Sabo Projects and Our Approach

The Matsukawa River Sabo Project

The Matsukawa River has its source in Mt. Higashi-taiten (elevation 1,928 m) and others of the Ou Mountains, and becomes a rapid stream in the area where Ubayu, Namekawa, and Goshiki hot springs are located. It changes the direction from the northeast to the east in the area near Itaya, Yonezawa of Yamagata Prefecture. The Matsukawa River flows out of the alluvial fan that the river itself has created near An-yoji of Fukushima, and heads toward the east. The river runs through the new residential area of Fukushima, and joins with the Abukumagawa River in the north of the urban Fukushima area.

The area of the Matsukawa River sabo project has been designated under the direct control of the government of Japan in 1950. In 2004, two sabo dams were completed in the Matsukawa-honkawa River, three in the Maekawa River, nine in the Kanigasawa River, and one in the Itayazawa River; total 15 sabo dams were completed.

The watercourse reinforcement works provide the sabo facilities that prevent disasters due to river winding or erosion of riverbank and riverbed. The watercourse reinforcement project has been launched in 1964 in the Matsukawa River to prevent landslide damage in the fast-urbanizing area along the river. Presently reinforcement works of the riverbed have been in progress.