 During the 2010 South China floods , in July , inflows at the Three Gorges Dam reached a peak of 70 @,@ 000 m3 / s ( 2 @,@ 500 @,@ 000 cu ft / s ) , exceeding the peak during the 1998 Yangtze River Floods . The dam 's reservoir rose nearly 3 m ( 9 @.@ 8 ft ) in 24 hours and reduced the outflow to 40 @,@ 000 m3 / s ( 1 @,@ 400 @,@ 000 cu ft / s ) in discharges downstream , effectively alleviating serious impacts on the middle and lower river . 
