As if by chance

There is only one option for using the water; there are no alternative plans like in previous years, based on predictions of whether it rains early or late. The key issue this year is that the reservoirs have significantly more water than in previous years.

The driving force of progress

That day, despite the unusual influence of a tropical depression, occurring 20 days after the end of the storm and floods (according to folklore, October 23rd of the lunar calendar), the weather in Tuy Phong was only gloomy. This is normal here, a place known for having the least rainfall in the country. However, in 2023, Tuy Phong did not lack water; the irrigation reservoirs in the area stored more water than in previous years. As of this transitional period, before the harvest was completed and before the start of the 2023-2024 winter-spring crop, Da Bac reservoir had 7.55 million cubic meters of usable water, and Long Song reservoir had over 29.4 million cubic meters. Up in the mountains, Phan Dung reservoir, which both supplied water for approximately 120 hectares of rice paddies belonging to the Rac Lay ethnic minority in the commune and transferred water to Long Song reservoir downstream when needed, had accumulated a vast amount of usable water, exceeding its initial design capacity by more than 13.4 million cubic meters.

Phan Dung irrigation reservoir, Tuy Phong

Rice paddies in Phan Dung commune, Tuy Phong district.

Long Song Irrigation Reservoir, Tuy Phong

Also in 2023, the project to reclaim and improve rice paddies and the canal system in Area A of Phan Dung commune was implemented. In early 2024, Phan Dung added another 26.32 hectares for rice cultivation, bringing the total area of ​​wet rice cultivation in the commune to 150 hectares. Although it hasn't reached the 400 hectares designed for irrigation by Phan Dung reservoir, the people of Rac Lay are happy with any additional area for wet rice cultivation. Every day, they see the abundant water in Phan Dung reservoir and the land in the commune that remains uncultivated due to forest land constraints. Everyone recognizes that wet rice cultivation yields faster harvests than dry rice cultivation and has higher productivity, eliminating concerns about food shortages. Therefore, the journey of adopting advanced techniques for wet rice cultivation over the years can be said to have been remarkable for the people of Rac Lay. For example, in the 2022-2023 winter-spring crop season, with an area of ​​133.4 hectares, the entire commune harvested 720 tons of rice, equivalent to a yield of over 5.4 tons/ha. In the summer-autumn crop season, 93 hectares yielded 465 tons of rice, or 5 tons/ha, and this season, with early harvests, the yield reached 4 tons/ha. Significantly, this is not just about rice yield but also about progress. The water from Phan Dung Lake has contributed to and acted as a driving force for this change and continues to support the application of advanced techniques in the area.

Newly reclaimed fields in Phan Dung

Only one option

Tuy Phong, a place often experiencing water shortages, had abundant water in 2023, so it's only natural that other irrigation reservoirs in the province are also full. The largest reservoir in the northern part of the province is the Song Luy reservoir in Bac Binh, responsible for transferring water to the Long Song reservoir (Tuy Phong) and the Song Quao reservoir (Ham Thuan Bac). It now has a usable capacity of nearly 82 million cubic meters, compared to only about 51 million cubic meters at the same time last year. Most reservoirs in the southern part of the province also have higher usable capacities than at the same time last year.

Song Luy irrigation reservoir, Bac Binh. Photo: N. Lan

According to data from Binh Thuan Irrigation Works Exploitation Company Limited, as of the end of December 2023, the current usable water volume in irrigation reservoirs was 308.96/363.55 million m³, reaching 84.9% of the design capacity, 21.19 million m³ higher than the same period last year. Meanwhile, the usable water volume in the two hydropower reservoirs was also higher than the same period last year and nearly reached the design capacity. Specifically, Ham Thuan reservoir has a current usable capacity of 521.63 million m³ compared to 522.50 million m³ of the design capacity, and 425.96 million m³ last year. Similarly, Dai Ninh reservoir has a current usable water volume of 249.71 million m³, reaching 99.2% of the design capacity, 32.21 million m³ higher than the same period last year.

Ham Thuan hydroelectric reservoir

Therefore, the annual meeting on water usage plans for the dry season in the agricultural sector was very relaxed, with only one option proposed. Calculations of water balance after the 2023 crop season, domestic water supply for the 2024 dry season, and irrigation for dragon fruit trees showed a remaining water supply of 883.0 million m³, ensuring irrigation for 100% of the 33,016 hectares of the 2023-2024 Winter-Spring crop. This also guarantees water supply for the entire 2024 dry season. There was only one water usage plan, no alternative plans like in previous years, which would have considered whether the rainy season ended sooner or later. The key issue this year is that the reservoirs are currently overflowing with water compared to previous years.

Furthermore, thanks to the abundant water, the surrounding landscape is greener and more beautiful. It's worth noting that while this beauty was previously little known, as most irrigation projects were hidden deep within the area, far from major roads, now, with the construction of two expressways, visitors can see several lakes along the roadside or access routes leading to them. For example, after traveling along the Phan Thiet – Dau Giay expressway, everyone can see Du Du Lake and Ta Mon Lake with their shimmering silver waters nestled amidst lush green dragon fruit orchards. Further along, exiting the expressway at Song Phan commune, one can reach Song Phan Lake. Here, the scenery of mountains and forests is peaceful, and Song Phan Lake is as calm and still as a gem in this arid region.

Meanwhile, other irrigation lakes such as Song Luy Lake, Phan Dung Lake, and Suoi Da Lake have attracted visitors despite currently lacking any tourism investment. The exploitation of these irrigation lakes for tourism is also being explored in the province with promising prospects for multi-purpose use. And everything that happened in 2023 related to water, production, roads, and tourism revolved around these irrigation lakes as if by chance.

According to Mr. Nguyen Huu Hue, General Director of Binh Thuan Irrigation Works Exploitation Company Limited, although most irrigation reservoirs in the province have higher water levels than in previous years, the risk of drought and water shortages still exists in independent reservoirs or those exceeding their design capacity, such as Ta Mon and Nui Dat reservoirs. Therefore, the company continues to implement measures to use water economically and efficiently.

Source: https://baobinhthuan.com.vn/thuy-loi-nam-2023-nhu-su-sap-dat-tinh-co-116549.html