The metamorphosis of the Longwu River in Qinghai, a tributary of the Yellow River: from "smelly water ditch" to characteristic ecological corridor

China News Network Qinghai Colleague, May 5 Topic: The Metamorphosis of the Longwu River, a tributary of the Yellow River: From the "smelly water ditch" to the characteristic ecological corridor

China News Network reporter Zhang Tianfu

On the Qinghai Plateau, the banks of the Longwu River are known as the "Golden Valley". Regong art, which originated here, has been inscribed on UNESCO's list of "Intangible Cultural Heritage".

The Longwu River has a total length of 170 kilometers, of which 46.6 kilometers flows through Tongren City, Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, and joins the Yellow River at Longwu Gorge, which is a tributary of the Yellow River in eastern Qinghai.

However, due to inadequate environmental protection facilities, backward environmental protection concepts among residents along the river, and household garbage entering the river – this once made the Longwu River, the mother river that raised thousands of Regong children, a "smelly water ditch".

"At that time, every household used to dump garbage into the river, toilets were built next to the river, and sewage was discharged directly into the river." Kong Xiaohong, a resident of Longwu Street Community in Tongren City, said.

Kong Xiaohong told reporters that she has lived by the Longwu River for more than 40 years, and there used to be a lot of garbage on the river beach.

Today, the local government has invested in the renovation of the river, and the Longwu River has undergone earth-shaking changes. She said, "Now that the road has been repaired, landscapes and green belts have been built on both sides of the river, and the environment is better, and everyone likes to go for a walk by the river when the weather is good." ”

The Longwu River runs through Longwu Town, Tongren City from south to north, and the urban section runs from the inlet of the Tiewu Hydropower Station upstream to the confluence of Qumagou and Longwu River downstream, with a total length of about 6.5 kilometers. In 2017, Tongren City launched the Longwu River Urban Section Eco-Cultural Leisure Landscape Belt Project, with a planned construction land of about 55 hectares and a total investment of 2 million yuan.

Ma Chengbin, director of Tongren Water Conservancy Bureau, introduced that the main construction content of the above projects is the construction of new water dams, hydraulic dams, Tingbu submersible dams, embankments, protective railings, high slope treatment, lake island repair, etc., supporting hydraulic dam electrical systems, river shoreline lighting and management information systems. The flood control standard of the key urban section of Longwu River can reach once in 50 years, and the new water surface area is 39,<> square meters, and at the same time, it can improve the water ecological environment, effectively increase the water surface, wetland and green area, provide basic support for the economic development of the county, and have good economic, social and ecological benefits.

With the Longwu River as the link, the project proposes to meet the needs of urban development, maintain the natural style of Tongren as much as possible, create a characteristic ecological corridor of Tongren City, and promote the rapid development of the historical and cultural city of "Regong".

The picture shows the renovated Longwu River Trail. Photo by Zhang Tianfu

Under the premise of ensuring the safe discharge of the river, the ecological wetland function of the river channel was restored, which made the improvement of the water ecosystem of the Longwu River obvious to all.

"Exercising and running along the riverfront boardwalk, watching the river become clearer and clearer, the scenery on the bank is getting more and more beautiful, and the mood is very pleasant." This is the common voice of many colleagues and citizens.

In recent years, Tongren City, Huangnan Prefecture, has attached great importance to water ecological governance, realized the water ecosystem of "clean water, smooth river, green bank and beautiful scenery", and gradually displayed the picturesque river scenery in front of people.

Ma Chengbin introduced that Tongren City also takes the "river and lake chief system" as the starting point, strengthens the patrol of river and lake chiefs at all levels and responsible river chiefs, and makes full use of the "River and Lake Changtong" APP to dynamically supervise sensitive waters in key river sections in real time, and realize the informatization and intelligence of river patrol, management, prevention and control.

Nowadays, the banks of the Longwu River are beautiful and beautiful, and residents can't help but slow down and enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way.

Qinghai Provincial Water Conservancy Department previously reported that the past ten years have been the fastest development of Qinghai water conservancy, the most benefited by the people, the largest investment intensity, and the best reform results, and the overall promotion of water disaster prevention, intensive conservation and utilization of water resources, water ecological protection, and water environment governance have achieved new results. (End)