|
Nui
Coc Reservoir
|
|
|
Location:
|
2l°33'-21°37'N, l05°40'-105°44'E; 15 km from Thai Nguyen Town and 5 km from Dai Tu District Town, southern Bac Thai Province. |
|
Area:
|
2,580 ha. |
|
Altitude
|
60m. |
|
Biogeographical
Province:
|
4.10.4. |
|
Wetland
type:
|
17. |
|
Description
of site:
|
A water storage reservoir with a capacity of 175 million cubic metres, constructed in 1977 on the Cong River, a tributary of the Red River. The reservoir is surrounded by hills with shrubby areas and secondary forest. |
|
Climatic
conditions:
|
Tropical monsoonal climate with an average annual rainfall of 2,002 mm, a mean annual temperature of 23.2°C and a mean relative humidity of 82%. |
|
Principal
vegetation:
|
No information is available on the aquatic vegetation. Two decades ago, the surrounding hills were covered with dense forest, but most of this has disappeared due to uncontrolled exploitation of the forest resources by the local people. The dominant plant species are Rhodomyrtus tomentosa, Melanoma candidum, Cratocylon spp. and Eupatorium odonatum. |
|
Land
tenure:
|
Owned by the People's Committee of Thai Nguyen Town. |
|
Conservation
measures taken:
|
In 1985 the Government of Vietnam designated the reservoir and its environs as a protected area, in an effort to prevent further deforestation and thereby reduce the siltation rate. Some reafforestation is being carried out on the denuded slopes around the reservoir. |
|
Conservation
measures proposed:
|
The protected area should be extended to include the entire water catchment area of the reservoir. |
|
Land
use:
|
Fishing, water supply for irrigation, and recreation for the people of Thai Nguyen Town, a centre for the steel industry. The reservoir currently supplies water for 13,000 ha of wet rice cultivation. Several small holiday resorts have been built on the shores of the reservoir. |
|
Possible
changes in land use:
|
|
| Disturbances and threats: | Forest clearance for fuelwood, construction materials and agricultural land in the catchment area has led to serious erosion and increased siltation in the reservoir. The cultivation of cassava and other crops on the steep slopes around the reservoir has been particularly harmful, while heavy grazing by domestic cattle is preventing natural regeneration of the vegetation. |
| Economic and social values: | The reservoir supports a significant fishery and is an important source of water for irrigation. Fish production is estimated at 120-150 metric tonnes per year. The reservoir is also important for outdoor recreation it is situated in a region of spectacular landscapes and is a popular resort for people from Thai Nguyen. |
| Fauna: | At least ten native species of fishes occur in the reservoir, several of which are of economic importance. About 40 species of birds and 15 species of mammals have been recorded in the reservoir area. Several species of ducks occur in winter, particularly Dendrocygna javanica, Anas crecca and A. acuta, and a small breeding colony of Ardeola bacchus and Egretta spp. has recently been established on an island in the lake. |
| Special floral values: | No information. |
| Research and facilities: | |
| Criteria for inclusion: | 3b. |
| References: | |
|
Source:
|
Le Dien Duc and the Fisheries Department of Bac Thai Province. |