As economies develop, population increases and so does affluence. This is becoming a growing issue along the Mekong River. Increasing demands for food both regionally and globally puts a strain on agricultural production and the fish industry in the region.

Hydropower development along the Mekong River for economic growth is placing pressures on the stability and reliability of the river. When dams are constructed, this alters the flow of water, resulting in unpredictable water levels for countries in the Lower Mekong Basin.

Dams exacerbate the severity of droughts, allowing saltwater to intrude beyond normal levels, causing serious problems for farmers. When dams block the flow of water, they prevent fish from migrating, reducing fish biodiversity, and prevent the flow of nutrient-rich sediments downstream for food cultivation.

The detrimental impacts of this can be seen in Laos, where the first mainstream dam on the Lower Mekong Basin, the Xayaburi dam is located. Once the Xayaburi dam was in operation, it turned the ochre waters, indicating a river saturated with sediments, to a clear blue, signifying a sediment deficient river.

This will greatly impact those who are dependent on the Tonle Sap Lake and the Mekong Delta, where fisheries and agricultural production are located, threatening food security and the livelihood of millions.