Sakashita Dam

Sakashita Dam
Location of Sakashita Dam in Japan
Location	Ōkuma, Fukushima Prefecture
Coordinates	37°22′59″N 140°56′39″E
Opening date	1973; 52 years ago (1973)
Dam and spillways
Height	43 m (141 ft)
Length	231 m (758 ft)
Dam volume	110,000 m^3 (143,875 cu yd)
Reservoir
Total capacity	28,400,000 m^3 (23,024 acre⋅ft)

Sakashita Dam (坂下ダム, Sakashita-damu) is a dam located in Ōkuma, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. It was constructed by Hazama Corporation.[1] The dam was completed in 1973. The catchment area for the dam is 12.5km2[2] There are about 230 people per square kilometer around Sakashita Dam which is quite densely populated, however, the area around the dam is mostly covered in mixed forest.[3][4]

Collectors cards for the dam are available at the Sakashita Dam Management Office, and Okuma Town Hall main building.[5]

In the aftermath of the Fukushima nuclear disaster, when the Ōkuma township, in which the dam is located, was under a mandatory evacuation order, a group of elderly city employees were based at the Sakashita Dam management office, and took care of the area, including pruning and looking after the cherry trees surrounding the dam.[6]

Recreational use

There is a walking trail around the dam, which links to the trail to Mt Nichiko. Prior to the Fukushima nuclear disaster these trails were popular with walkers, and fishermen could fish in the dam for Herabuna, Carp, Smelt and Mountain Salmon. However, in the aftermath of the nuclear disaster the trails and dam are off limits to recreational users.[7] The exception to this is official walking events during the spring to see cherry blossoms,[8] and the autumn to enjoy the autumn foliage.[9][10]

References

1. "坂下ダム［福島県］ - ダム便覧". damnet.or.jp. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
2. "Sakashita Dam ［Fukushima Pref.］ - Dams in Japan". Retrieved 23 April 2024.
3. "Viewfinder Panoramas Digital elevation Model". 21 June 2015.
4. "NASA Earth Observations: Land Cover Classification". NASA/MODIS. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
5. "坂下ダムのダムカードの配布について - 大熊町公式ホームページ". www.town.okuma.fukushima.jp. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
6. "じじい部隊：留守預かり６年目の春 福島・大熊". 毎日新聞 (in Japanese). Retrieved 20 October 2024.
7. "ヘラブナ釣り回想記：福島県 震災の爪痕残るも釣り人はアグレッシブ | TSURINEWS". tsurinews.jp (in Japanese). 20 May 2020. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
8. "【映像】坂下ダムの桜 福島・大熊町【四季カメラ】 | 福島のニュース│TUF (1ページ)". TUF NEWS (in Japanese). 6 April 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
9. "坂下ダム - 大熊町交流ZONE" (in Japanese). 8 March 2024. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
10. "紅葉の坂下ダムウォーキング（2023年11月25日撮影） - 大熊町公式ホームページ". www.town.okuma.fukushima.jp. Retrieved 20 October 2024.