Project Description

To address the environmental impacts of future extreme climate events, the government has launched the “Shimen Reservoir Amuping Sediment Control Tunnel Project.” The objective is to reduce the effects of extreme climate on residents in northern Taiwan. The Amuping sediment control tunnel, with a total length of 3.7 km, is the first multi-purpose tunnel of its kind in Taiwan. During typhoon and flood periods, it can utilize hydraulic force to flush sediment downstream, increasing annual sediment discharge capacity by an estimated 640,000 tons. Through the sediment screening facility, valuable sand and gravel can be separated, with coarse aggregates supplied for reuse in construction projects. This reduces the cost of transporting sediment by truck, minimizes traffic impacts, and lessens disruptions to local communities—marking a significant milestone in Taiwan’s hydraulic engineering.

Project Overview and Features

The project primarily involves the construction of an intake facility on the Amuping river terrace of Shimen Reservoir, with the sediment control tunnel passing through Xizhou Mountain to an outlet structure at the Dahan River. Major works include the intake and access roads, the sediment control tunnel and adits, the outlet and flushing basin, Dahan River levees and sediment disposal sites, sediment storage facilities, and other auxiliary works.
As the project is carried out while the reservoir remains in operation, construction faces challenges such as fluctuating reservoir water levels, flood control operation risks, and geological variability in underground excavation. Due to the high technical complexity, various mitigation and engineering solutions were developed to overcome these challenges.

Project Benefits

Enhance the desilting efficiency of Shimen Reservoir, extend the reservoir’s service life, stabilize water supply for northern Taiwan, preserve the local ecosystem, establish the first sludge screening facility, increase revenue, reduce desilting costs, and strengthen flood control measures.