“Clearing silt every year is a major challenge,” said Bai Zhanbin, project manager of Section 1 of the Hui Nong Canal works. “The silt in front of the gate is over a meter deep, and the flow loses momentum here. The old gate piers are right next to the village production road, which also creates safety risks for people and vehicles.”

　　The original plan had been to demolish and rebuild on the same site. “The old gate bottom slab and frame are relatively intact. If we demolished them, it would be a pity for the water heritage,” Bai said. After repeated discussions during the planning stage, the team decided to move the new gate 75 meters upstream and build it at a new site, while preserving the old gate as it was.

　　On the construction platform of the new gate, the frame has already taken shape, and workers are installing the gates and solar panels. The new gate has been reduced from nine bays to seven, while the effective water conveyance width has been expanded from 27 meters to 35 meters, greatly improving control capacity. More importantly, it is adjacent to the existing drain gate, allowing the two gates to operate in coordination. A connecting corridor has also been designed for the gate chamber.

　　“During wet seasons or when water is shut off, the drain gate can be used to flush out the silt in the upstream section. In the future, there won’t be silt buildup between the old gate and the drain gate,” Bai said.

　　The relocation also adds a layer of safety. “Now the new gate operates independently, cleanly and efficiently, avoiding interference with the adjacent road,” Bai said. The new gate is equipped with solar control panels, using clean energy to power lighting in the gate house, adding a green element to the ecological irrigation area.