Huachuan Wetland Provincial Nature Reserve

Huachuan Wetland Provincial Nature Reserve

The wetland of the Heilongjiang Huachuan Wetland Provincial Nature Reserve is located in the northeastern part of Huachuan County, on the southern bank of the lower reaches of the Songhua River. It borders Fujin City to the east, faces Tangyuan County, Luobei County, and Suibin County across the river to the north, and connects to YueLai Town, Xincheng Town, Lifen Township, Donghe Township of Huachuan County, as well as Jiangchuan Farm to the south. The geographical coordinates are 130°35′2″～131°28′17″ east longitude and 46°59′52″～47°13′41″ north latitude.

General Overview of the Natural Environment: The wetland of the Heilongjiang Huachuan Wetland Provincial Nature Reserve is situated in the western part of the Sanjiang Plain, forming part of the Songhua River alluvial plain. This landform gradually developed through sediment deposition caused by the sinking of the Songhua River in this area. The entire region features low-lying terrain, with elevations ranging from 65 to 70 meters above sea level. The land slopes from west to east at approximately 1/10000 to 1/15000. The area has a temperate continental climate, with an average annual temperature of 2.5°C, an average wind speed of 3.8 m/s, total annual sunshine duration of 2582.8 hours, and a frost-free period of 145 days. The soils in the reserve include meadow soil, marsh soil, and peat soil.

Water Environment Conditions: The wetland of the Heilongjiang Huachuan Wetland Provincial Nature Reserve belongs to the Songhua River water system. Major rivers in the area include the Songhua River, Toutao River, Chegulupao, and Pianpao. The area is rich in water resources, with atmospheric precipitation being the main source of recharge. The surface is mostly covered by herbaceous marshes, resulting in slow runoff and long retention times for surface water. The pH of the surface water is 7.0, classified as freshwater, with a water quality level of Grade 2. The groundwater has a pH of around 7.1, is also classified as freshwater, and has a water quality level of Grade 2.

Major Animal Species: Fish species include carp, crucian carp, snakehead, loach, pond loach, perch, crucian carp, sand loach, and catfish; amphibians include the black-spotted frog and the Heilongjiang brown frog; reptiles include the Chinese softshell turtle; birds mainly consist of graylag goose, mallard, green-winged teal, garganey, tufted duck, greater scaup, and coot; mammals comprise 6 orders, 12 families, 20 genera, and 25 species, predominantly from Rodentia (9 species), Carnivora (6 species), Insectivora (4 species), Chiroptera (2 species), Artiodactyla (2 species), and Lagomorpha (2 species).

Major Plant Species: There are 65 families and 365 species of higher plants, including 12 families and 30 species of bryophytes, 12 families and 29 species of ferns, and 51 families and 306 species of angiosperms. Nationally protected second-class plant species include floatingheart waterlily and wild soybean.

Conservation and Management Status: The wetland of the Heilongjiang Huachuan Wetland Provincial Nature Reserve was approved for establishment as a provincial wetland nature reserve by the People’s Government of Heilongjiang Province in September 2004 under Document No. [2004]97. In June 2005, the Jiamusi Municipal Commission for Institutional Organization approved the establishment of the Huachuan Wetland Provincial Nature Reserve Administration under Document No. [2005]55. The Heilongjiang Provincial Commission for Institutional Organization confirmed the organizational structure of the administration under Document No. [2009]6. The approved total area of the reserve is 26,119 hectares. The primary conservation targets are the midstream main channel ecosystem of the Songhua River and its associated wetlands.

Wetland Functions and Utilization Methods: The wetland of the Heilongjiang Huachuan Wetland Provincial Nature Reserve is a vital ecosystem along the midstream main channel of the Songhua River. It serves to protect the water quality of the Songhua River and the safety of its banks, while also providing habitats and stopover sites for fish, amphibians, and migratory waterbirds. Its utilization includes supplying water for production and daily life, hydropower storage and generation, as well as tourism and sightseeing.