Investigation of Current Condition

Recently, because of agriculture decline and rapid urban development, Caogong Canal has been gradually forgotten by people and lost its initial glow. Thus, most branch lines and divert ditches are fated to be varnished or filled. The past splendid hydro-engineering remarkably beneficial for arid farming fields is now only left with the stinking ditches among dwelling lanes and neighborhoods. The ancient canals and ponds will be vanished and considerably impact the improvement possibility for river water quality in Kaohsiung City and the maintenance of urban hydrology scenes.

To make a comprehensive view on the current condition of Caogong Canal, there will be some issues worthy of meditation and discussion as below:

1. The Survival Crisis of Water Canals and Ponds:

The Caogong Canal used to be the major irrigating water resource for farming fields. When the demand of traditional agriculture vanishes, relevant water canals and ponds will naturally face the survival crisis. On one hand, within the transformation of social types and the irrigating demand declines, the irrigating area benefited by the Caogong Canal is dramatically decreased from 12000 hectares downward to 5900 hectares below. On the other hand, due to urban development and remapping for farming lands, there have been numerous canals and ponds sacrificed.

2. Legal and Managerial Systems Required for Improvement:

In legal and managerial view, the Caogong Canal is not held as a river but a regional irrigating canal. When the renovation engineering was implemented, the canal was not renovated by means of ecology engineering, only resulting continuous shortened segment and cement coverage. The said design is quite contrary to the modern design with high emphasis on river life and natural landscapes.

3. The Issue about the Survival of Old Canals:

When urban remapping zones were developed, there was no emphasis focused on the survival of irrigating canals. The canals were finally either filled up or covered as the ditches among community neighborhoods. The situation caused gradual collapse on the canal network of the Caogong Canal and deteriorated water quality resultantly.

4. The Responsibility Attribution of Authority Agency:

Because the farming irrigation association belongs to the semi-official organization without power of public rights for backup, the situation of random litter and land filling to occupy water paths gradually turns serious with huge areas of water ponds lost.

5. Continuously Occurring Pollution Issues:

The agriculture chemicals, baits and animal droppings caused by farming and livestock cultivating activities, together with household and industry waste water, dramatically bring about pollution and deteriorate water quality.

6. The Cleaning and Maintenance of Traditional Water Canals:

The ditch-like traditional water canals should be maintained mostly depending on farmers' effort. Water canals must be cleaned periodically. However, due to agriculture decline, most farming lands finally turn into industry or dwelling lands with scanty farming land left of no manual management available.

7. The Excessive Dependence on the Caogoang Canal Caused by Regional Flood Prevention and Waste Water Drainage:

Because of the difficulty for regional government to levy on lands for waste water pipelines, the divert canal paths of the Caogong Canal are oftentimes allocated for the said purpose. The drainage of waste water depends on the Caogong Canal. Although the Caogong Canal can appease the issue of water pollution, the water volume is also remarkably decreased. The canal paths after renovation often damage initial ecology and water-friendly function.

8. No Stable Volume for Water Supply:

Because the Caogong Canal is purposed for irrigating ditches, the water supply is only available during the irrigating seasons, but not available for non-irrigating seasons. The said duration is assigned for the maintenance of pumps and canals. There are 3 months of no water supply in a year. During the season of no water supply, the waste water of factories and communities is led to the Caogong Canal to cause pollution issue incessantly.

9. The Vanished Human Culture and History of the Caogong Canal:

The history of canal paths of the Caogong Canal can be traced back to Ming Dynasty with the history longer than the Love River by 100 years. Its dense hydrology systems interwove the dwelling and developing areas available for settlers. Especially on the branch parts, they used to be the major part of people's life. Community inhabitants washed clothes, went fishing and introduced irrigation water by the river. This dense hydrology network created the traditional culture of the ancient settlement society. However, it is quite a pity that due to time changes, the said human and culture history is no more existing and it is urgently required for well-mapped promotion and recurrence.

The Caogong Canal in the 21st century is now facing the intersection crisis of transformation and revival. The aforesaid issue worthy of people's meditation is left with the ordeal required for governmental and civil effort for optimal solution. It is our hope that by means of effective improvement, the past glow of the Caogong Canal can recur!

  Reflection

（pictures provided by Yi-Chen, Hsieh）