Content
Origin of the Project
Maopu drainage channel is located upstream of Yutian drainage channel and is a farmland drainage channel. It is responsible for the drainage needs of households, farmland and upstream Yutian Elementary School. It is also located in a low-lying area and the stone structure of the canal is severely damaged, increasing the frequency of flooding.
Project Overview
This project was initiated in 2021 to seek funding from the Ministry of Agriculture for improvement. It was completed in November 2022, and the scope of the project is as follows:
- Maopu drainage channel improvement 600m：A cantilevered retaining wall was used and foundation piles laid to stabilize the structure, and the original concrete blocks backfilled in front of the foundation for protection.
- Improved 1,548m of nearby small ditches and small drainage channels：Considering the water storage needs of hilly farmland areas in Yilan, concrete rectangular trenches were used to improve stability.
- Improvement of a watergate：In order to increase the drainage profile, a single-hole automatic overturned weir with stainless steel water gate design was adopted. During heavy rain showers, the gate leaf automatically overturns according to the rise in canal water level to discharge floods, improving management efficiency.
Innovation, challenges and extendibility of the construction
Innovations:
- Automatic Tilting Weir: During extreme rainfall events, the gate panel automatically tilts based on the rising water level in the channel to discharge floodwaters, improving management efficiency.
- Ecological Pipe: PVC pipes are embedded within retaining walls to provide a habitat for aquatic species to spawn, live, hide from predators, and seek refuge.
Challenges:
- Due to the soft soil in the construction area and factors such as climate, construction, and maintenance, a cantilever retaining wall was used. The foundation of the retaining wall was stabilized with additional piles, and the area in front of the foundation was backfilled with reused stone blocks to protect the foundation from erosion.
- Construction activities in the fields can damage the hardpan layer. To protect such layers, steel plates were laid on temporary construction access roads and paths. In certain areas near buildings or high-value crops, construction machinery access paths were built directly over the riverbed.
Comprehensive Considerations:
- Steel plates were used on temporary construction access roads to minimize damage to the hardpan layer, reducing the impact on soil and ensuring future farming activities. Aside from necessary foundation excavation, environmental disturbances were minimized during construction.
Grass was planted along the vacant spaces on both sides of the embankment to connect the farmland with the drainage channels, creating habitats for wildlife and enhancing the environmental and aesthetic appeal. - Grass was planted along the vacant spaces on both sides of the embankment to connect the farmland with the drainage channels, creating habitats for wildlife and enhancing the environmental and aesthetic appeal.
- A fish ladder was installed on the left side of the gate. The slope and steps were designed to reduce flow velocity, considering the swimming speed of fish in the channel, thus facilitating fish migration.
Excellent performance and significant benefits of the construction
⭐This project won the “Honorable Mention Award" at the 2022 Excellent Agricultural Project Awards - Excellent Public Project Quality Award⭐
Maopu drainage channel improvement engineering project
Maopu drainage channel improvement engineering project
Maopu drainage channel improvement engineering project
Maopu drainage channel improvement engineering project