Safe operation of Cua Dat irrigation works to serve production and people's lives during the rainy and stormy season

Cua Dat Lake discharged floodwaters to prevent and control storm No. 3 in 2025, ensuring the safety of works, State assets and people in the downstream area.

On February 7, 2017, the Prime Minister signed Decision No. 166/QD-TTg to include Cua Dat Hydropower Plant in the list of important projects related to national security (replaced by Decision No. 1502/QD-TTg dated December 24, 2024); Decision No. 124/QD-TTg dated January 24, 2019 promulgating the list of Cua Dat irrigation dams and reservoirs as especially important dams and reservoirs.

Cua Dat Lake has a large basin, especially in the rainy and stormy season, the main water source is from the mountainous areas of Laos and the two provinces of Thanh Hoa and Nghe An, combined with the steep riverbed, so the flood water flows very quickly. Typically, due to the impact of storm No. 3 in 2025 and the recent heavy rain, at 1:00 p.m. on July 24, the water level of Cua Dat Lake reached +106.62m. Given the above situation and the forecast of heavy rain in the basin, the lake began to overflow from 6:00 p.m. on July 24. The total discharge is expected to be from 300 - 1,500 m3/s, depending on the amount of water flowing into the lake. On the afternoon of July 24, the Investment and Construction Management Board of Irrigation 3 ( Ministry of Agriculture and Environment ) issued a notice on the operation and flood regulation of Cua Dat Lake in accordance with the process approved by the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment. The discharge flow has been adjusted up or down depending on the actual situation to ensure absolute safety for the works, lives and property of the people in the downstream area. The Committee has requested the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention, Search and Rescue and Civil Defense (PCTT, TKCN&PTDS) of Thanh Hoa province, the authorities of the communes and wards in the downstream area and related units to closely monitor the situation, proactively prepare response plans; promptly inform the officials and people in the downstream area. Seriously implementing the response plans, the recent flood discharge ensured the safety of works, State and people's property. Currently, the water level of the reservoir is at a normal level, the Committee has regulated the flood with a flow equivalent to the incoming water flow.

To ensure the safety of the project and promote its effectiveness in serving production and people's lives during the rainy and stormy season, the committee has carried out preparations for flood and storm prevention and mitigation, and natural disaster mitigation according to the "4 on-site" motto. The Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention and Control of the Cua Dat Irrigation System has assigned specific responsibilities to each member, regularly patrolled and monitored the progress of the project to detect incidents and take measures to maintain, repair and repair damage promptly. Coordinated with functional units and localities to monitor and observe the hydrology of the Cua Dat basin, calculated reasonable regulation and operation plans. Reviewed, inspected and repaired equipment and machinery to ensure the project's safe operation. The Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention and Control of the Cua Dat Irrigation System has set out a number of bad situations that could occur during rain and storms for the items. At each construction item, sufficient reserve materials, equipment, human resources... have been prepared to mobilize according to the "4 on-site" plan. At the main dam, downstream of the main dam and the spillway, thousands of sacks and 13,000m3 of rubble have been prepared, with specific plans for human resources, equipment, and proactive incident handling.

According to the calculations of the consulting units, the water level of Cua Dat lake reaches the elevation of +105m (alarm I), +110.5m (alarm II), +115m (alarm III), a special level alarm when the lake water level reaches over +115m. The Provincial Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention and Control has deployed a plan to ensure the safety of Cua Dat reservoir, a plan to prevent and control floods in the downstream area. Identify and predict flash flood routes and flood scope; propose specific plans to protect, prevent and mitigate damage to residential areas, economic , security and defense facilities; develop a plan to quickly and thoroughly evacuate residents in the area to a safe place. The Committee has organized a permanent task force to closely monitor the development of floods and rains, decide on a regulation plan, and issue orders to operate the lake according to regulations. Direct the implementation of measures to respond to floods and handle situations affecting the safety of residents in the downstream area. Currently, the downstream communes have added emergency response plans for Cua Dat reservoir to proactively handle incidents when they occur. In recent times, Cua Dat reservoir has effectively served irrigation and drought control for more than 86 thousand hectares of crops; cut off floods on Chu river; and provided water for industrial production and people's daily life.

Article and photos: Thu Hoa

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/van-hanh-an-toan-cong-trinh-thuy-loi-cua-dat-nbsp-phuc-vu-san-xuat-va-dan-sinh-mua-mua-bao-257494.htm