Conclusions and Suggestions


During the four-month research, we collected data, carried out field-investigations, interviewed people and experienced the process of independent study. These are the conclusions and suggestions from our study "A Symphony of Water and Green-Towards a Rebirth of Caogong Canal and a New Fragrant Waterfront Kaohsiung."


(1) The Caogong Canal built by Cao Jin was the main canal that nurtured the Kaohsiung plain.

Caogong Canal was built by Cao Jin, the Fengshan county's magistrate of the Ching Dynasty, and the range of irrigation was whole the Kaohsiung plain. People in Fengshan would no more suffering by drought and famine, and even had fruitful harvest. People appreciated Cao Jin's contribution and honored him as Caogone. Therefore, we have many landmarks named after his name and became an unique feature in Fengshan.

The Caogong Canal drew its water from the Chiu-shu-tang of the Kaoping River, crossing Kaohsiung and running into Love River, Fong Shan River, Cianjhen River, and Hojin Creek. The Neiweipei, Lotus Pond, Chengching Lake and Chinshih Lake are all in the hydrological system, irrigating almost 12,000 hectares. The Caogong Canal is indeed the history of the developing of water conservancy project.
(2) The current condition and serious problems of the Caogong Canal

In recent years, because of the downfall of agriculture and the rapid urbanization, the Caogong Canal has been forgotten gradually. Some branch has stuffed or disappeared. The great water irrigation project became stingy ditches between lanes. It also affects the possibility of improving the water quality of Kaohsiung City. The following problems need to be looked into:

  1. The existence crisis of those canals and ponds
  2. The improvement of law and administration system
  3. The conservation of the old canals
  4. Works distribution
  5. Pollution problems
  6. The cleaning up and the maintenance of old canals
  7. Overly dependence on functions of preventing flood and sewage works of the Caogong Canal.
  8. Instability of water supply
  9. Disappearing of the history of the Caogong Canal


The Caogong Canal faces a turning point of a conversion and reuse. These tasks may be challenging, but we are hoping to see the beautiful canal again through effective improvement.

(3) A new hope for the basin of the rebirth of the Caogong Canal which is worthy of working on it.

The Caogong Canal in the new age faces a turning point of a conversion and reuse, and it is worthy of working on it.

Wetland Taiwan have brought up the action of "What is forgotten in the city"since 2001, and hope that could get people's attention in protecting the Caogong Canal. In 2006, they brought up another action of "The Rebirth of Caogong Canal," and urged the government to work on restoring its glamour. We have read the information and data we collected and addressed following ten suggestions for protecting the Caogong Canal.

  1. Rank Elevation¡G Elevate the rank of the Caogong Canal to a river or a head gate, and set advanced standards of water quality and quantity.
  2. Water Supplement¡GIncrease the water quantity of the Caogong Canal to sustain stable support to downstream rivers.
  3. Water Quality Improvement¡G Set up the standard for the water quality of each pond to be the basis of the drinking water quantity of the public canal. We can improve this by cleaning up the mud in the bottom of downstream and setting up a artificial pond or some devices.
  4. Wetlands Reproduction ¡GRecover the river's vitality by eco-engineering and provide a water-friendly park for people.
  5. Embankment Readjustment¡GChange the traditional U-shaped flood-preventing road into ladder-shaped parkway and provide a water-friendly park for people.
  6. Instauration and Exploitation¡GThose ponds in line like Shetzulin, Chiufanpi and Pakualiao should be protected by laws of city planning and can't be stuffed or buried.
  7. Landscaping¡GWith the water conservancy project, we separate the drainage and irrigation system and use the drop creating a waterfall. Rebuild the old canal by traditional red bricks and stones.
  8. Landowning Inspection¡GCheck the map of some important branches and ponds which is the basis of planning a wetland park.
  9. Reconstruction of historical sites¡GIncrease the intimacy between rivers and the residents, and recover the features of Kaohsiung history.
  10. System Readjustment¡GThe Caogong Canal water conservancy system should be supervised by the central government, including the government of Kaohsiung, Farm Irrigation Association, green groups and citizens in community. They should work together and follow up on the pollution problems and illegal occupancy..
(4) Kaohsiung is undergoing a change, and performing a wondrous symphony of water and green.

Kaohsiung was once a dusty industrial city, and with the efforts of our government and some green groups, she is shedding its old suit of dust and putting on a new shiny green one. During the field-investigation, we discovered the constructions in the city, including a symphony of water and green: Waterfront Panorama, urban greening, coastal restoration, green transportation, theme parks, and ecological corridor. We also took a record on ecology, greening, culture, and arts which composing a complete urban web.
(5) We should respect the meanings and values of wetland and the importance of restoration.

