This article was accepted into the corpus but its outbound wikilinks were never NER-processed — typical at the deepest BFS hop or when the run's entity cap was reached. No expansion funnel to show.
| Chubetsu Dam | |
|---|---|
| Name | Chubetsu Dam |
| Location | Biei, Hokkaido, Japan |
| Country | Japan |
| Status | Operational |
| Construction began | 1977 |
| Opened | 1994 |
| Owner | Hokkaido Prefecture |
| Dam type | Rockfill dam |
| Height | 86.0 m |
| Length | 495.0 m |
| Reservoir name | Lake Shumarinai (reservoir) |
| Reservoir capacity total | 65,000,000 m3 |
| Reservoir surface | 270 ha |
Chubetsu Dam Chubetsu Dam is a rockfill dam on the Chubetsu River in Biei, Hokkaido, Japan, completed in 1994. The project lies within Hokkaido and serves multiple functions including flood control, irrigation, municipal water supply, and recreation, connecting to regional infrastructure and agencies in northern Japan. The facility is integrated into Hokkaido development initiatives and is associated with national water resource policy and local land use planning.
Chubetsu Dam is located in the region administered by Biei Town in Kamikawa Subprefecture within Hokkaido Prefectural jurisdiction, sited on tributaries that feed into larger river systems influencing the Ishikari River basin and the Sea of Japan watershed. The structure is a rockfill embankment built to provide storage and regulation for seasonal runoff affected by the East Asian monsoon and Hokkaido climate patterns; it interacts with regional transport corridors and civic institutions in the area. The dam project involved coordination among national ministries, prefectural offices, rural development agencies, and construction firms active in Japanese civil engineering.
Planning for Chubetsu Dam originated in postwar infrastructure programs that included river improvement schemes and agricultural land consolidation promoted by ministries responsible for land and water resources. Early feasibility studies referenced hydrological analyses influenced by precedents such as development projects on the Ishikari and Teshio river systems and drew on expertise from academic institutions and engineering consultancies. The construction timeline overlapped with economic and policy shifts in Japan during the late Shōwa and early Heisei periods; procurement and contracting engaged companies prominent in Japanese heavy civil works. Community consultations, land acquisition, and resettlement arrangements were coordinated with municipal authorities and rural cooperatives, reflecting national statutes governing public works and compensation.
The dam is a zoned rockfill embankment featuring an impermeable central core and downstream protection, designed to meet seismic resilience criteria applied in Japan following major earthquakes. Structural parameters include a height of approximately 86.0 meters and a crest length near 495.0 meters, with spillway and outlet works sized for design flood events derived from meteorological records maintained by climatological agencies. Materials sourcing, quality control, and earthworks practices referenced engineering standards utilized by specialized contractors and laboratories. Instrumentation for monitoring settlement, pore pressure, and seismic response was installed consistent with practices adopted by research institutes and university civil engineering departments.
The impounded reservoir creates a regulated storage body that modifies seasonal flow regimes, contributing to downstream flow augmentation and flood attenuation for communities along the tributary network leading toward larger basins. Reservoir capacity is on the order of tens of millions of cubic meters, with surface area and storage allocation managed for irrigation, municipal supply, and environmental release schedules overseen by water resource planners. Hydrological modelling incorporated data from meteorological observatories, snowmelt studies relevant to Hokkaido, and river gauging stations coordinated with prefectural water authorities and national agencies.
Chubetsu Dam operates to provide integrated services: flood control to protect downstream municipalities and agricultural districts; reliable water supply for urban centers and irrigation for crop production; and recreational amenities that boost regional tourism and leisure industries. Operational decisions are made by the operating entity in concert with disaster management agencies, regional planning offices, and agricultural cooperatives, following guidelines established in national water management frameworks. The facility contributes to local economic activity through water security for farming, supports municipal infrastructure, and interfaces with power generation and transmission planning where applicable.
The dam's construction and reservoir inundation altered land use, habitats, and the riverine ecosystem, prompting mitigation measures developed with conservation groups, fisheries agencies, and academic ecologists. Impacts on fish migration, wetland areas, and riparian vegetation were addressed through environmental assessments and compensatory actions aligned with environmental protection statutes. Socioeconomic effects included relocation of households, changes to traditional landholdings, and shifts in local employment; these were managed via resettlement programs, compensation negotiated with landowners, and workforce transition initiatives involving regional job-training centers.
The reservoir and surrounding parklands provide recreational opportunities promoted by local tourism bureaus and municipal authorities, attracting visitors via regional transport networks and visitor services coordinated by tourism associations. Facilities include viewing points, walking trails, and seasonal events supported by cultural organizations and hospitality businesses in Hokkaido. Access routes connect to highways and public transit hubs serving Biei and neighboring municipalities, with visitor information disseminated by prefectural tourist information centers and local chambers of commerce.
Category:Dams in Hokkaido Category:Rockfill dams