The Abandonment of Irrigation Reservoirs in Matsubara City

Abstract

The object of this chapter is to examine the abandonment of irrigation reservoirs and the changes in land use in Matsubara City in Osaka, during the period of the rapid economic development in Japan.
These irrigation reservoirs have been abandoned as a result of urbanization and in-dustrilialization. In Matsubara City, 59 irrigation reservoirs were reclaimed in the 24 years from 1958 to 1981, and the reclaimed land reached 68.141ha in area (including reservoirs reclaimed partly.) 54.1 percent of these 68.141ha has been used for public facilities, 17.0 percent for housing, and 9.2 percent for factories. Fields tend to be used much for housing or factory sites, and these reclaimed former reservoir sites are diverted more to public facility sites (Schools, Meeting halls, Playgrounds, Children's parks, etc.)
Matsubara City needed to be supplied with public infrastructure, as urbanization had proceeded without planning, so the irrigation reservoirs were used as building sites. That the rate of use for public facilities was high was due to this unplanned urbanization. Meanwhile the rate of use for housing has been also increasing in recent years, because public infrastructure needs have been virtually met and the financial condition of this city has become worse. The abandonment of irrigation reservoirs should be considered from both these perspectives.
In addition, the disuse of irrigation reservoirs has caused many problems: loss of pool function, financial problems in their disposal by sale, and re-organization of the utilization regulations. Especially the utilization regulations have become increasingly confused. This will be described in the next chapter.