Ecosystem protection pond provides a shelter for dry spells in Mugua River
Ecosystem protection pond provides a shelter for dry spells in Mugua River
2023-09-27
Officials have created an ecosystem protection pond in Mugua River in Hualien, in an effort to protect the river ecology from the impact of a nearby power plant. The river is used to provide water for power generation, which can lead to sudden drops in the water level, a crisis for water-based flora and fauna. But the new shelter pond aims to give river-dwelling creatures a safe haven to wait out such dry spells until the river is full again. Officials say the trial project is going well, and hope to widen the scheme to more rivers in the future.
This is Mugua River in Hualien. It plays a key role in power generation and agricultural irrigation in the area. But that means the river level drops when there’s a break in inflow or outflow at the power plant, creating a struggle to survive for the river’s inhabitants.
Wang Kuo-liang
Water Resources Agency
When there’s a break in the flow, it might cause an area to have no water. So we thought, the ecosystem is very important, so seeing as we have this protected river area, can we try to install a shelter pond?
The Water Resources Agency is trialing a “Water Ecosystem Shelter Pond” with a settling basin, and deep and shallow areas. It uses differences in the water course to guide fish and prawns to the shelter pond, from where they can easily return to the river when the water level recovers.
Wu Mi-ssu
Observer Ecological Consultant Co.
It’s actually a way to expand the habitat, and the River Management Office understands clearly that what we’re doing now is just a start. At least the branch has done this much at this stage, so other organizations can come and join in.
Wang Kuo-liang
Ninth River Management Branch, Water Resources Agency
For example, the Aphyocypris kikuchii has come back – it’s a representative fish species of the East Rift Valley. Gradually, the ecosystem in the water is becoming very rich.
The Ninth River Management Office plans to invite academic institutions in to observe the pond and the river. If they find the shelter pond is working well, the same project might be replicated at rivers in other areas.
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水利署試辦"生態庇護池" 花蓮木瓜溪口重建活力
2023-09-27
花蓮木瓜溪因為鄰近水力發電廠的取水發電，近年常出現斷流，造成魚蝦威脅，因此水利署在木瓜溪試辦「水域生態庇護池」，透過水道的不同，讓魚蝦就算面臨溪流斷流，仍有活水可以生存，試辦成果，溪口生態豐富多樣。
這裡是花蓮木瓜溪，對花蓮地區的發電和農田灌溉，扮演著舉足輕重的角色，不過卻因為鄰近水力發電廠的取水發電、排放尾水灌溉，只要一截流，水中生物就難以存活。
[[第九河川局長 王國樑]]
“斷水過程當中，可能會造成，這個部分會有沒水的時候，那我們就想到說，這個生態真的是很重要，那我們既然有這樣的一個河川護地，那我們是不是可以來嘗試，做這樣的一個生物庇護池的一個佈置”
水利署在木瓜溪試辦「水域生態庇護池」，並分為沉砂池、深水池、淺水池，藉由水道的不同，引導魚蝦前往庇護池，等待水勢恢復，就能順勢回到河川。
[[觀察家生態顧問公屋 吳宓思]]
“它其實是擴大棲地的一種方法，然後河川局也很清楚知道說，我們現在做這個其實就是一個開始，那至少河川局，在這個階段先做了這個動作，讓其他單位可以一起來合作”
[[第九河川局長 王國樑]]
“現在我們像像菊池氏細鯽，這個是我們花東縱谷的一個代表魚種，都回來了，那水中的生態面也逐漸的非常豐富”
九河局強調，將會邀請學術單位進駐與觀察，如果庇護池成效佳，也會在其他地區河川續辦。
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