In 2020, the Yellow River Water Conservancy Committee's sluice gate renovation project won the "Dayu Award" for the first time, awarded by China's water conservancy department.
This award-winning project recognizes the major renovation of an "old project" that had been completed 46 years ago.
This project was a costly endeavor, spending over 80 million RMB and was hailed as "Asia's First Sluice Gate," yet it has never been put to actual use.
So why has this "Asia's First Sluice Gate," which was built at such a high cost, remained idle?
The Yellow River has long been the mother river of the Central Plains people, nurturing the people and culture of the region, but it is also notorious for frequent flooding.
Due to over-cultivation of the Loess Plateau during nearly a thousand years of feudal times and the lack of timely management, severe soil erosion occurred on the plateau, bringing large amounts of sediment to the Yellow River every year.
This resulted in frequent siltation and major floods in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River.
The Yellow River is described as having a "bronze head, iron tail, and tofu waist," with Qu Village located in the "tofu waist" area between the "bronze head" and "iron tail."
This region suffers the most from sediment accumulation and is prone to flooding.
To address the flood risk, in 1951, the government approved the construction of the Qu Village flood diversion sluice gate in the Beijin Embankment flood detention area. However, during the construction process, researchers found that even with the completion of the Sanmenxia Reservoir, the flood risk downstream could not be completely reduced.
Thus, in November 1976, the Qu Village flood diversion sluice gate began construction.
During a special period, over 16,600 intellectuals, workers, and farmers overcame various difficulties and completed this flood control "safety valve" in two years.
The Qu Village flood diversion sluice gate is 749 meters long and 209 meters wide, capable of diverting 10,000 cubic meters of water per second from the Yellow River.
Below the gate, there are 56 sluice holes, said to represent the unity of the 56 ethnic groups, though their practical function of operating the fixed winches far exceeds their symbolic meaning.
To ensure effective flood discharge in critical moments, the team also set up 11 explosive emergency flood discharge gates along the 1,750-meter-long control embankment.
The Qu Village flood diversion sluice gate was put into use in the early 1980s and, with its number of sluice holes, length, and flood discharge capacity, it was at the forefront globally and became known as "Asia's First Flood Control Gate."
As a "veteran," the Qu Village flood diversion sluice gate has silently stood guard for over 40 years, witnessing the aging and passing of many young people, while it too has gradually shown signs of aging.
Although machines can be maintained and external walls repaired, the aging of the dam is difficult to fix.
From mid-2002, the sluice gate management office began to notice sporadic detachment in some areas of the dam body.
Despite surface repairs, it was challenging to repair the deeper layers and bottom of the dam.
By the end of 2009, the sluice gate management office submitted an application to the relevant departments for the reconstruction of the dam.
After approval, experts were dispatched for inspection and research, and an assessment was made six months later.
Experts believed that the main electrical equipment of the Qu Village flood diversion sluice gate was severely aged, nearing the end of its depreciation period, making it difficult to ensure successful completion of tasks in critical moments.
Additionally, the sluice gate’s frame bridge and navigation road were also aging, with overall strength no longer meeting requirements.
According to assessment data, the Qu Village flood diversion sluice gate was rated as a third-class gate, with operating indicators severely deviating from design standards, and the project foundation and electrical equipment "damaged" and needing reinforcement before continuing operations.
Therefore, the relevant national departments listed the renovation and repair project of the Qu Village flood diversion sluice gate as the top priority project of the year, approving more than 120 million RMB in repair funds in 2017, including the cost of replacing motors and gate equipment.
It is worth noting that the original construction of the Qu Village flood diversion sluice gate cost 80 million RMB, and now, despite the increase in funds, such a huge maintenance cost could almost build a new sluice gate.
During the restoration of the Qu Village flood diversion sluice gate, this "veteran" received the "Science and Technology Progress Award" from the Yellow River Water Conservancy Committee and recognition for using new technologies, methods, and materials, achieving a "Three New" (new technologies, new methods, new materials) result certification, and even obtained a national practical patent.
Now, this "veteran" that has weathered 46 years has gained new vitality with the help of new technologies and innovations, essentially being "reborn."
However, this "veteran" that has silently guarded its post for over 40 years has never actually been used. Why is this?
Lu, deputy director of the Qu Village flood diversion sluice gate management office, once said in an interview with the media:
"Since its construction, we have always hoped it would never actually be used. We think this is a good thing, the best thing is not to use it."
As flood diversion sluice gate workers, they would rather spend decades on maintenance, repairs, and even renovations than let the "Asia's First" flood diversion sluice gate be used, mainly because of its purpose: flood diversion.
The gate was designed to accept floodwaters from upstream that could not be contained, to share the risk for downstream villages and people.
According to regulations, when an extraordinary flood of over 22,000 cubic meters per second occurs upstream, reservoirs like Sanmenxia first regulate the upstream water through storage.
If regulation fails and the downstream water still exceeds 10,000 cubic meters per second, the Qu Village flood diversion sluice gate will be activated.
In other words, the Qu Village flood diversion sluice gate is the last line of defense for downstream people facing the Yellow River's extraordinary floods.
If the flood is diverted, downstream people will inevitably be affected by the flood.
However, under the current circumstances, the Qu Village flood diversion sluice gate is unlikely to be used in the short term.
When this flood diversion sluice gate was initially built, China's flood control measures for the Yellow River were very limited, primarily relying on flood discharge gates.
But with technological advances and deeper ecological management of the Loess Plateau, the sediment transported by the Yellow River has significantly reduced, lowering the possibility of flooding.
This is why the "veteran" flood diversion sluice gate, which has been on duty for 46 years, remains in "watchful waiting" and has not been actually used.
However, even though the Qu Village flood diversion sluice gate has not been used, it still contributes in other ways.
Utilizing the natural conditions of the Yellow River, local departments have transformed the area into an "education scenic area" that combines tourism and educational outreach.
This area not only features the spectacular Yellow River landscape but also includes the sluice gate cultural corridor of the Qu Village flood diversion sluice gate.
Multiple local departments have also established it as a practice base for the "Yellow River Culture Study Tour," allowing visitors to appreciate the unique Yellow River culture and get up close to this man-made marvel.
According to relevant departments, Puyang has begun to apply for the Qu Village flood diversion sluice gate to be recognized as a World Cultural Heritage site.
This "veteran" that has stood guard for 46 years has now been revitalized, becoming a witness and promoter of social development.
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