Field Study of Sheung Yue River Students' Workbook

Field Study of Sheung Yue River Students’ Workbook Contents Page 1. Sheung Yue River and the fieldwork sites 2 2. About Sheung Yue River 4 3. Fieldwork site A: Ta Shek Wu Shek Tong 5 4. Fieldwork site B: Kiu Tau 7 5. Fieldwork site C: Ying Pun 9 6. Fieldwork site S1: Tsiu Keng 11 7. Fieldwork site D: Long Valley 13 8. Enquiry questions 15 9. Data collection (A): River geometry 16 10. Data collection (B): Stream quality 18 11. Data collection (C): Human influences 20 Data processing and presentation (A): 12. 22 River geometry Data processing and presentation (B): 13. 23 Stream quality and human influences 14. Data analysis and interpretation 24 15. Evaluation 24 Field Study of Sheung Yue River: Students’ Workbook 1 1 Sheung Yue River and the fieldwork sites Map 1.1: Sheung Yue River and the fieldwork sites Field Study of Sheung Yue River: Students’ Workbook 2 The field work sites (refer to Map 1.1) • Ta Shek Wu Shek Tong（打石湖石塘） A • Kiu Tau（橋頭） B • Ying Pun（營盤） C • Tsiu Keng（蕉徑） S1 • Long Valley（塱原） D Field Study of Sheung Yue River: Students’ Workbook 3 2 About Sheung Yue River As a tributary of Ng Tung River (梧桐河), Sheung Yue River runs through the northern New Territories, west of Fanling-Sheung Shui New Town. Its Chinese name, i.e. “Sheung Yue”, bears the meaning of “two fish”, which vividly describes the scenery of two hills standing side by side near Ho Sheung Heung (河上鄉) just like two fish playing in the water. The headwater of Sheung Yue River is located in Tai To Yan (大刀屻). Initially, the main stream flows through the villages in Pat Heung (八鄉) Ta Shek Wu (打石湖) and then flows northward to Ying Pun (營盤), Tsiu Keng (蕉徑), Lin Tong Mei (蓮塘尾) and Cheung Lek (長瀝) after crossing Fan Kam Road (粉錦公路). When reaching Hang Tau Village (坑頭村), the river heads northeastward to Kwu Tung (古洞), Yin Kong (燕崗) and Ho Sheung Heung. After passing Long Valley (塱原), the river joins Shek Sheung River (石上河) and Ng Tung River at the confluence. “Rivers@HK Database” [Sheung Yue River > Sheung Yue River Location and Catchment > About Sheung Yue River] https://goo.gl/gBcwBM Answer the following questions: (1) What is the drainage pattern of Sheung Yue River? (2) Refer to the map on page 2, describe the direction of flow of Sheung Yue River. Field Study of Sheung Yue River: Students’ Workbook 4 3 Fieldwork site A: Ta Shek Wu Shek Tong Ta Shek Wu Shek Tong is a village located at the upper course of Sheung Yue River. As suggested by the place name, there was a quarry in Ta Shek Wu for the extraction of construction and stone art materials. Although the quarry has been abandoned, stone art workshops are still operating near the village. The characteristics of natural streams are retained at this river section. Villagers recalled that the water quality was so excellent in the past that they could swim and fish in the river. Nowadays, the water quality has deteriorated, sludge and sediments also accumulate on the riverbed. During dry season, odours often arise from polluted water in the river. ‘My River, My Community’ – WISE Choice [Site A: Ta Shek Wu Shek Tong] https://goo.gl/4npTcn Map 3.1: Field study site at Ta Shek Wu Shek Tong Field Study of Sheung Yue River: Students’ Workbook 5 Figure 3.1: Natural stream at the Figure 3.2: Polluted river section at upper course of Sheung Yue River Ta Shek Wu Shek Tong Eutrophication – Excessive nutrients in river water induced rapid growth of Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) in Sheung Yue River (near Ying Pun). The process of eutrophication, which may cause oxygen depletion and prevent sunlight from penetrating the water, exerts negative impacts on aquatic life. Side by side comparison of a normal (Figure 5.3) and eutrophic (Figure 5.4) river section in Ying Pun illustrates the rapid growth of Water Hyacinth in just 5 days. Figure 5.3: Before Eutrophication Figure 5.4: After Eutrophication Photo taken on April 9, 2018 Photo taken on April 14, 2018 Field Study of Sheung Yue River: Students’ Workbook 6 4 Fieldwork site B: Kiu Tau Kiu Tau is a site where two tributaries of Sheung Yue River converge. At this site, the river channel is wider than the upper course, and the channel gradient becomes gentler. Meanwhile, we can identify land-uses other than agriculture, such as used vehicle dealers and junkyards. Such land-uses may pose a threat to the river water quality. ‘My River, My Community’ – WISE Choice [Site B: Kiu Tau] https://goo.gl/4npTcn Map 4.1: Field study site at Kiu Tau Field Study of Sheung Yue River: Students’ Workbook 7 Figure 4.1: Sheung Yue River section at Figure 4.2: Some land-uses other than Kiu Tau (towards downstream) agriculture can be found at Kiu Tau References for brownfields: HKSAR Government (2017). LCQ16: Territory-wide survey on the distribution and use of brownfield sites. (Government press