Authors: LI Yun-peng, TAN Xu-ming, LIU Jian-gang (Department of Water History, IWHR, Beijing 100048, China)

Abstract: Sanjiang Watergate is the key project of Xiao-shao plain to control water allocation, which is the greatest multi-opening watergate built by stone more than 400 years ago in China ． Being main canals in Xiao-shao plain, Zhedong Canal and Xixiao River are important in regulation of regional water resources. This paper clarifies that the Sanjiang Watergate was built due to the sudden change in Zhedong canal, salinity intrusion, and serious flood and drought disasters. The study shows that Sanjiang Watergate had improved regional water environment, ensured water quantity stability of Zhedong Canal by adjusting water quantity of Xiao-shao plain with Puyang River rechanneled and Qianqing Dam dismantled. Sanjiang Watergate is the key water-control project of Xiao-shao plain which is valuable in science and technology for project planning, design, construction and management.

Key words: Sanjiang Watergate, Zhedong Canal, Xiao-shao plain, river system evolution, engineering status

Published in: Journal of China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Vol. 9, No. 2, 2011

Article ID: 1672-3031 (2011) 02-0121-04