Abstract
Matsuo mine in Hachimantai, Iwate prefecture, is the sulfur mine which started the operation in 1914. The Matsuo mine was called "sulfur mine of the Orient" during the heyday of 1950's in which was proud of prosperity. However, in exchange for prosperity, it left a negative inheritance that the strong acid waste water occurred semipermanently from tunnels. This acid water began to flow to the Akagawa River and gave the damage to not only the Akagawa River but also the Kitakami River, and as a result, the strong acidification of the river grows.
However, under the situation of the strong acidization of the river, rice crop has been continued in the Akagawa River basin from the old days. It is thought that the farmer should devise how to prevent water pollution for rice crop. I investigated the influence of the water environmental change on the Akagawa River and neighboring the Matsukawa River basins paying attention to agriculture water supply. And I examined the influence of the Akagawa River on the drainage basin, the correspondence of inhabitants for it, and the change of the agricultural water supply and the causal factor.
As a result of analyzing agriculture statistics, I clarified influence on rice crop using the strong acid water. The construction of the Akagawa River waterway switch in 1952, was broken off slowly the acid water influence on rice crop. The Akagawa River water was not used at all from 1952. After the waterway switch completion, a network of waterway was formed using mainly the Matsukawa River water.
The agriculture waterway formation of the Akagawa River basin has developed in order to clear the strong acidization and depending on a geographic condition of the Akagawa River. Consequently, the inhabitants were able to keep the acid water damage to a minimum by their quick correspondence to water pollution and the construction of the waterway switch owing to their action.
