Asia Mekong River

The construction site for the Nam Ou 1 Dam in northern Laos, which is being built by China’s largest hydropower company, Laos, Monday, December 10, 2018. (Photo Sergey Ponomarev)

Asia Mekong River

The construction site for the Nam Ou 1 Dam in northern Laos on the Nam Ou River, a key tributary of the Mekong, which is being built by China’s largest hydropower company, Laos, Monday, December 10, 2018. (Photo Sergey Ponomarev)

Asia Mekong River

The construction site for the Nam Ou 2 Dam, on the Nam Ou River, a key tributary of the Mekong. Scientists fear the Nam Ou Cascade dams in northern Laos will deplete the Mekong’s already declining fish stocks, Laos, Monday, December 10, 2018. (Photo Sergey Ponomarev)

Asia Mekong River

The construction site for the Nam Ou 2 Dam, on the Nam Ou River, a key tributary of the Mekong. Scientists fear the Nam Ou Cascade dams in northern Laos will deplete the Mekong’s already declining fish stocks, Laos, Monday, December 10, 2018. (Photo Sergey Ponomarev)

Asia Mekong River

The site for the Nam Ou 2 Dam, on the Nam Ou River, a key tributary of the Mekong. Scientists fear the Nam Ou Cascade dams in northern Laos will deplete the Mekong’s already declining fish stocks, Laos, Monday, December 10, 2018. (Photo Sergey Ponomarev)

Asia Mekong River

A boat with locals seen cruising up the stream on the Nam Ou River, a key tributary of the Mekong. Scientists fear the Nam Ou Cascade dams in northern Laos will deplete the Mekong’s already declining fish stocks, Tuesday, December 11, 2018. (Photo Sergey Ponomarev)

Asia Mekong River

A boat with locals seen cruising on the Nam Ou River, a key tributary of the Mekong. Scientists fear the Nam Ou Cascade dams in northern Laos will deplete the Mekong’s already declining fish stocks, Tuesday, December 11, 2018. (Photo Sergey Ponomarev)

Asia Mekong River

Roots of the tree seen on the Nam Ou River, a key tributary of the Mekong. Scientists fear the Nam Ou Cascade dams in northern Laos will deplete the Mekong’s already declining fish stocks, Tuesday, December 11, 2018. (Photo Sergey Ponomarev)

Asia Mekong River

The construction site for the Nam Ou 3 Dam in northern Laos on the Nam Ou River, a key tributary of the Mekong, December 11, 2018. (Photo Sergey Ponomarev)

Asia Mekong River

People seen in the Baan Hat Kham resettlement village near the construction site of Nam Ou 3 Dam, Laos, Tuesday, December 11, 2018. (Photo Sergey Ponomarev)

Asia Mekong River

People seen in the Baan Hat Kham resettlement village near the construction site of Nam Ou 3 Dam, Laos, Tuesday, December 11, 2018. (Photo Sergey Ponomarev)

Asia Mekong River

People seen in the Baan Hat Kham resettlement village near the construction site of Nam Ou 3 Dam, Laos, Tuesday, December 11, 2018. (Photo Sergey Ponomarev)

Asia Mekong River

The construction site for the Nam Ou 3 Dam in northern Laos on the Nam Ou River, a key tributary of the Mekong, December 11, 2018. (Photo Sergey Ponomarev)

Asia Mekong River

The remains of Ban Hat Kham village, which will be flooded when the Nam Ou 3 Dam is completed, Laos, Tuesday, December 11, 2018. (Photo Sergey Ponomarev)

Asia Mekong River

The remains of Ban Hat Kham village, which will be flooded when the Nam Ou 3 Dam is completed, Laos, Tuesday, December 11, 2018. (Photo Sergey Ponomarev)

Asia Mekong River

The remains of Ban Hat Kham village, which will be flooded when the Nam Ou 3 Dam is completed, Laos, Tuesday, December 11, 2018. (Photo Sergey Ponomarev)

Asia Mekong River

Buffalos seen hiding from the heat in the Nam Ou River, a key tributary of the Mekong, in Laos, Tuesday, December 11, 2018. Scientists fear the Nam Ou Cascade dams in northern Laos will deplete the Mekong’s already declining fish stocks. (Photo Sergey Ponomarev)

Asia Mekong River

Buffalos seen hiding from the heat in the Nam Ou River, a key tributary of the Mekong, in Laos, Tuesday, December 11, 2018. Scientists fear the Nam Ou Cascade dams in northern Laos will deplete the Mekong’s already declining fish stocks. (Photo Sergey Ponomarev)

Asia Mekong River

Buffalos seen hiding from the heat in the Nam Ou River, a key tributary of the Mekong, in Laos, Tuesday, December 11, 2018. Scientists fear the Nam Ou Cascade dams in northern Laos will deplete the Mekong’s already declining fish stocks. (Photo Sergey Ponomarev)

Asia Mekong River

See, no second name given, sits at her yard next to construction site, the house she lives in will be moved for contruction of the road by the water reservoir for the Nam Ou 1 Dam, Lathahe, Laos, Wednesday, December 12, 2018. (Photo Sergey Ponomarev)

Asia Mekong River

Family members of See, no second name given, seen in their house next to construction site, the house they live in will be moved for construction of the road by the water reservoir for the Nam Ou 1 Dam, Lathahe, Laos, Wednesday, December 12, 2018. (Photo Sergey Ponomarev)

Asia Mekong River

Family members of See, no second name given, seen in their house next to construction site, the house they live in will be moved for construction of the road by the water reservoir for the Nam Ou 1 Dam, Lathahe, Laos, Wednesday, December 12, 2018. (Photo Sergey Ponomarev)

Asia Mekong River

Houay Lo village next to the construction site for Nam Ou 1 Dam. Although the plans for the Nam Ou Cascade dams show that this area will be submerged, locals have been told it is not certain they will lose their homes, Laos, Wednesday, December 12, 2018. (Photo Sergey Ponomarev)

Asia Mekong River

A Chinese man inspects the fish hatchery built on the bank of Mekong river outside Luang Prabang, Laos, Thursday, December 13, 2018. (Photo Sergey Ponomarev)