Heavy Metals Enrichment Associated with Water-Level Fluctuations in the Riparian Soils of the Xiaowan Reservoir, Lancang River

The cascade hydropower development in the Lancang River has significantly modified the hydrologic regime and is consequently responsible for many local environmental changes. The influence of the altered hydrological regime on heavy metals accumulation in the soils of the riparian zone was evaluated for the Xiaowan Reservoir (XWR). Specifically, this study focused on investigating the trace metals As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn and their concentrations in the riparian soils. Furthermore, this research aimed to examine the contamination levels of heavy metals by employing the geoaccumulation index (I(geo)) and the ecological risk index (RI), respectively. Additionally, the relationship between heavy metals and water level fluctuations as caused by the dam operation was explored. The results showed that heavy metals deposits occurred in relatively low levels in the riparian soils of XWR, even though several of these metals were revealed to occur in higher concentrations than the local background value. The I(geo) assessment indicated that the riparian soils exhibited slight pollution by Hg at the Zhujie wharf (ZJW) and Cr at the transect of the Heihui River (HHR), and moderate contamination by As at ZJW. Moreover, the RI revealed that As in riparian soils is moderately hazardous while Hg poses a high risk at ZJW. The polluted water and sediments from upstream and upland of the riparian zone may be contributing to the changed concentrations of heavy metal in the riparian soils. The present study inferred that the WLFs due to reservoir impoundment play a vital role in the accumulation of trace metals in the riparian zone. However, more exhaustive investigations are necessary for verification.