WK2: WATER (FLOWING)
Week 2
This week we are investigating the Water in relation to flowing - perhaps in a river scale. Applying principles from our previous session, (which I am not sure if I totally understand, nor totally agree with the necessity to label such seemingly subtle occurrences) we will observe a case study of a river, and a few accompanying readings.
Flood control Freakology expresses how the human intervention changes natural landscapes into a “No longer a natural, aqueous phenomenon” (p36p1). Topics like this is incredibly relevant to our current day situation, riddled with freak natural disasters causing the Bayou in south-east America to flood large expansive areas. Whether it is natural or incurred upon our doing is also in question.
The idea of the river is multitude - it encompasses so many implications. It is now seen as a “jusrisdictional matrix of boundaries” or “rights-of-way” or even “liabilities” (p38p6). It is a complex system of ownership which overrides the natural flow and system. It must be reiterated that “no single agency controls the river”, exhibiting a complex system of even identifying with the river. Also how these parties view the river is in a completely different context and different ideologies.
The LA river is engulfed with waste - it encompasses a multitude of bacteria such as “fecal coliform bacteria, lead, ammonia” etc. (p42p1). It is also a place accommodating general urban trash. Is this a negative side effect of human activity? Does the ecosystem accommodates for these interventions? Questions like this pop into my brain relating back to last seminar - is nature as pristine as we understand it to be?
Having studied the general forms of the river as well as man-made supportive forms such as channel stormbeds, dykes, bridges etc, these functions attempt to reconcile the ‘natural’, to allow the flow of a river to allow human activity as well as natural resolutions to exist. The LA river seem to be a complex system of human intervened natural wildlife as well as accommodating to the waste. It seems to organise itself, having come from international places. It seems as if “Large-scale artifical ecologies have replaced many of the historic ecologies in Southern California” (p46p1). Generally, we observe native as ‘good’ and international as ‘bad’- whereas the LA river is an example of an international ecoystem in relative harmony.
Desirability of waterbodies are also in question. We are conditioned to live by the waterfront, or view the waterfront as a desirable space to be. If the condition of water deteriorates - seemingy due to human intervention or because of various reasons. As a result - we prefer it to be a pleasant environment. An example of such undesirable spaces is the Salton Sea which was a “(result) from the failure of a water canal”(p46p1). “The diversion of water to the Salton sea has resulted in ecological devastation at the former outlet in Baja California”
Then ultimately, it leads to questions of what to do? Do we keep the native plants alive although the ecosystem has changed? Do we aim in maintaining a clean ecology? it seems to be a game of balance. The term: “ecological succession” is used
Ecological succession is the process of change in the species structure of an ecological community over time. - wiki
“Recent approaches to ecology put forth the theory that "natural" disturbances-fire, flood, tornado, earthquake-are integral to ecological processes.” - This comment struck me as a new way of observation. Things change, what we understand as the everlasting nature, also changes as well as the processes of how we use these resources. It is imperative to understand the world is not simply native / international, nature . artificial?
We were told to also introduce a case study - a River
I chose the Perai River, or known as Sungai Prai in Malaysia.
Sungai Prai is used as almost as a border, separating the counties of Prai and Butterworth (where I live). It was named Prai, as it is derived from the words berperai-perai meaning “breaking up ini all directions”, a reference to the silt brought up to the esturary of the Prai River. Known as Pryre during the British Colonial Era, it encompasses a mangrove - swampy area. It was the historical border between the historical controlled state: Province Wellesley (north), and the Kedah (south). It is around 24 km long and is the longest river in the state of Penang.
The Sungai Perai catchment has an area 505km2 which comprises 5 tributaries. There are Sg. Kulim, Sg. Jarak, Sg. Kereh, Sg. Pertama/ Derhaka and Sg. Maklom/ Tok Sani. The catchment area at the upstream are hilly and green area. While the downstream of the river are muted and muddy. This is because of rapid development in that area. The frequent flood causes damage properties, disruption of life and depreciation values of properties.
From the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Department of Irrigation and Drainage Malaysia
Sungai Perai also has one of the last remaining peat swamps in Penang. It is home to over 150 plant species, 125 bird species and 35 fish species. Over the years, the river also played an important role as docks were built for ship repairs and transporting of coal. Even the earliest factories such as rice and sugar mills were built along the river. The Mak Mandin Industrial Estate was established near the river in the 1960s and then more factories were built on the southern banks of the river mouth.