General speaking, a wetland is a place with water, soil and plants. Wetland contains the functions of ecology, economy, scenery, science researching, and recreation. Its productivity is 2.5 to 4 times than an ordinary farm. People learned the wisdom of surviving and benefit from it. Wetlands are the most abundant and diverse ecological circle.

Because of the development of human beings, like building a protecting embankment or changing the path of a river, the ecological circle was destroyed. While mentioning the restoration of wetlands, lots of mosquitoes, insects and mess come up our minds. Actually it is no more than the restoration of lotus and ponds, and it is great activity for every one. The residents of the city have the rights to have some clean and green wetlands. We should know that the wetlands belong to us as well as to all creatures living by wetlands. All creatures depend on each other; therefore, to support the restoration of wetlands is actually helping ourselves.

(6) The construction of Wetland Ecological Corridor transforms Kaohsiung into a beautiful city with symphony of water and green.

The project of Wetland Ecological Corridor was one of construction projects our city government have been working on. It totally transformed the industrial city, Kaohsiung, into a friendly city of vitality and exuberance with many water-friendly areas. The followings are the model wetlands in Kaohsiung.


1. Yuanjhong Harbor Wetland: A coastal wetland for restoration of mangrove.

Yuanjhong Harbor Wetland locates between the Hojin Creek in northern Kaohsiung and the Dian-bau River on the border of Kaohsiung County. The government has levied all land and will become a 30-hectare wetland park in the future. Yuanjhong Harbor Wetland has tree main functions-an eco-circle for mangrove, nurturing fish, shrimps, crabs and shells, the habitation for wild animals. With the set up of reservation area and nature park in the future, it would fit all needs of leisure activity and education.

2.National University of Kaohsiung's Eco-Ponds


The ecological Pond is in the Kaohsiung University. In 1998, it was fish farms and cropland stretching to the horizon and area for birds to stop by. For the construction of the university changed the eco-circle, they had a plan of creating an eco-campus in the beginning. Now the campus has ecological pond with water-friendly area and ecological forest, and has become a great place for various creatures and to live. It even attracts many original species of animals to inhabit and breed.


3. Banping Lake Wetland: Another view in northern Kaohsiung

Banping Lake Wetland locates between Banping Mountain and the cement factory. Actually it is an artificial wetland lake dig by the cement factory. It combines the Banping Mountain nature park, ecological forest, restoration area for wild animals, five flood detention ponds which will be planed as wetland eco-ponds. They expect Banping Lake would be able to connect every wetland and Wetland Ecological Corridors form all directions, and it will become a wetland park with large creature diversity and capability.


4. Chouchai Wetland: A new form wetland in Kaohsiung City

Chouchai Wetland is a restoration wetland beside the Lotus Pond and brought out by the urge of green groups. People held the project of welcoming jacanas' coming home here, and awarded the Ford MotorCompany Conservation & Environmental Grants.To avoid the interference of people, visitors have to booking in advance and guided by narrators.


5. Golden Lion Lake:

Chinshih Lake was originally named as Tapi and beside Chinshih Moutain, so also named as Chinshih Lake. It's water and land is about 14 hectares and is also one of the retaining water pond of Love River functioning in winter. Chinshih Lake has been appointed as a famous scenery spot.


6. Lotus Pond:

Lotus Pond Park is in southeast of the Tsoying Dstrict of Kaohsiung City, and is about 87 hectares. It has been appointed as Lotus Pond scenic resort.

7. Neiweipi Wetland (at Museum of Fine Art): A wetland with functions of eco- and scenery for leisure activities.

Neiweipei Wetland locates in Museum of Fine Art and was originally about 30 hectares which was the earliest and largest wetland pond in Kaohsiung City. Because the construction of the museum was built on the stuffed pond, they rebuilt Neiweipei in about 3 hectares. It is a park with functions of arts, culture, leisure, tourism and ecology.


8. Banhe Village Flood Detention Pond: First flood detention pond in Taiwan.

Banhe Village was originally on Bankuanpei, but vanished because of the lake was stuffed in city redesign program. The original pond has the function of flood-preventing and was at the low area. After being stuffed, there was flood after pouring rain all the time, so they rebuild another flood detention pond on Bankuanpei to solve the problem. It is the first flood detention pond in Taiwan.

9. Jhongdu Love River Wetland: broke the dike,and green planets thrived

Jhongdu wetland locates in southern Love River, and is between Shihchuan Road and Chiuju Road. It completed in 2006. During construction, the government broke the 180-meter vertical cement dike adventurously to draw water into the wetland. Moreover, they reformed the ecological environment with eco-engineering increasing possibility for people to dabble in it.