release) https://goo.gl/5bRC5W Field Study of Sheung Yue River: Students’ Workbook 8 5 Fieldwork site C: Ying Pun An inflatable dam was constructed by Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD, formerly known as Agriculture and Fisheries Department) in Ying Pun before 1995. The river water has then been intercepted, leading to a considerable rise in the water level. In the meantime, a catchwater has been dug next to the dam to divert river water to farmland nearby to irrigate agricultural crops. The above water works showcase the crucial role of Sheung Yue River in supporting agricultural activities in the catchment. ‘My River, My Community’ – WISE Choice [Site C: Ying Pun] https://goo.gl/4npTcn Map 5.1: Field study site at Ying Pun Field Study of Sheung Yue River: Students’ Workbook 9 Figure 5.1: Agricultural weir at Ying Pun Figure 5.2: Extensive area of farmland at (with overflow) Ying Pun References for Agricultural Park: Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Civil Engineering and Development Department & Lands Department (2017). The Establishment of an Agricultural Park in Kwu Tung South Phase I. https://goo.gl/ySoe4h Food and Health Bureau, Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Civil Engineering and Development Department & Lands Department (2018). Progress of the Major Initiatives under the New Agriculture Policy. (Legislative Council Discussion Paper) https://goo.gl/avLx9f Field Study of Sheung Yue River: Students’ Workbook 10 6 Fieldwork site S1: Tsiu Keng The Newfoundland Bridge was built in 1957, and was named after HMS Newfoundland of which its crew members donated money and put effort to construct the bridge after a major rainstorm event. A plaque is erected next to the bridge to commemorate this history. Extensive farmlands can be found in Tsiu Keng and Ying Pun, some of which are Accredited Farms approved by AFCD. In July 2017, the government announced about 75 – 80 hectares of farmland in Tsiu Keng had been selected as the preliminary site of the Agricultural Park. ‘My River, My Community’ – Cultural Tour [Site A: Newfoundland Bridge] https://goo.gl/aYNDE8 Map 6.1: Field study site at Tsiu Keng Field Study of Sheung Yue River: Students’ Workbook 11 Figure 6.1: The commemorative plaque Figure 6.2: An accredited farm at next to the bridge Tsiu Keng Field Study of Sheung Yue River: Students’ Workbook 12 7 Fieldwork site D: Long Valley Long Valley is a vast wetland and floodplain at which Sheung Yue River and Shek Sheung River converge. Since it has a rich diversity of bird species and is also a major stop-over feeding and resting site for migratory birds, this area has high ecological value with over 300 bird species recorded. The original proposal to build the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line over Long Valley was rejected by the government due to environmental considerations. At last, the railway went through Long Valley in an underground tunnel, allowing the ecologically valuable wetland to be kept intact and untouched. Given fertile soil and abundant water supply, agricultural activities have flourished in Long Valley. Currently, vegetables are major farm produce in Long Valley. Farmers also divert water from Sheung Yue River to irrigate the farmlands there. In 2012, rice paddy was reintroduced to Long Valley under a programme called Long Valley Ecopaddy Co-operative Society (禾‧花‧雀‧塱原生態農社), initiated by Conservancy Association. Under the North East New Territories Development Areas Project, Long Valley is designated as a Nature Park due to its high ecological value. ‘My River, My Community’ – WISE Choice [Site D: Long Valley] https://goo.gl/4npTcn References for Kwu Tung North Development and Long Valley Nature Park: Environmental Protection Department (2018). Implementation of Hong Kong Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (BSAP) https://goo.gl/4nncsw Town Planning Board (2015). Approved Kwu Tung North Outline Zoning Plan No. S/KTN/2. https://goo.gl/on944c Field Study of Sheung Yue River: Students’ Workbook 13 Map 7.1: Field study site at Long Valley Figure 7.1: Paddy fields can be found in Figure 7.2: Many vegetable fields can be Long Valley found in Long Valley Field Study of Sheung Yue River: Students’ Workbook 14 8 Enquiry questions The fundamental enquiry in the field study of Sheung Yue River is “How does the relationship between a river and environment change along it course?” The key enquiry consists of two questions: 1. What changes occur in river geometry with distance downstream? 2. What changes occur in the degree of stream pollution with distance downstream? Field Study of Sheung Yue River: Students’ Workbook 15 9 Data collection (A): River geometry At each field sites, conduct a survey of the river geometry by completing the followings.

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