Keep the Ba Che River green and clear

Ba Che is a large river flowing along the length of the district with many systems of small streams and creeks, providing abundant clean water for the daily life and production of the people. Therefore, the task of protecting natural water resources, aiming at the goal of sustainable socio-economic development and environmental protection has been highly valued by the district.

Ba Che River flows along the length of the district.

Clean water reserves

Ba Che River flows northeast from Luong Minh commune and east from Thanh Lam commune, through Ba Che town and down to the sea with a total length of about 80km. If counting the streams south of Don Dac commune, the river is approximately 95km long. And counting from the branch to the west of Luong Minh commune, Ba Che River is up to 150km long.

From Luong Minh flowing to the town, the Ba Che riverbed is higher, it is indeed a river with a wide basin with many waterfalls and rapids. There are Truc waterfall (Thanh Son commune), Khe Lanh waterfall, Khe Ngai waterfall (Nam Son commune), Da Vuong waterfall, Khe O waterfall, Song Cong waterfall (Don Dac commune), Khe On waterfall, Khe Lao waterfall, Khe Xoong waterfall (Thanh Lam commune), Khe Lay (Dap Thanh commune)... Mr. Nguyen Van Hoa, who has been a boatman on the river for 32 years, took us upstream to explore the river and said that he did not know exactly how long the river was. He only knew that it might take a lifetime to travel all the corners of the river.

Along with Lang Cang, many waterfalls flow into the stream. Many of those small streams join together to form a river. The stream is like small threads weaving a long brocade that the mountain girl has just finished weaving and then draped over the strong shoulders of the giant boy, the Ba Che mountain forest.

Lang Cang Waterfall on Ba Che River.

Ba Che River also creates moisture for the soil to grow many specialties, such as: Don Dac sugarcane, Thanh Lam peanuts, Luong Minh cardamom and Morinda officinalis, Dap Thanh grapefruit, etc. Ba Che River water is likened to a giant jar of fresh water, a strategic reserve of clean water for large cities in Quang Ninh. The Ba Che River's water is always clear, regulating the cool climate suitable for developing attractive eco-tourism. That's why since the French colonial period, many merchants have come here to build resort villas, combined with the pleasure of hunting.

The river water also makes the shrimp and fish here more delicious. Every now and then, we met a small boat. Mr. Hoa said that they were going shrimp fishing. The fishing tools were very rudimentary, just a net. That proves how available the shrimp must be. In particular, the shrimp and the eggplant in the Ba Che River are both famous delicacies. The clear river is also the ideal habitat for the eggplant. This specialty has a sweet, fatty taste, lots of roe and a distinctive delicious aroma, unlike other types of crabs. Mr. Hoa excitedly told me that if I wanted to eat even more delicious seafood, I could follow him down the river, over the Ba Che bridge, to the sea. The seafood here is delicious not only because the Ba Che River carries a lot of plankton, but also because the aquatic life here is bi-aquatic, both saltwater and freshwater.

Cruise on Ba Che River.

Mission of survival

With the Ba Che River stretching across the entire district, forest protection is considered a vital task, closely linked to water resource protection. Thanks to the Dong Son and Ky Thuong forests in Ha Long City, a part of the forests in Son Dong District (Bac Giang Province) and the well-protected forest area in the district, for many years, Ba Che has basically maintained a safe water level and good water quality. Practical investment in planting, caring for and protecting forests has had a positive impact on creating water resources, providing water for rivers and streams in the area, creating a stable water source to serve the people.

Faced with difficulties in water for daily life and production for people in highland communes, Ba Che district has focused on investing in the construction of many centralized water supply projects. Currently, households in the area mainly use water from the following projects: Khe Lua Lake (Luong Minh commune); Khe Long Trong reservoir (Thanh Son commune); Khe Muoi reservoir and Khe Lam domestic water project, Tau Tien village (Don Dac commune), Khe Tam reservoir (Nam Son commune). In addition, the district has renovated and upgraded the clean water system in Dong Loong and Dong Tien villages (Thanh Lam commune); Na Lang and Khe Vang villages (Don Dac commune); Khe Na and Khe Put villages (Thanh Son commune). Currently, the district has 54 clean water supply projects and 133 small irrigation projects supplying water for production for people.

