Chihpen Wetland Shemagan Drainage Completion Effectively Improves Flooding in 20 Hectares of Farmland

The main water source for Taitung's Chihpen Wetland, the Shemagan Drainage, has long been prone to flooding farmlands during typhoons and heavy rainfall. The Taitung County Government has completed a drainage improvement project, which is expected to effectively alleviate long-term flooding and agricultural losses in approximately 20 hectares of farmland caused by typhoons and heavy rainfall. Dong Wei-ting, head of the Water Conservancy Section of the Taitung County Government's Construction Department, told CNA today that the upstream of the Shemagan drainage system connects to a mountain stream. After flowing through the Chihpen train station area, it merges into the Chihpen Wetland before flowing into the sea. Due to long-term blockage by sand from the Pacific Ocean and sedimentation of large amounts of sand and soil carried by the upstream mountain stream, the channel has gradually risen, reducing its flood discharge capacity, making it the main cause of flooding in the area. He stated that to improve the drainage problem, the Taitung County Government submitted the governance plan to the Ministry of Economic Affairs for review since 2022. Considering the high biodiversity of the Chihpen Wetland, multiple local explanation meetings and coordination meetings were held to invite local residents, tribes, and environmental groups to participate. Discussions were held regarding the drainage and discharge plan to the sea, and consensus was finally reached, establishing the basis for promoting the engineering work through the drainage improvement plan and route planning. Dong Wei-ting said that this project adopts the method of excavating an earth channel in the downstream section to divert rainfall runoff that cannot be borne by the wetland into the sea. The drainage route is set to the north of the Chihpen Wetland, and hard engineering methods such as concrete are avoided to reduce the impact on the natural environment. In addition, the original water channels flowing into the wetland are preserved to maintain the function of ecological corridors and meet the needs of wildlife habitats and passage. The Taitung County Government's Construction Department stated that it is currently the dry season, and the water flow is insufficient to enter the core area of the wetland. In the future, relevant construction will continue to be promoted from the perspective of overall watershed governance, ensuring the safety of people's lives and property while also taking into account ecological sustainable development. It is also hoped that all parties will continue to provide support and understanding to jointly create a safe and sustainable living environment. (Editor: Xie Yazhu) 1150416 Choose to stand with the facts, your every sponsorship is a force to protect press freedom. Download the CNA 'One News' APP to grasp the latest news in real time. The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization. Keywords: None