Hualien Irrigation Gates Temporarily Opened Amid Landslide Dam Concerns

Water gates for the Lintian圳 irrigation canal in Hualien have been temporarily opened, providing some water to farmers, though the flow remains unstable. The move comes after local officials reported farmers' concerns about delays in planting the second rice crop due to the lack of irrigation water.

The Lintian圳's water supply was cut off for nearly half a month as a precautionary measure against potential disaster from a landslide-induced dam on the upstream Wanli River. This dam has reached 52% of its total capacity. Officials estimate it will take at least 10 more days to overflow if no typhoon occurs.

To address the farmers' anxieties, the Hualien Management Office of the Agricultural Water Resources Agency deployed heavy machinery to clear the earth embankment blocking the Lintian圳's intake. This has allowed water to flow into the canal again, though the volume is less than usual due to the upstream obstruction.

Officials from the Agricultural Water Resources Agency cautioned that water levels may fluctuate or disappear entirely due to minimal rainfall in the catchment area. They also noted that if a typhoon approaches and increases rainfall, potentially saturating the soil, the dam could overflow much sooner than anticipated. The Lintian圳 gates would be closed again if overflow is imminent within 48 hours. Farmers are therefore advised to postpone ordering seedlings until a stable and sufficient water supply is guaranteed to prevent crop losses.

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farmers should not rush to order seedlings yet