Since 2023, the District Party Committee has issued Resolution 11-NQ/HU dated April 26, 2023 on strengthening the Party's leadership in resource management, environmental protection, natural disaster prevention and mitigation associated with the protection of the Ba Che River, period 2022-2025, vision to 2030. After nearly 2 years of implementation, Resolution No. 11-NQ/HU of the District Party Committee has truly come into life, receiving the synchronous and active participation of Party committees at all levels, the Government, the Vietnam Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations and people of all walks of life in the district, achieving many results in all fields, contributing positively to the local socio-economic development.

Mr. Vu Thanh Long, Provincial Party Committee member, Secretary of Ba Che District Party Committee, said that after nearly 2 years of implementing Resolution No. 11-NQ/HU of the District Party Committee, positive results have been achieved. In particular, the work of resource management, environmental protection, natural disaster prevention and mitigation associated with the protection of Ba Che River has received special attention; the collection, transportation and treatment of waste and garbage have been enhanced, the infrastructure for providing clean water and domestic water has been ensured... the quality of the people's living environment has been improved and enhanced.

In the above Resolution, the content of protecting water resources and protecting and regenerating aquatic resources is one of the particularly important contents. The District People's Committee has also made efforts and implemented many measures to protect this precious resource, including coordinating with provincial departments, branches and sectors to release tens of thousands of eggplant seeds into the Ba Che River, to promote the seed source and regenerate precious aquatic resources. At the same time, strengthen propaganda and mobilize people to absolutely not use destructive exploitation methods, only exploit aquatic species of the prescribed size, to preserve and promote aquatic resources as well as promote the economic value of the locality.

The Ba Che River is also attractive because on its banks there is an ancient porcelain kiln relic dating back hundreds of years in Lang Moi village, Nam Son commune. In the past, there was no road to the ancient porcelain kiln, so people had to travel by boat. Legend has it that when a stranger entered the village, someone would immediately stop them and ask for a secret code. If they did not answer correctly, they would be immediately expelled from the village. Then, the ancestors' profession also faded away, the ancient porcelain kiln closed, lying quietly in the middle of the old forest. Due to the difficult road, this relic has been kept quite intact. Legend has it that the remaining kaolin clay reserves in this area are very large, estimated to be about 2 billion tons. However, Ba Che district has decided not to exploit them to avoid the risk of "harvesting unripe rice" and leaving their descendants a little bit of long-term capital.

Dao cultural reserve right on the banks of Ba Che river.

In the coming time, the district will focus on increasing the rate of clean water use of rural residents; implementing the installation of markers to protect the Ba Che river corridor. To protect water resources, it is necessary to improve forest quality, forest coverage rate; increase the rate of centralized wastewater collection and treatment.

Secretary of the District Party Committee Vu Thanh Long requested the political system from the district to the grassroots level and all classes of people to continue to thoroughly and effectively implement the spirit of Resolution No. 11-NQ/HU of the District Party Committee; effectively carry out groups of tasks and solutions on strengthening the leadership and direction of Party committees at all levels, improving the effectiveness and efficiency of state management on environmental protection work associated with protecting the Ba Che River.

The river section is named Co Ngua.

At the same time, effectively implement the national strategy on biodiversity, strictly protect the environment, sustainably manage resources along rivers and streams; develop biogas models and apply technology in livestock production and agricultural and forestry production... The district also strengthens inspection and supervision of compliance with environmental protection laws; rectify and strictly handle violations associated with emulation and reward work for groups and individuals with positive contributions to environmental protection.

Pham Hoc

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/giu-dong-xanh-trong-cho-song-ba-che-3349176.html