10. Yanshuei Harbor wetland: A project for the purpose of keeping Yanshueikang River running.

Yanshueikang River locates in Hsiaokang District and is about 5 meters long. It was originally a stingy ditch. Our government started up the rebuilding of Yanshueikang River, and was a first try to combine industrial polluted river with ecological environment. In this way, the ecological wetland can clean the river itself. We believe the goal of green industrial park would come true one day.


11. The Heart of Love River-- Pleasant Lake Wetland: Project of "Tracing Upstream of Love River"

The project of the Heart of Love River-- Juyi Lake set up between Poai Road and Tungmeng Road, that is, the heart of Love River. The Poai Bridge separates it as east and west lake. The west lake would be boating and viewing area; while the east becomes ecological flood detention pond. It plans to complete in 2007 and is expected to become a river with functions of tourism, flood-preventing, and ecological wetland.


12. Chiufanpi Wetland: A wetland park with regional flood-preventing function.

Chiufanpi locates on the east Minzu Road, and is beside Sun Yat-Sen Highway and the dormitory of Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital. It was one of the original ponds non-moved along the Love River bank. It was cut in half for the construction of Minzu Road and polluted acutely. Chiufanpi will be built into a wetland park to share responsibility for flood-preventing.


13. Shetzulin Wetland: Lotus pond extending for ten miles

Shetzulin locates down to the Tingchiang Road in Sanming District, which is behind the Wenzao Ursuline Colleges of Languages and near the border of Kaohsiung City and County. It named after the mango fruit local people planted. It is about 5 hectares and was originally a pond of the headstream of Love River. We expect that after the completion of the project " 5000-Meter Water Lily Pond Project ," Shetzulin would recover its beauty and become useful.
(7) Governments of Kaohsiung City and County should cooperate with each other to create a city with fragrant river banks.

The Kaohsiung City Government started on many rebuilding projects in the downstream of the Caogong Canal, but we should also conclude the headstream into our project to get at the root. If the government of city and county could cooperate on the rebuilding and dredging program, we believe the problems the Caogong Canal face today can be solved one day and transfer Kaohsiung into a city with fragrant river banks.
(8) Our hope is that people can embrace the nature again through the construction of ecological wetland.

 

Wetland which is full of life

General speaking, wherever there is water, soil and planets is a wetland. There are variety of species like water birds, insects, and butterflies. Human beings have destroyed wetlands by building skyscrapers, and stuffing them. There are less than 5% wetlands in acres, but they provide 25% productive capability. So we should protect them with efforts to have many species stay here for long, such as jacana, red cockscomb water hen and mandarin duck.
(Written & drawn by Po-Chien Wu)

 

The beauty of wetland

People can embrace the world of nature in the green wetland and enjoy it. We can relax, get rid of worries, and put ourselves together for another day. Hope you could just like the smiling girl in the picture.(Written & drawn by Chiao-Ju Lee)

 

Back to the nature

Most of the people who live in the city would like to have a place where they can relax, breath the fresh air, and get close to the nature. Hopefully a wetland is the place where they can do those things.(Written & drawn by Chia-Wen Wu)

 

Wonderful ecology environment in wetlands

We should protect the Caogong Canal, this is what I'm hoping. A wetland with a large variety of wildlife. (Written & drawn by Yu-Ting Dai)

 

Heaven of water birds

In my painting, I had many water birds and plants in the clear lake.? Birds swim as they wish; while plants are thriving.? It is indeed heaven of water birds.? I didn¡¦t have any tourist in, because I afraid they would inference the carefree dream of the heaven for water birds.? Hope the dream will come true one day.
(Written & drawnby Yi-Wen Chen)

 

Wetland Paradise

In my painting, there are people and wildlife coexist in the wetland. Two kids have come to the wetland just like visiting an amusement part. They are having a good time. When you visit the wetland, don't distract the animals and don't litter.
(Written & drawn by Yu-Jou Lee)

 

The recovery of beautiful wetland

Hope people can coexist with water birds peacefully, and know how to protect them. The relationship between wetland and us is so close that we should care the wildlife in wetland as much as possible. Don't use flash during bird watching.(Written & drawn by Shan-Yun Hou)

 

Multi-functional wetland

There is a large variety of wildlife in a wetland. It can provide the habitation for creatures, prevent flood, improve water quality, supply groundwater, and protect coast. We should protect a multi-functional wetland like this. When wetlands are gone, the ecological functions will be gone as well. (Written & drawn by Yun-Jou Lee)

 
(9)The Declaration of World Wetlands Day? Let's take actions to protect our earth

The conservation of natural environment takes everyone's effort?
I expect that I can treat all creatures on this land
with a humble heart,
Just like what I would do for my siblings
I would like to take more positive and dependable actions
To preserve the integrity of ecosystem
Just like what I would stand out to guard my own beautiful homeland.

 
< Made by Dong-Guan Elementary School, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan. Best effect in 1024 x768 mode >
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