Establishment and Application of Evaluation Procedure of Dam Removal for Decision Support in Taiwan

In order to review the effectiveness of dam removal and to develop a river management model, it is necessary to establish a suitable decision-making process for dam removal in Taiwan. This study develops a 7-step process for reducing the ecological impact and hazard risk of dam removal. Four dams located in the Wuling region were used for this research: Yousheng Creek Dam #1, Chijiawan Dam #1, Dam #3 and Dam #4. Along with river and dam surveys, Shei-Pa National Park collected ecological monitoring data over a period of decades. Such analyses allow for the ecological, economic and safety assessment of dam removal. The results of the proposed 7-step process show that Chijiawan Dam #1 is a priority spot for improvement. This finding is in agreement with prior research. This consistency over the years shows the process has a certain level of predictability. The application of the 7-step process would help decision-makers to master the whole dam removal process.