Weirs in this Project are deliberately designed in modernized way to reflect for ancestors’ wisdom in irrigation and water control. In a word, they function as a vessel containing water in usual dry season for necessities. It releases water in flood so to prevent damages from inundation.
In the Four Major Rivers, total 16 weirs are under constructions. Since the ground-breaking ceremony at the Seungchon Weir construction site in November 2009 were kicked off, all the constructions have been processed night and day for a year. Eventually, its consequences will reveal itself in the first half of 2011. As of March, the completion rates in constructions in the main streams is 62%, and that of the core facilities reaches to 80% with slight excess than earlier planned.
Among total 16 multi-functional weirs, seven weirs (Haman, Hapcheon, Gumi, Nakdan, Sangju, Geumnam and Juksan) are scheduled to finish the installations of its sluice gates in March. In succession, constructions of affiliated facilities like small hydro-power plants, integrated management system, fishways and more get to begin in full-fledged mode. When the weirs constructions and dredging are completed, we store water during June to August rainy season to run test operations so to succeed in full-scale operation from coming September.
“When heavy equipments used for dredging are evacuated from the late March, the rivers under restoration works will prove its real worth. By the Chuseok the people expectedly could see the transformed Four Rivers”, Mr. LEE Jae-Bung (director of the operation division, Office of National River Restoration) said.
Besides the basic function as water controlling system, the 16 weirs will take its position as scenic landmarks at each region. From the initial stage, distinctive features and characteristics distilled from local culture and history were deliberately reflected into design of the weirs. From the reason, they are surely going to be splendid tourist attractions.
