濁水溪的歷史難題

The Dilemma Facing the Choshui River

濁水溪是臺灣最長的河流，其水資源也最豐富，早在清初1709年就有大型水圳的修築，即日後所謂的八堡圳。該圳為灌溉彰化隆起平原的水利設施，造就臺灣最重要的農業區，卻也促成濁水溪南岸、北岸不均質的發展；這種南北不均質的發展，在歷史的進程中對環境與社會產生深遠的影響，過去卻未被正視。至於濁水溪水資源開發的各種問題，雖有不同學科針對特定議題加以探討，但是這些難題不曾以環環相扣並長時距來觀照其動態性發展。　基於以上研究動機，本文從歷史的縱深剖析濁水溪水利灌溉、南北兩岸分水搶水、地下水開發、水力發電、共同引水工程等水資源的開發與利用所造成的諸多難題，並說明濁水溪做為農業與工業之河的雙重屬性衝突。濁水溪水資源雖豐沛，卻也無法擔負與時俱進的各種需求；人為工程對水的汲取與經濟建設，不但沒有解決問題，反而使環境更加惡化。本文回顧濁水溪開發300年來，各時期互相影響並延伸擴大的歷史難題，而從本論文的研究可了解，經濟發展若以追求產值為目的，社會成本、生態成本將付出難以承擔的代價。

Choshui River is the longest river with the most abundant water resources in Taiwan. In 1709, a large-scale irrigation canal, Pa Pao Chun, was built to provide water for farming in the Changhua plain, thus making this flatland a leading agricultural region in Taiwan. Nevertheless, this canal also resulted in uneven economic growth between the northern and southern banks of Choshui River. Over the years, such imbalanced development, despite often being disregarded, has profound impact on both the environment and society. Although researchers have examined the exploitation of water resources in the light of different disciplines, neither was the interconnection of the issue from different perspectives explored, nor had the dynamic development in the area been examined in longitudinal studies. From the historical point of view, this research analyzed in depth the irrigation of Choshui River and related issues including fight for water allocation between the North and South as well as between agriculture and industry, rapid depletion of ground water, development of hydroelectricity, construction of weir, and alteration of watercourse. Choshui River, though rich in resources, has difficulty meeting the growing demands from different sectors and the various needs. Worse still, man-made constructions and infrastructure not only failed to alleviate the problem, but further deteriorated the environment. Looking back at the past 300-year exploitation of Choshui River reveals that pursuit of economic development at the expense of the environment will incur enormous social cost and ecological loss.