Coastal Restoration

Kaohsiung is famous for its abundant marine resources. It is also famous for being the largest seaport city in Taiwan. At the mouth of the river, sediments carried by the river is deposited as the water current is dissipates. A tidal flat of rich eco-system is thus formed. As a matter of fact, the coastal landform is a very valuable resource. However, due to fast industrial development, these silted-up river mouths are often excavated or filled up in the process of exploitation and construction; or else, inappropriate dike construction or misplacing of wave-elminination blocks often result in the gradual erosion of downstream seacoast. The natural coast gradually disappears. Thus, it is important to carry out the coastal restoration plan.

At present, the trend of international coastal management practices the techniques of preservation, protection and exploitation in order to restore or improve national marine resources. Therefore, the protection of Kaohsiung's coastal resources is one of the City Government's important construction projects. Presently, the Kaohsiung City Government is undertaking the coastal restoration project of restoring the sandy beaches at Sizi Bay, in order to recreate a new vision of Kaohsiung marine life.

Sizi Bay is the main water-accessible location where Kaohsiung citizens come to spend their leisure time. In the past, numerous wave-elminination blocks were placed along the shore in order to conserve coastal embankment. This not only seriously destroyed the landscape, but also hindered the citizens from getting close to the water. For the sake of conserving the city's coastal resources, the Kaohsiung Public Works Bureau addresses "The Coastal Ecology Restoration and Environmental Landscape Reform Project", which carries out the coastal restoration of Sizi Bay by making use of artificial cape-construction and artificial beach-cultivation.

This construction, working mainly under the concept of eco-techology, makes use of wave-elminination blocks to construct a manmade cape. It also dredges up sand sediments near port to provide the main resource of beach cultivation, in order to mold the seacoast into a meniscoid-shaped landscape of natural beaches. By doing so, the sandy beaches of Sizi Bay are expanded and conserved. The whole restoration project may be accomplished by the end of the year 2007. After construction, this project will become a forerunner of the new coast restoration plan. It will bring about a beautiful and newly-reformed bay and beaches.

The beauty of Sizi Bay area is among the beautiful memories of many Kaohsiung citizens. Presently, the Public Works Bureau takes its first step in coastal restoration by promoting the notion of municipal aesthetics, municipal landscape-elevation and municipal eco-protection. The Bureau hopes to turn Kaohsiung into a healthy "New Fragrant Riverbanks" city with the cooperation and help of all citizens.

Reflection

Clean rivers and clear ocean-waters is the inner desire of many people. In order to recure a beautiful coastal landscape, coastal restoration is an important project. In recent years, although improvements in dealing with pollution problems of coastal areas are seen, yet these improvements come very slowly. Although we, as minor citizens, do not have the ability to make great contribution, however, if every one of us chooses to act out our social morals and stop littering, we may also pay our services to coastal restoration. Let's work together to make Kaohsiung a more beautiful city!