Dago Creek Ecological Water Conservation Park Introduction
Dago Creek, located at the bottom of Dahu Mountain Villa Street in Neihu District, is a natural stream that flows down from Mount Baishi Lake at an elevation of 485 meters. Most of the upstream area on both banks is covered with secondary forest, while the downstream section flows past the Yuanjue Waterfall into the residential drainage system, merging into Dahu Park through the underground conduit under Dahu Mountain Villa Street. The total length of the watershed is approximately 3,500 meters, with a drainage area of 340 hectares. To balance safety and conservation, the management of Dago Creek in Neihu District employs a porous, near-natural construction method, providing habitats for plants and animals. It has cultivated rich ecological resources, with surveys from the Geotechnical Engineering Office reporting species such as the Formosan Blue Magpie, the Zhu's Tree Frog, the Chinese Tree Frog, the Formosan Black Butterfly, the Purple Butterfly, the Jewel Butterfly, the Asian Brown Frog, the Little Egret, the Five-colored Bird, and the Yellow-spotted Bush-cricket, making it an excellent outdoor ecological classroom. The downstream area of Dago Creek was originally an agricultural zone, but due to urban development, it has been redeveloped into the Dahu Mountain Villa residential community. Due to road demands, the creek was replaced by an underground drainage system, which in earlier years could not handle the flooding caused by heavy rains, leading to erosion and loss of soil and rock. There was even significant damage caused by Typhoon Winnie in August 1997. The management of Dago Creek upstream of the Dahu Mountain Villa community employs stone revetment, with porous spaces beneficial for habitats, while also reducing erosion. Additionally, to cater to the need for a hydrophilic recreational environment, a water-friendly pathway was constructed in the creek bed, serving as a backyard for local residents. To create a natural ecological environment, the management of Dago Creek utilizes fish ladders (check dams) and bed stabilization methods to reduce the riverbed drop, slow down the flow rate, and decrease erosive energy. The created shallow areas also help to retain creek water, providing habitats for fish, shrimp, and aquatic plants, thereby maintaining the stream ecology. Furthermore, hydrophilic platforms and pathways have been installed in wider river sections in accordance with the natural terrain of the creek, allowing local residents and visiting tourists to enjoy the water and the fun of interacting with it. (Source: Taipei City Government Public Works Department Geotechnical Engineering Office)
