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Diversion Canal
Mr. Hayama stand in front of the calm water of Lake Utonai. A mute swan drifts away from him. 99.10.13/ Temperature: 6C/ Weather: Partly Cloudy/Wind Direction: W
Start: Genba, Atsuma /Latitude:42 43 29 N /Longitude:141 49 05 E
Destination: Izari River, Eniwa City /Latitude: 42 53 05 N /Longitude: 141 34 32 E
Distance Traveled: 31.4 kmThis morning I was able to speak with Mr. HAYAMA, ranger at Lake Utonai about community efforts to preserve the local bird sanctuary.
The sky slowly turned a hazy pink as the sun came up over Lake Utonai, a shallow bog which is the last remains of the wetlands that have covered this region. Smoke from the numerous industrial plants on the other side of the lake piped on as the sun continued to rise.
The Lake Utonai Bird Sanctuary is a haven of nature amidst the city of Tomakomai's industrial park. Several hundred meters from roaring highway 36, an important vein for the industrial economy of Hokkaido, lies the sanctuary. The low oak and horse chestnut forest creates a barrier between the hectic traffic and the serenity of the 511 hectare sanctuary.
This morning the shallow lake was filled with rustic buntings, common teals, mallard pintails, white fronted geese, mute swans and many others. It is estimated that close to 2000 birds visit the lake at this time of year. In contrast to the numerous birds are the numerous smoke stack on the opposite side of the lake and planes jetting off from the nearby airport.
Mr. Hayama spoke to me about the history of the wetlands of Utonai," The Lake is one of the last remains of the wetlands that used to cover much of this region," said Mr. Hayama. Apparently settlers long ago reclaimed swamps and wetlands in order to make a living off of the land. On the other hand, building settlements on top of the wetlands always left the citizens exposed to flooding. It is the fear of flooding in the neighboring region of Ishikari that has threatened the nature of Utonai.
As a measure to prevent water damage from flooding, the Japanese government planned to redirect the natural flow of the Chitose River out into the Pacific Ocean during times of flooding. The plan would protect the people living in the neighboring river basin, but would only bring environmental damage to the Utonai area. Studies projected that the Chitose River Diversion Plan would dry out the entire lake destroying the current habitat.
The initial plan was an enormous project which would redirect the flow of water from the large Chitose River all the way out to the Pacific Ocean via a 40km stretch of concrete canal 300-450 meters wide.
"There were several parties resisting the diversion plan," said Mr. Hayama smiling beneath his thick beard. "We were not the only ones concerned about the diversion canal," he said. "Fishermen from Tomakomai resisted the plan due to the environmental impact it would have on the ocean fishing waters. The water that would be drained out would come sporadically and dirty which would effect the habitat of fish along the coast," he said.
The Bird Sanctuary and Nature Center in Lake Utonai was founded with the help of local volunteers in 1981. The center's intention was to have citizens of the region become heroes to the lake and the nature that it represents. Protecting the lake from the river diversion canal was their first opportunity to do so.
Mr. Hayama explained how locals resisted the project on the grounds that it would destroy an extremely valuable wetland ecosystem and one of the few remaining natural rivers in Japan, the Bibi River. It was also stressed that the flooding in the neighboring region should be handled in the neighboring region. Understanding that floods are an immediate danger to the people in all wetland areas, locals made efforts to create less harmful alternatives.
Mr. Hayama spoke at length about the canal diversion plan. "The original plan to redirect the flow of the Chitose River is one that aimed to prevent damage from the kind of flood that might occur once every 200 or 100 years," he said. "Rather than build something the scale the government has planned, we have proposed to start small. Rather than prepare for a flood that may come every 200 years, we propose to prepare for the flood that may come every 20 to 50 years. We also are seeing what can be done so it is OK to have some flooding."
"Building areas in which water can be collected before flooding will decrease water damage. Reinforcing the banks of areas most likely to cause damage is another small thing that people are doing. Some people have changed to crops which can withstand flooding better. There are many ways that people can reduce flood damage on a smaller, less environmentally harmful manner."
As a result of the local will to preserve the nature in Utonai, the needs of fishermen, and other local protesters, the diversion canal was called off-- a very significant breakthrough for nature preservation. Locals convincing the government of the possibilty of other alternatives to the canal and actually stopping the construction is one of the first of its kind in Japan.
This is one example of how locals are taking the initiative to protect nature. What would it mean for you to be a local hero in your own communities?
Greg
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