Shihmen Reservoir Opens Floodgates as Typhoon Barway Approaches Taiwan

Taiwan's Shihmen Reservoir activated its floodgates on July 11, releasing a dramatic torrent of water as Typhoon Barway approached. The reservoir opened all six gates, discharging water at a rate of 938 cubic meters per second. Officials stated this was a "regulatory discharge" to manage water levels ahead of anticipated heavy rainfall.

The Central Weather Bureau predicted Barway would bring 600 to 900 millimeters of rain to the Taoyuan mountains. By 10 a.m. that morning, the reservoir had already received 200 millimeters, with an estimated 60 million cubic meters of storage expected. The storm was forecast to peak later that afternoon, prompting the proactive release.

According to the Northern Region Water Resources Branch of the Economic部 Water Resources Agency, the reservoir's floodgates can discharge up to 11,400 cubic meters per second. In extreme conditions, it could empty its entire capacity in just five hours. The agency explained that a minimum discharge of 100 cubic meters per second per gate is necessary to prevent water from splashing onto the road as it flows into the downstream pool.

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the release must maintain at least 100 cubic meters per second of water per gate, because the speed of the water flow must cross from the large pool over the road into the back pool. If the water volume is insufficient, it will splash onto the road.