Скачать или смотреть Ecosystem protection pond provides a shelter for dry spells in Mugua River｜Taiwan News

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.


For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53


#台灣新聞 #TaiwanNews #民視新聞 #FTV新聞 #Taiwan