In June of last year, a brief yet heavy afternoon rain resulted in flooding on the roads near the Nanku drainage in Xinshe District. The Taichung City Government's Water Resources Bureau promptly initiated plans for improvement. In January this year, a 4.5 million NTD budget from the Agency of Rural Development and Soil and Water Conservation, Ministry of Agriculture was successfully secured to execute the improvement project. The project was completed in early December and involved using diversion structures and adding a 200-meter box culvert to increase the capacity for rainwater harvesting and drainage, reduce the likelihood of flooding, and help protect the local habitat of Moltrecht's minnow in the area.
According to the Water Resources Bureau, the primary cause of the flooding at that time was the insufficient capacity of the existing side drains to handle sudden and heavy afternoon rainfall, leading to the overflow of rainwater onto the road surface. Given that the improvement project involved the habitat of the second-level protected Moltrecht's minnow, the bureau collaborated with relevant units, including the Taichung City Baileng Canal Watershed Development Association, Xinshe District Office, Yongyuan Village Office, and Observer Ecological Consultant Co., Ltd., to discuss drainage improvement plans and provide valuable input, so as to avoid any negative effects on the habitat of Moltrecht's minnow in the area. Additionally, a professional ecological team was commissioned to relocate Moltrecht's minnows in advance and minimize disruptions to the river channel.
The Water Resources Bureau underscores a comprehensive flood prevention strategy, which not only involves drainage system improvements, diversion structures, the establishment of detention basins, and other engineering works, but also considers factors such as environmental protection and ecological conservation, tailoring approaches to the specific characteristics of each area. By combining multiple measures, the bureau not only enhances flood resilience but also safeguards ecological environments, ensuring the sustainable use of natural resources and achieving a mutually beneficial outcome for both environmental protection and flood prevention. (12/15*16) * Water Resources Bureau
Contact person: Ms. Chang, Water Resources Bureau, Taichung City Government
Contact number: 04-22289111 ext. 53613