Lau Shui Heung Irrigation Reservoir
Basic Information
| Lau Shui Heung Irrigation Reservoir | Hok Tau Irrigation Reservoir |
Storage Capacity:
| 140,000 m3 | 150,000 m3 |
Date of Completion:
| 30 June 1968 |
Dam Type:
| Concrete Gravity Dam |
The Lau Shui Heung and Hok Tau area consisted of narrow and fertile valleys, which attracted settlers to farm in the area in the 17th century. In the 1950s, agriculture was an important industry in Hong Kong, with rice being the major crop. Paddy field were mainly located in the New Territories. Unstable rainfall posed challenge to farming. Therefore, in the 1950s and 60s, the government constructed eight irrigation reservoirs, including the Lau Shui Heung Irrigation Reservoir and Hok Tau Irrigation Reservoir in Pat Sin Leng Country Park, to collect water from rain and streams to provide stable water supply for farmers.
In the wet season, torrents rush to the Lau Shui Heung Irrigation Reservoir and Hok Tau Irrigation Reservoir after heavy rain. Rainwater is discharged through rivers and pipelines managed by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), supplying irrigation water to villages such as Tung Shan Ha, Hok Tau Pai, and Hok Tau Wai.

Thematic Planting at Lau Shui Heung
Tree planting can prevent soil erosion and improve ecological environment. Thematic trees can also become distinctive green attractions. The AFCD carried out thematic planting at Lau Shui Heung in Pat Sin Leng Country Park with deciduous Water Pine (Glyptostrobus pensilis) and Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum) to create seasonal landscapes with varying colours. The reservoir bank was overgrown with grass before the thematic planting was carried out. In March 2011, the AFCD planted saplings of Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides), Water Pine, and Bald Cypress in phases. During 2011-2012, the first batch of 40 saplings had been planted. The saplings gradually grew, although some died due to extreme drought condition. From 2016 to 2018, the planting area had been doubled to form a conifer woodland of over 100 trees. Trees at the site were planted in two rows to create a tree corridor for visitors.

The first batch of 40 saplings were planted in two rows.

The reddish-brown trees attract many visitors every winter.
Lau Shui Heung Irrigation Reservoir and Bald Cypress
Lau Shui Heung Irrigation Reservoir is one of the irrigation reservoir in Hong Kong, covering approximately 8,000 m2. Rainwater is discharged through rivers and pipelines from the reservoir to provide irrigation water for nearby villages. Occasional droughts resulting in low water level in the dry season, as well as waterlogging in the wet season, pose great challenge to the trees growing along the bank. The bank of the Lau Shui Heung Irrigation Reservoir is now mainly comprised of Bald Cypress, with some Water Pine. Bald Cypress is a deciduous tree commonly used for plantation due to its adaptability to wet and waterlogged soil.
More about Bald Cypress
Leaves

Leaves are linear in shape and arranged in two ranks on branchlets, giving them a feather-like appearance. The reduced surface area helps conserve water in the dry season. In winter, the leaves turn to dark reddish-brown before shedding.
Seed cones and seeds

Mature seed cones are brownish-yellow, with woody shield-shaped cone scales that break away after maturity. Each cone scale typically carries two irregularly triangular seeds.
Trunk

Tree bark is brown, exfoliating in long strips.