Still worth studying how much more damaging 2022 levels are compared to current 2024 levels. More soon...

Here's the proof:

News about #SoutheastAsia | Cheng “Charlie” Saephan's jackpot win in Oregon has raised awareness about Iu Mien people, a SE Asian ethnic group with origins in China. Many fled from Laos to Thailand and then settled in the US following the Vietnam war: scmp.com/news/asia/sout…

Starting at 35:00 of this manel I give a quick overview of a handful of Southeast Asia's most pressing sustainability issues. #Mekong #heatwave #drought #hydropower #renewables #FunanTechoCanal #plastic #CriticalMinerals

youtube.com/watch?v=TXg_u-…

Philippines suspends in-person classes due to heatwave, jeepney strike sc.mp/yh5fe?utm_sour… via @scmpnews

More of this please. Keep it up Minister Keo!

Good idea. More time is needed to understand the impacts of this canal to the Mekong’s bounty. Only fools rush in.

Well argued. Environmental impacts need to be fleshed out more. The canal will deliver floodplain impacts to the Mekong Delta and reduce water availability.

fulcrum.sg/vietnams-geopo…

Vietnam National Mekong Committee held a consultation workshop on Cambodia’s Funan-Techo canal project put of concerns abt potential impacts on the Mekong river. 
The workshop, in Can Tho city, involved both domestic stakeholders and int’l experts. vietnamnews.vn/society/165442…

Some good news from the Mekong for once in a long time.

Studies need to be done to determine how good the news is and whether Cambodia’s flooded forest can recover, but three cheers for low river levels in the dry season.

In response to Vietnam’s request for shared information and evaluation of the impacts of the Funan Techo Canal project on the Mekong Delta region, a Cambodian senior official claimed that the Kingdom is not tied to such accountability
buff.ly/445Clnu

#Vietnam : Cambodia should share info on Funan Techo Canal.
#USA : urging greater transparency from Cambodia over a planned canal.
#Cambodia : The Kingdom is not tied to such accountability but is still open to providing explanations.
#China : Chinese FM visits Cambodia April 21–23.

'Washington should invest through partnerships like the Japan-U.S.-Mekong Power Partnership (JUMPP), to strengthen its strategic relationship with Bangkok and promote environmental stewardship in Southeast Asia,' writes NBR advisor Jessica Teets fpri.org/article/2024/0…

usip.org/publications/2…

Southeast Asia's plastic tidal wave: Imported trash swamps region Dominic Faulder asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/The-… via Nikkei Asia

The drought in Vietnam’s coastal province is indeed severe, but it’s not pervasive throughout the Mekong Delta. The green areas on this map are wet wet wet from irrigation.

Media suggests severe drought is forming in Vietnam's Mekong Delta, but our surface wetness maps show a pattern of drought in the coastal areas while most of the delta is wet. The observed wetness is from irrigation, but salinity intrusion has penetrated rivers and canals. 2/5

It’s hot hot hot for new year festivities in the Mekong. Cambodia’s Cardamoms seeing temps 5-7 deg Celsius high than normal.