Chiang Rai's Mae Suai Dam in critical condition with water level declining to 3% of capacity

[webfact]

Chiang Rai's Mae Suai Dam in critical condition with water level declining to 3% of capacity

CHIANG RAI, 17 February 2016 (NNT) - The drought situation in Chiang Rai has caused the water volume in the province’s Mae Suai Dam to drop to 3.5 million cubic meters, or only 3 percent of the reservoir’s capacity.

The dam, which usually releases 10.58 cubic meters of water per second to over 148,000 Rai of farmland in the districts of Mae Lao, Phan, Wiang Chai and Muang Chiang Rai, has now reduced its water output to only 0.38 cubic meters per second.

The amount is only adequate to sustain 1,000 Rai of farmland until the end of February. Afterwards, the dam will stop releasing water and will allow farmers to fish in the small amount of water that will be left in the dam.


-- NNT 2016-02-18

[villagefarang]

The dam is an impressive structure and when it is full it is quite beautiful. Perhaps the low water level provides an opportunity to do a little maintenance and upkeep.

[sceadugenga]

I mentioned this to a keen fisher-person in the family and suggested she head that way with her gear and was told that the complete fishing rights had already been bought for quite a substantial sum, so the farmers may be out of luck.

[villagefarang]

I mentioned this to a keen fisher-person in the family and suggested she head that way with her gear and was told that the complete fishing rights had already been bought for quite a substantial sum, so the farmers may be out of luck.

If it is anything like our reservoir, the guy who bought the rights for this season then charges what he can from individual fishermen, with different fees for different fishing methods and perhaps a quota.

[sceadugenga]

It would depend on whether they want to catch and sell the fish themselves or sell tickets to others.

Local prices for a days fishing at privately owned stocked ponds is about 10 to 50 baht a day, with Talapia going at 60B a kilo at local markets this can be quickly recouped and a profit made by selling the excess.

[sup3r1or]

Its funny how it is supposedly a severe drought that can affect the quality of life of people in CR and perhaps everywhere else and here we are discussing FISHING.

Edited February 24, 2016 by sup3r1or

[villagefarang]

Yes, but when the water level is low, that is the best time to go fishing.

[canuckamuck]

I live near the dam, the reservoir is just a meandering stream now, so not much to fish. Last year they never filled the dam up so it is no surprise that it is empty so soon. Apparently it got cracked in the earthquake and they weren't brave enough to fill it up all the way. So this might be an annual issue now.

[toybits]

Rice field in front of the village now very dry. Soil is cracking up and the light rains we had a few days ago did very little to help the seedlings grow. My heart bleeds for the bloke who spent money to have the land prepared and planted to rice.

[canuckamuck]

Rice field in front of the village now very dry. Soil is cracking up and the light rains we had a few days ago did very little to help the seedlings grow. My heart bleeds for the bloke who spent money to have the land prepared and planted to rice.

Everyone knew this was not the year to plant off season rice. I see those rice fields and say, what were you guys thinking?

[sceadugenga]

The good old stand by Soya beans are flourishing here.

Still plenty of water in the dam behind the village.

[Manassas]

I keep seeing news about the "drought." But then it's the dry season. Is this dry season really worse than usual? When talking about the drought the news usually focuses on low water levels. In my area the river is way down and many ponds are dry. But that's at least in part due to everyone within PVC range is pumping all the water they can to get a second rice crop going. I can't blame the farmers for that and if I was closer to the river I might try it as well. But, technically, a drought is usually defined as lower than usual rainfall or a late start to the wet season. Just curious about this.

[villagefarang]

Don’t worry, the Thais have not made up some new arbitrary definition of drought. Drought maps will often show areas where things aren’t quite as bad, next to hard hit areas. A lot of the water infrastructure is not visible on the surface or locally. Flying into Chiang Rai on Tuesday one could see a lot of green in the areas next to rivers and streams, but we are lucky to live in one of the better parts of the country, less prone to severe drought.

[canuckamuck]

The amount of rain in the last 12 months is below average, the dams are mostly empty, earlier than normal. The dam in the OP has never been out of water since it was built, but the earthquake may have contributed to less storage. So yes it is a normal dry season, but it was a low rainy season that is causing premature shortages. And many months to go before adequate rain can be expected. I think it is going to be a pretty big issue in a month or two.