1100-Hakusui Dam

Date of interview: Sunday, July 3, 2011
Location: 536-3, Aza Shiromizutani, Hirase, Shirakawa-mura, Ono-gun, Gifu-ken

Power Development kindly allowed us to visit the Hakusui Dam, which was originally off-limits to visitors.

Hakusui Lakeside Lodge and Hakusui Refuge Hut

Daikokuya DamWe came to the Hakusui Dam from Hakusui Dam is usually off-limits to visitors, so we went to the neighboringOoshirakawa DamThis is the second time for me to visit the lodge and hot springs, but I didn't go through the lodge and hot springs both last time and this time.

Bridge leading to the top of the Ooshirakawa Dam

Everyone is taking something on the bridge.

View toward the Hakusui Dam Lake from the bridge leading to the top of the Ooshirakawa Dam

This is what the shooting was about. I was photographing the "Hakusui Branch Canal," which is the channel through which water flows from the Hakusui Dam Lake to the Ooshirakawa Dam.

View of the Ooshirakawa Dam Lake from the bridge leading to the top of the Ooshirakawa Dam

The water flows into the Ooshirakawa Dam in torrents.

administration office

This is a management office located on the grounds of the Hakusui Dam. It is currently unmanned.

Water Use Signs and Telegraphic Advertisements

This is a rare pattern of water rights use signs posted in such a location. The denpatsu advertising poster on the left also has a nice period design.

entrance to the audit corridor

The entrance to the audit corridor is located by the administration office. Unfortunately, there was no visit to the audit corridor this time.

memorial (stone)

This is a cenotaph set on a small hill.

View of the embankment and top of the dam from the lake side

The Hakusui Dam is a combined gravity concrete and rockfill dam, and in this photo, the left bank side at the back isgravity-fed concrete damThe dam is a rock-fill dam in front.

View of the dam lake (inflow from the Koshakusui Valley on the right and the Ooshakusui Valley on the left)

Water flows in from the valleys on both sides, and there is an embankment on the right side. The water is divided between the water flowing there and the water flowing into the Ooshirakawa Dam via the aforementioned Hakusui Branch Canal. In any case, the water is clear and clean.

View of the inflow from the Koshakusui Valley and the embankment on the dam lake side

Koshakusui Valley is like a waterfall.

Incidentally, the concrete portion in the foreground is meant to be a concrete facing for the lock section, but it also seems that sediment stored in the dam lake is sometimes temporarily stored here.

Inflow from Daebaeksu Water Valley

Water from the Ooshiromizu Valley slides down the gently sloping concrete.

View of the Hakusui Branch Canal

This is the Hakusui Branch Channel seen from the Hakusui Dam.

View of the downstream embankment (lock section) from the top edge

This is a section of a rock-fill dam. It is a rough structure.

View of the crest gate from the top

Looking into the crest gate from the top edge.

View of the crest gate from the top

Looking in from the dam lake side, one can see water flowing briskly from the valve.

View downstream from the top

It is a reduction work with no sub-dam.

View of the lock section downstream from the embankment (concrete section)

Is the riprap a pitchman?

Gate winder

This is a wind-up machine for crest gates. The wire part is tightly covered with a cover.

Nameplate of the Hakusui Dam sightseeing discharge facility at the Mimogai No. 2 Power Plant

And the treasured discharge facility. It is labeled "Mimogai No. 2 Power Plant Hakusui Dam Sightseeing Discharge Facility. This is not a facility to discharge water for show, such as the Kurobe Dam or Miyagase Dam, but to protect a tourist attraction, the Hakusui Waterfall, which is located downstream. If water is released normally, it would be scraped away and the waterfall would be scraped upstream, but by squeezing it, the aim is to prevent this from happening. It is also meant to provide a stable sharing of water to the falls.

Door diameter x door height: 1.000mx1.000m
Number of gates: 1
Opening/closing speed: 0.3m/min
Door weight: 0.47 tons
Date of production: November 2004
Producer: Hagiura Industry Co.

View of the top edge from the left bank

The top edge of the concrete section is quite compact.

View of the dam lake from the left bank

The bottom of the dam lake at the Hakusui Dam is entirely constructed of concrete. This seems to be the reason why the water is so clean.

View of the levee downstream from the left bank

It is a little disappointing not to be able to see it from downstream, but we were happy just to be able to enter a part of the river that is normally inaccessible.

View of the embankment on the lake side of the dam at the concrete section

The concrete dike and crest gate firmly support the water. However, water rarely flows from here. If it does, it is only in times of crisis. Most of the water flows into the Ooshirakawa Dam.

View downstream from the top

The Hakusui Waterfall is just ahead. It is completely natural. The pipe downstream is...I am not sure. Is it carrying hot spring water?

Concrete Facing of Fill Section

It is quite nicely constructed. As mentioned above, concrete facings are also used to temporarily store sediment stored in dam lakes.

The Hakusui Dam is a small dam, but it was possible to see it all in a short period of time.

Hakusui Dam Specifications

Other facilities/observations

Parking is available on the Ooshirakawa Dam side and on the lodge side. Toilets are also located on the lodge side.