The Second River Bureau of the Water Resources Agency, Ministry of Economic Affairs, has completed 2.5 kilometers of the dike-top pathway on the left bank of the downstream section of the Fengshan River along Taiwan Route 1. Local residents have expressed the desire to remove the earth and rocks on the dike top and extend the pathway further downstream. In response, Legislator Hsu Hsin-ying convened a site inspection and meeting today (28th) with representatives from the Water Resources Agency, the Second River Bureau, the Hsinchu County Government, village chiefs, and local representatives.
Yang Jen-chieh, Director of the Second River Bureau, stated that priority should be given to strengthening the foundation protection, ensuring flood control safety before making environmental improvements. Therefore, the bureau has conducted several foundational protection projects on the left bank of the downstream section of the Fengshan River along Taiwan Route 1. Once the safety of the structures is assured, environmental improvements to the dike top will follow. Upon reviewing the changing flow of the river near the Baidi dike section of Fengshan River, it was observed that 600 meters of the riverbank have seen water flow dangerously close to the foundation of the dike, making foundational protection necessary. Thanks to the efforts of Legislator Hsu Hsin-ying, the Water Resources Agency has approved a budget of NT$17 million this year for the maintenance and improvement of the Baidi dike structures along Fengshan River.
The Second River Bureau has proposed two solutions based on the approved budget. The first option involves foundational protection of the Baidi dike (including river channel restoration), restoration of the earth and rocks on the dike top, and the addition of resting benches, covering an improvement length of about 600 meters. The second option involves foundational protection of the Baidi dike (including river channel restoration), removal of the earth and rocks on the dike top, the installation of stamped pavement pathways, and additional resting benches, but the length of the improvement would be reduced to about 400 meters, and it would not fully ensure the flood protection of the riverbank.
After deliberation, Legislator Hsu Hsin-ying and Deputy Director of the Water Resources Agency, Wang Yi-feng, agreed that riverbank safety should be the top priority. To protect public safety, the NT$17 million budget will be used to implement the disaster prevention project under option one, constructing robust dike protection to prevent erosion from river water and ensure the safety of the public. The earth and rocks on the dike, crucial for emergency disaster response, will also be restored for future use in flood prevention and emergency rescue operations. Additionally, resting benches will be installed to meet the recreational needs of the public. The "Baidi Dike Maintenance and Improvement Project" along Fengshan River is expected to go out for bid by the end of June this year and be completed by the end of the year, at which point the safety of the dike structures will be ensured.
Spokesperson for the Second River Bureau: Deputy Director Wang Wei
Email: wca02119@wra02.gov.tw
Office Phone: +886-3-6578866 ext. 2002
Mobile Phone: +886-912-255602
Contact Person: Chief Engineer Wen Chan-hua
Email: wca02026@wra02.gov.tw
Office Phone: +886-3-6578866 ext. 1101
Mobile Phone: +886-905-092050