??? Key project ????The improvement project, which is the biggest in Qingdao’s history, will upgrade the environment of all the river’s drainage areas. Advanced technology and management will be introduced. ????“The most important thing is to protect the environment along the river,” said Yu Gaofang, vice director of the city’s water conservation research institute and chief engineer of the project. Several new ecological materials will be introduced. ????The materials can not only protect the water and river banks but also help improve the environment along the river, said Yu. ????Ten dams will be built and existing dams will be rebuilt or upgraded. Meanwhile, Taoyuan Lake covering an area of 5 square kilometers will be dug in the lower reaches of the river to avert the flow of water during the flood season. The flood prevention measures are expected to be effective for 50 years.???? ????Scenic spot ????After the project is completed, the river will become a scenic spot with leisure venues. Paths will be built to connect communities along the river so that it becomes a popular hiking destination. ????Top experts were invited to make plans for the construction of regional wetlands and woods along the river in July last year. According to their suggestions, the plans will have trees planted to protect upper water resources, four natural preservation areas set up to protect the environment and also eight wetland parks built. ????The plans will make the river and its surrounding areas a green landscape and ecological tourism area in five years. Another 11,396 hectares of trees will be planted, so that 32 percent of the land will be covered by trees. The total area of wetland will reach 19,153 hectares, covering more than 28 percent of the ranges.???? ????Farmland belt ????According to the plans, modern agricultural bases will be built along the river, making the area a model for agriculture. ????Preferential policies will be given to improve agricultural technology and product quality. Farmers’ incomes will be increased significantly. ????Infrastructure facilities will be built, such as reservoirs, transportation facilities, power facililties and agricultural mechanical facilities. By 2015, advanced irrigation systems will be introduced to all farm land in the area. ????By 2015, 70 percent of the farmers living in the area will join professional farming cooperatives and they will be encouraged to open large family farms or leading professional production bases. The government will give out subsidies and preferential policies to the leading production bases. ????Farmers’ average income will reach 20,000 yuan a year in 2015. ????Eighty modern agricultural standard farms will be built in the area, including 50 advanced farms for vegetables, 25 high-end orchards and five vegetable and fruit seed centers.???????? ????Satellite town ????According to statistics, the population of the Dayu River area is nearly 2.4 million and 70 percent are farmers. Fifty-three percent of the city’s farmers live in the area. ????As the city’s mother river, the project is intended to make the area a modern satellite town with regional characteristics, according to Gu Gongjun, director of the city’s urbanization office of the urban construction committee. ????The town will become a leading village in economic and cultural development with advanced infrastructure and a pleasant environment. Guidance will be given to villages to make them become high-end modern rural communities. (Wang Yuanyuan, Wang Liyan, ????Han Guangliang, Liu Kunfeng, Liu Lina)???????????????????????????????????? ????THE Dagu River improvement project started construction Feb. 8 and will help improve the city’s environment, becoming a model of the country’s modern approach to water conservation. | 