Reservoirs prioritize using their capacity to mitigate flooding downstream.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MARD) has proposed a comprehensive review of all reservoir operation procedures, completing the adjustment documents before April 2026. Priority should be given to utilizing the useful capacity for flood control in downstream areas, allowing for the use of additional capacity above the normal water level.

Authorities are ensuring the safety of the Cay An irrigation dam (Ta Nang commune, Lam Dong province).

On December 9th, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Hoang Hiep signed a document addressed to units managing and operating important irrigation reservoirs, and units managing and operating inter-provincial irrigation reservoirs, requesting the immediate implementation of a review and assessment of reservoir operation and preparation of disaster response plans for 2026.

Specifically, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment requested that relevant units conduct a comprehensive review and assessment of the operation of irrigation reservoirs according to operating procedures and implementation over the past period, ensuring the safety of the structures, downstream areas, and multi-purpose water supply, as well as considering rainfall and flood conditions. This will serve as the basis for adjusting and supplementing operating procedures to suit climate change, extreme rainfall and floods, infrastructure, and downstream safety requirements. The review and preparation of documents for adjusting operating procedures should be completed before April 2026.

In this regard, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment proposed prioritizing the use of reservoir capacity for flood control in downstream areas, and establishing flexible pre-flood water levels to maximize flood control capacity. Units should utilize a portion of the flood control capacity above the normal water level of the reservoir to enhance flood control and reduction capabilities for downstream areas. Simultaneously, specific regulations are needed regarding the minimum advance notice period before flood release operations; methods of communication and warning to agencies, units, and residents in affected areas (flood release time, discharge volume, scope and extent of flooding, etc.); and solutions for communication and warning in the absence of telephone signal or power outages.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment also requested that units collect flood trace data to update and develop disaster response plans, downstream flood maps, flood drainage corridors, and emergency response plans that are realistic, ensuring adherence to the "four on-the-spot" principle and compatibility with the two-tiered local government model.

In addition, it is necessary to assess the current state of the reservoir after the 2025 flood season, and develop plans and methods for repairs to ensure the safety of the structure during the 2026 flood season and subsequent years. The proposed work contents should be compiled and added to the unit's business plan for 2026 as required before January 15, 2026 for special reservoirs and before January 30, 2026 for inter-provincial reservoirs.

PHUC VAN

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/cac-ho-chua-uu-tien-dung-tich-de-cat-lu-cho-ha-du-post827747.html