Vegetation removal and De-silting in Pond #17b
Over the past decades, the floor of Pond #17b (Figure 1) has been silting up because of mud brought into the pond each month water exchange in gei wai #16/17 takes place. As a result, the floor of the pond has slowly been rising and consequently it is now difficult to cover with water. This drier area is now invaded by tall grasses and climbers, and thus not used by roosting waterbirds. The ecological value of this pond as a wetland has therefore been declining.
According to the Mai Po Management Plan (2006 -2010), Pond #17b will be enhanced as an additional facility to support the education and awareness programmes conducted at the Reserve. As a result, the unwanted vegetation in the pond will be cleared in August (Figure 2) to allow earthmoving works to remove the excess silt from the pond floor. The overall aim of this programme is to restore the ecological value of Pond #17b for wetland wildlife. Works began in July 2007 and will be completed by 31 October.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause over the coming months. For more information, please contact Lew Young, Janet Lee or Bena Smith (Tel 2471-6306).
清除#17b塘的植物及淤泥
在過去數十年，因基圍#16/17的運作，帶有大量淤泥的后海灣海水湧入基圍，引致#17b塘(圖1)塘底的淤泥累積。淤泥令#17b塘塘底升高，海水難以再覆蓋整個塘，引致#17b塘變成乾地並滿佈雜草及攀緣植物。因植被蔓生，水鳥不再使用這個塘作棲息地，#17b塘的濕地生態價值逐漸衰退。
根據米埔管理計劃 (2006 – 2010)，#17b塘將成為其中一個提升保護區教育及公眾意識的設施。為了達到這個目的，於八月份#17b塘裡蔓生的植被將被清除，之後，塘底的淤泥將會挖走。這項工程的主要目的是恢復#17b塘的濕地生態價值。這項工程已於2007年7月開始，並將會在10月31日前完成。
以上工程進行期間，若為閣下構成任何不便，本會謹此致歉。如欲查詢進一步資料，請聯絡米埔自然保護區楊路年、李嘉慧或施百納，電話：2471-6306。
Figure 1. Location of Pond #17b
Figure 2. Current condition inside Pond #17b (end of vegetation removal phase)
