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🇹🇼 Taiwan /Environment & Climate

Hualien farmers face irrigation crisis as Wanli River blockage nears month-long drought

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Farmers in Fonglin Township, Hualien, are facing severe water shortages for irrigation due to a blockage in the Wanli River.
  • The blockage, caused by a landslide creating a natural dam, has prevented water flow to the Lintian Canal for nearly a month, impacting 500 hectares of farmland.
  • Authorities are seeking approval to conduct emergency repairs, which involve using excavators to clear debris from the riverbed, with work potentially starting as early as tomorrow.

Fonglin Township farmers and village leaders are urgently appealing for water supply restoration as the Lintian Canal, which irrigates 500 hectares of farmland, has been dry for nearly a month. The blockage in the Wanli River, caused by a landslide forming a natural dam, has halted water flow. While the yellow alert for the natural dam has been lifted, the riverbed remains under a red alert, preventing the reopening of the canal's water gate. This prolonged drought threatens the second rice crop planting season.

We hope the central government can allow machinery to enter the river for construction as soon as possible to resume water supply.

— Fonglin Township Mayor Lin Jian-pingAddressing the critical need for water to save the second rice crop.

Officials from various agencies, including the Hualien Management Office of the Taiwan Agricultural Water Resources Agency, the Forest and Nature Conservation Agency, and the Hualien County Agriculture Department, convened at the Lintian Canal's intake to assess the situation. The canal relies solely on the Wanli River for water, with no alternative sources like deep wells or ponds available in Fonglin.

To resume water supply, authorities propose using excavators to clear parts of the temporary dike on the riverbed. However, this operation requires approval from the Central Disaster Response Center. Accessing the Lintian Canal intake from the south bank involves crossing the main current of the Wanli River, a hazardous maneuver that takes about half an hour one way. The Ninth River Management Office stated that restoring water flow would take two to three days and emphasized that any dike modifications must be temporary, with the riverbed restored to its original state daily.

If we cannot resume water supply soon, it will affect the second rice crop planting.

— Fonglin Township Mayor Lin Jian-pingExplaining the immediate impact of the water shortage on local agriculture.

The Hualien County Agriculture Department has requested central government assistance for water scarcity issues affecting farmland, watermelons, and leafy vegetables. If no other water sources can be secured, they are also seeking special approval for agricultural disaster relief payments.

If there are no other water sources, we also hope the central government can approve agricultural disaster relief in cash.

— Hualien County Agriculture Department Director Chen Shu-wenRequesting financial aid if water issues cannot be resolved.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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