TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency’s Hualien Branch announced Wednesday that the removal of the Swallow Grotto barrier lake in Taroko Gorge will begin on Thursday.

The project will start with slope-scouring operations, followed by a two-stage dam removal process, per CNA. In the first stage, engineers will construct a water channel intended to naturally wash away the dam structure.

If that approach does not produce the desired results, the second stage will involve manually lowering the dam to reduce the lake’s size. The agency expressed concern that water seeping through the bottom of the barrier lake could weaken the structure, significantly increasing the risk of damage or collapse, per Newtalk.

Taroko National Park Headquarters said it would narrow the scope of restricted areas, reopening zones unrelated to the dam removal project, per UDN. The agency nevertheless urged visitors to stay away from areas still under restriction for safety reasons.

Meanwhile, Hualien County police have deployed officers to patrol the entrance of Taroko Gorge to prevent unauthorized entry, per ETtoday. Police said both domestic and foreign tourists have attempted to approach the area after hearing about the barrier lake’s condition, seeking a view of the site.