A Study on evolution and role of open levees on alluvial-fran rivers in the Hokuriku Distrlct

from the viewpoint of decentralization of river-engineering decision making

Abstract

Many discontinuous levees exist on the alluvial-fan rivers in the Hokuriku District, and these levees employ traditional technological techniques in their construction. Historically, many of these discontinuous levees were made into continuous ones. However, these open levees have been observed to appear again in recent years.
Such traditional technology was developed over many generations by the practical experience of local residents, and could therefore be called a kind of “self-governed” technology. It is important to also note that the processes in which such technologies have been formed are themselves important within the context of such traditional technologies.
The present report investigates the history of open levees on the Hokuriku District fan rivers, with respect to the various builders of these traditional levees. We attempt to show that differences in the individual builders are related to differences found in the form of these levees.