Editing Selenga (section)

== River modifications ==
The construction of Irkutsk Hydroelectric Power station began in spring of 1950 and was completed on December 29, 1956.<ref name=":11">{{Cite web|title=WWW Irkutsk: History of construction of Irkutsk Hydroelectric Power Station|url=http://www.irkutsk.org/fed/ges.html|access-date=2020-11-19|website=www.irkutsk.org}}</ref> Built on the [[Angara|Angara River]],<ref name=":12">{{Cite web|title=Selenga River and Delta - Maps and Satellite Images|url=https://geology.com/articles/selenga-river-delta/#:~:text=Land%20use%20on%20the%20Selenga%20Delta&text=A%20hydro-electric%20power%20plant,level%20fluctuations%20in%20Lake%20Baikal.|access-date=2020-11-19|website=geology.com}}</ref> the station was designed to raise the water level of the Angara River to match the water level of Lake Baikal. It would then raise the water level of Lake Baikal by 1.5m.<ref name=":11" /> The power plant causes water-level fluctuations in Lake Baikal, which in turn causes part of the Selenga Delta to become waterlogged. The delta is drained in response to activities at the power station.<ref name=":12" />

In 2015, Mongolia was reported to be planning the construction of a dam, named the Shuren Hydropower Plant, on the Selenga River. Environmental groups protested this plan, as they were concerned with the potential ecological ramifications, building a hydroelectric plant on the Selenga River, would have on the ecosystem of Lake Baikal. Disrupting the flow of the river would disturb the breeding grounds of many endemic fish species in Lake Baikal. This would have a [[wikt:flow-on effect|flow-on effect]] on the rare birds and aquatic species that inhabit the area. The Shuren Hydropower Plant Project was proposed in 2013 and was under the review of a World Bank-funded environmental and social impact assessment.<ref name=":13">{{Cite web|url=http://theconversation.com/lake-baikal-incredible-ecosystem-threatened-by-mongolian-dam-and-pipeline-40025 |last=Mackay |first=Anson |title=Lake Baikal: incredible ecosystem threatened by Mongolian dam and pipeline |access-date=2020-11-19|website=The Conversation|language=en}}</ref> On September 27, 2017, the World Bank froze its tender process on the Shuren Hydropower Plant Project.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Friends Of Russia's Lake Baikal Mark Small Victory Over Dam Project, Vow To Fight On|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-mongolia-baikal-dam-project-activists-environment-/28804304.html|access-date=2020-11-19|website=RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty|language=en}}</ref>