From the Malay Mail Online
The River quality is currently Class III (using the water quality index for monitoring Malaysian river water quality) which means it requires treatment. A Class III river is defined as so:
Class III (extensive treatment of water supply required; fish for common economic value, species tolerance, and for livestock drinking)
Nurul-Ruhayu, Mohd-Rosli, et al. “Detection of River Pollution Using Water Quality Index: A Case Study of Tropical Rivers in Penang Island, Malaysia.” OALib, vol. 02, no. 03, 2015, pp. 1–8., doi:10.4236/oalib.1101209.
The two streams which form Sungai Prai - Sungai Air Hitam and Sungai Jarak - are linked to the Air Hitam Dalam rainforests (A wildlife sancturary) of Malaysia. The river ends at the Penang Channel (Between Butterworth and Penang Island). Sungai Air Hitam also connects north to the Sungai Muda (which is the now the border between Kedah and Penang State). This is where the natural water catchment zones are, and thus flowing freshwater down to Sungai Prai. In this area, village settlements were located in this area due to the pristine water.
Traditional Boats near the Bridge (found in Butterworth Guide) People traditionally used boats and rafts to cross the river before bridges were built. There was a chain ferry service near the esturary of the river for the public to use. Now, travellers use the Tunku Abdul Rahman Bridge (built in 1965) to cross the river.
Tunku Abdul Rahman Bridge - (found in Butterworth Guide)
When travelling back to my hometown, I will pass by this Sungai Perai, and my parents will always indicate “10 more minutes of driving”. It is always a constant symbol to say we are almost home. It has always been huge - almost as if crossing the sea. The government have a few research objectives
The role of local governments is equally important in river management and conservation. In Penang, the Seberang Prai Municipal Council actively involves residents' associations, rukun tetangga(community vigilance groups), and community development and security committees. These groups have been brought together to work closely with local authorities to keep the rivers in their areas clean. Council president Maimunah Mohd Sharif envisioned a more concerted effort between community-based organizations and government bodies to further improve the water quality in Seberang Prai rivers. The Penang state DOE and the council's Local Agenda 21 started a programme to periodically monitor rivers in residential and commercial areas (Majlis Perbandaran Seberang Perai, N.d.).
Chan, Ngai Weng. “Managing Urban Rivers and Water Quality in Malaysia for Sustainable Water Resources.” International Journal of Water Resources Development, vol. 28, no. 2, 2012, pp. 343–354., doi:10.1080/07900627.2012.668643.
The council also works closely with NGOs and local communities in managing river water quality via awareness and education efforts. Such as Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP) collaborating with Think City, a federal government run research body, in preparing initiatives as such as the Celebrating Sungai Perai Programme. There is also research being done at USM to determine the health of the river.
This river is usually taken for granted for it’s natural resources and what it provides for the community.
Flicking through petrochemical America - it brings to light the how these factory spaces, spaces of work and generation can affect the life. The diagram on the p114, Landscape impacts of Petrochemistry really reinforces the ideologies of ecosystem - cycles of impact. Due to the consumption of non-renewable resources, people supporting such businesses by working, creating new infrastruction, manipulating such resources results in a multitude of impacts such as space considerations (physical -> financial -> energy), the cycles of consumption etc. There are so many stakeholders in this world of the petrochemical. The book introduction already poses these challenges of such endless perpetual cycles, interstitial connections, and how ultimately money and consumption drives this industry.
It is frightening, but the methodology of this explanation is beautiful and engaging as the graphics simplify statistics, but exemplify the intricate connections.
I have also flipped through the River.Space.Design book which is a reference book on how to observe rivers - almost to design them. It reminds me of similar architectural guide books - how to design a residential, commercial, etc. Now that we can even adapt rivers to such an extent to present a guide is frightening how much we wish to even change the natural movements of water. Is there a gray area we can find? Is there some sort of negotation between wilderness and our creations? Or should we seek to think nonanthropocentrically where one is disconnected from such phenomenons - or generally see it as some sort of .. hyperobject? (I’m still conflicted by the term hyperobject - does one require such a term to exist? It seems so subtle! Maybe I need to be more sensitive to such phenomenons)
Anyway - This week: TL:DR -
What are really rivers? Are we ‘fixing’ them? Or our process of fixing makes a new world? - fun questions.
