Restoration of Rokugo and Shichigo moats (Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture)

Rokugo and Shichigo moats are important agricultural waterways that supply water from Hirose River of Natori River system to the rural area in the east of Sendai City. These waterways were excavated and opened in the Edo Period and used as the moat of Wakabayashi Castle, which was where Masamune Date lived in his final years. They were important artery waterways for supplying water for agriculture, disaster-prevention and daily living. However, due to the advancement of urbanization, they were changed into culverts in some parts and the water environment was extremely deteriorated by dumped-waste and human sewage inflow.
To improve the waterfront spaces and water environment, a "non-irrigation period flow examination" to flow as much water as possible even in the non-irrigation season was started by Sendai City mainly in 1999. This approach was institutionalized in the river law in March 2006 as "environmental flow" aiming at improving the local water environment. Shichigo moat was designated as one of the best 100 canals in Japan.

By JRRN-secre | Category: History and traditional restoration,Tohoku | Comment(0) | Trackback(0) |
Date: 2011.09.10 18:30