ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the effects of the project of ditching for drain on Oncomelania hupensis snail control and flood prevention security and explore the optimal engineering design plan in Dongting Lake region. Methods A retrospective study was performed on the previous studies about the project of ditching for drain. The reference values of project indices were determined. The outside levee of Nanhu New Distinct of Yueyang City in Dongting Lake region was selected as the study area , and the cross section of marshland perpendicular to the center line of the levee was extracted to research. According to the situa?tions of various water levels,a dynamic simulation was performed on the effect and security of the project of ditching for drain through the software FLAC3D. Results The retrospective study showed that the project would be effective when the relatively subsoil water level decreased by 0.35 m,and the soil water content decreased correspondingly. The dynamic simulation by FLAC3D showed that the minimum safe distances between transverse ditch 1,vertical ditch and levee toe should be 25 m and 13 m respectively. The digging depth of transverse ditch and vertical ditch should be 1.2 m and 1.0 m respectively. If the width of marshland in drought period was less than 500 m,one transverse ditch was efficient. Otherwise,more transverse ditches should be set with the intervals of 300 m. Conclusions The project of ditching for drain is an effective ecological snail elimination method. Optimizing the digging depth of ditches and distances between transverse ditches,vertical ditch and levee toe will en?sure the effects and security of the project.