Yuanyang Lake Nature Reserve

Information

Date of Proclamation	June 27, 1986
Size of Area (ha)	374
Primary Object for Protection	Lake, mountainous marshland, Chinese juniper, and Sparganium fallax graebner
Scope of Administration	Jien-shi Village, Hsinchu County; at the boundary point of Fu-shing Village, Taoyuan County and Ta-tung Village, Ilan County
Authority in-charge-of	Forestry Development Department–Veterans Affairs Commission of the Executive Yuan

Origin

The Yuanyang Lake is of precious mountainous type, remote from population, inconvenient transportation and there is hardly human disturbance in the early times. Therefore, it is well preserved, and there is massive amount of cypress trees around the lake. In recent years, number of tourists increase yearly as it is gradually developed into a sightseeing spot, in addition to tourist paths that are already established in the area, and opening of the area to tourism will definitely render negative impacts on the primitive ecology of the area. To protect the indigenous mountain and lake ecology, the Council of Agriculture has officiated the area as “Yuanyang Lake Nature Reserve” in 1986.

Location

The area is located at 24°35’latitue and 121°24’ longitude, and the property of the national forestry area is split between No. 89-91 of Ta-shi working circle. The total area is about 374 ha, with lake amounting to 3.6 ha, marshland 2.2 ha, and the rest mountain terrain. The lake displays in long and narrow shape; with 595 m extending east to the west and 20 m wide at the narrowest part in the center.

An Introduction

Altitude above sea level: the scope of the reserve area is 1,650-2,432 m, with its lake 1,670 m above sea level.
Geology: It is mostly of Tertiary Epoch aqueous rocks, with stratum formed with quartz & Miocene Epoch sandstone. Since the slate is very fragile due to erosion and corrosion, steep topographic formation is created, most susceptive to landslides.

Biological Resources

Sparganium fallax graebner is a rare species in Taiwan, which a perennial herbaceous aquatic plant, and it is found growing mainly in marshlands or by the side of the lake.

Presently, the amount of Taiwan Hinoki falsecypress is getting very rare in Taiwan as well limited in distribution, but it is found in the area with large-sized of land and structurally complete woods of Taiwan Hinoki falsecypress, a dominant species of the area.

There are not many investigations done with wildlife. As indicated from existing information, the area possesses large quantity of rare and valuable species [details please refer to the section of {protected species within the zone}]. Yuanyang Lake were observed in the past, although appearance is not recorded in recent years.

Inhabitant Environment

The area is of medium-altitude forest ecosystem, mostly Machilus-Castanopsis , while it is of Ficus-Machilius at low-altitude, and few amount of conifer [ trees are found areas over 1,800 m . Aside from rich plant and scenery resources, it is also the primary water catchments area for Shi-men reservoir & Fei-tsuei Reservoir. The outlook of the broad-leave woods is complete, and it is a favorable environment of habitat for animals and plants.

Long-term ecological research station

Plants Research Institute of the Academia Sinica has been involved with studies with various ecosystems within the zone since the 80s. The National Science Council formally established the“Long term Ecological Research Program ”in 1995, enlisting the area within its research. As a result, the area becomes the fifth long-term ecology research station in Taiwan committed to the study primarily on lake, plant community and rare species.

Scenic Characteristics

The area is of high mountains and lakes with steep slopes of high altitude. Since it is affected by north-east monsoon, there is much rainfall produced, and it is humid and foggy year-round.

Yuanyang Lake is narrow & long, with abyss as deep as 15 m . Judging from its formation of sedimentation, it is the kind of“acquired”lake, which starts out as a canyon, and turns into its present formation after landslide blockage.

Current Situation & Suggestion

Being remotely located, the area is not easily accessible. There is control station set up at the entrance, with strict control of in-coming and out-going personnel. Also, outposts are set up throughout, only individuals or groups with written permissions in advance can enter, effecting considerable function to control. Regular patrols are conducted by the staff, while animals and plants research, and climate and hydrology data collection are commissioned to academic institutes.

Although tight control is executed, disturbances can be created by any activities conducted by recreation, education, introduction, and transportation of woods. Solutions proposed are to shorten trail lengths, tighten disturbance parameter, and to set up buffer area near the entrance of Yuanyang Lake by the woods so as to lengthen the distance between the lake and trail.

Transportation Conditions

Private vehicle : accessible by taking the northern horizontal highway via Ta-shi/Taoyuan, then connect to No. 100 forest road at Chee-lan work station to enter the parameter of the reserve; take the Ilan turnpike of the central crossisland highway, and connect to northern crossisland highway as one switches onto No. 100 at Chee-lan. Guard station will check entry permit which has to be applied in advance.

References

• Mr. Chen Zhao-Ming, Mr. Lin Chao-Qing. 1987. Leisure Area Planning Project – Yuanyang Lake Surrounding Compounds. Council on Agriculture [Executive Yuan]. Taipei.
• Mr. Hsu Guo-Shih, Mr. Liu Jing, Mr. Lu Sheng-Yio, Mr. yang Yuan-Po, Mr. Lin Zhe-Tong, Mr. Chiu Wen-Liang. 1987. The [Sparaganium fallax graebner] – Eastasian triangular black plant Chapter – Taiwan Rare Plantation Research Study. Council of Agriculture [Executive Yuan]. Taipei.
• Mr. Da Jin-gao, Mr. Tzeng Qin-Hsien, Mr. Lu Sheng-Yio, Mr. Chang Ean-Fu, Mr. Da Chu-Zhi, Mr. Yeh Bai-Jun. 1989. Mandarin Duck Lake Marshland Bio-Life Forms Research Study – Northern Taiwan Mountainous Lakes Series. Annual publication – Taiwan Provincial Museum, 32:17-33.
• Mr. Pan Fu-Jun. 1997. Management Operations Manual – Natural Reservation Zones. Council of Agriculture [Executive Yuan]. Taipei.

Endangered Animals within the area

※ Rare reptiles

高砂蛇 (Elaphe mandarina)

※ Endangered Birds

褐林鴞 (Strix leptogrammica)

※ Rare and valuable bird species

鴛鴦 (Aix galericulata)
松雀鷹 (Accipiter virgatus)
大冠鷲 (Spilornis cheela)
鵂鶹 (Glaucidium brodiei)
黃嘴角鴞 (Otus spilocephalus)
大赤啄木 (Dendrocopos leucotos)
綠啄木 (Picus canus)
花翅山椒鳥 (Coracina novaehollandiae)
竹鳥 (Garrulax poecilorhynchus)

※ Other protected birds

紅山椒鳥 (Pericrocotus solaris)
松鴉 (Garrulus glanderius)
紅頭山雀 (Aegithalos concinnus)
煤山雀 (Parus ater)
青背山雀 (Parus monticolus)
紋翼畫眉 (Actinodura morrisoniana)
金翼白眉 (Heterophasia auricularis)
白耳畫眉 (Heterophasia auricularis)
藪鳥 (Liocichla steeri)
冠羽畫眉 (Yuhina brunneiceps)
小翼鶇 (Brachypteryx montana)
紫嘯鶇 (Myiophoneus insularis)
白尾鴝 (Myomela leucura)
鉛色水鶇 (Rhyacornis fuliginosus)
栗背林鴝 (Erithacus johnstoniae)
黃胸青鶲 (Ficedula hyperythra)
黃腹琉璃 (Niltava vivida)