The water level of the Three Gorges Reservoir will reach 135 meters at about 23:00 (Beijing Time) on June 10, five days ahead of schedule, officials said Sunday.

The abundant rainfall in the reservoir area since June 2 has contributed to the level reaching 135 meters ahead of schedule, said officials at the Three Gorges reservoir locks control and communications center.

They said that the early achievement of the water storage target would create favorable conditions for the trial navigation through the sluice gate on June 16.

The filling of the reservoir has thus far proceeded smoothly, they added.

According to the original schedule, the water level was expected to reach 135 meters by June 15, and navigation on the Yangtze River was expected to resume on June 16.

The reservoir officially started storing water on June 1 when the sluice gate was closed.

The water level of the reservoir had reached 128.66 meters by 17:30 (Beijing Time) Sunday.

After 10 years of construction, the Three Gorges Project will begin to pay dividends this year, playing an important role in flood control, power generation, navigation, water diversion and environmental protection.

Launched in 1993, the Three Gorges Project is scheduled for completion in 2009.

(Xinhua News Agency June 9, 2003)