Water Level of Hehuan Creek Upstream Barrier Lake Drops; Estimated Storage Remaining 30,000 Tons

Affected by the rain during the Tomb Sweeping Day long weekend, a newly formed barrier lake appeared upstream of Hehuan Creek. The Taichung Branch of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency, Ministry of Agriculture, conducted aerial photography and terrain data analysis after the weather cleared up today.

The Taichung Branch's analysis results showed that the dam structure of the barrier lake is currently stable. The original continuous overflow from the top of the dam has turned into a continuous seepage state from the dam body, and the overall water level has also dropped compared to yesterday. According to the latest terrain interpretation and water volume estimation, the estimated water storage capacity of the barrier lake is only 30,000 tons.

To strengthen monitoring operations, the Taichung Branch has adopted a dual-track approach of "manual inspection" and "instrument monitoring" to grasp the dynamic changes of the dam body and water level. This includes regular inspections by branch personnel, sending back on-site video data three times a day; and commissioning a professional team to set up on-site video and other monitoring equipment to enhance real-time monitoring and early warning capabilities, which is expected to be completed before the 14th.

Regarding the excavation of the dam body to lower the water level, the Taichung Branch stated that after repairing and reinforcing the external access road, it is expected that machinery will enter the site to start the excavation project on the 12th. At the same time, it will closely monitor the on-site situation, respond in real-time, and continue to explain the latest information to the public. The public must not enter the riverbed and collapse area of Hehuan Creek to ensure their own safety. (Editor: Zhang Yajing) 1150409