So I’m talking about the much smaller dams (Japanese 堰堤) about 30 meters across and maybe 10m on the downstream side. Above them there is a pool where water in taken in to create electricity or just for flood prevention, I’m mainly talking about the former. I understand these pools can be dangerous due to suction. I sometimes see people fishing around these places. I also understand signs need to be followed.
Well I’m curious how far upstream from the dam is it ok to go near these pools. The reason I’m asking is today I went to one of these places bird watching in the mountains by next to a main road. I saw a sign that said do not enter the dam. So I parked atop a road that slops down to the pool upstream. I went to the other way that had a trail that was obviously used by people. I stayed on the bank and the rocky bed besides the bank that I assume usually floods when it rains. This was maybe 100-200 meters from the dam wall and 15-20 meters from the pool. A local man told me I can’t go there (rudely) and I said sorry and I didn’t know that was apart of the area. No need for argue. I then left. No problem. I assume the rude attitude has something to do with the fact I also see fishers there from time to time and he is getting tired of telling people. But now I’m wondering, how far from the dam and last sign up/downstream is safe/ok to go to the edge of the water and would the bank (no fences) and dry riverbed be an ok place to go?
I will probably contact the power company and ask them how it works but just in case this is common knowledge, thought I’d ask here
