Drainage improvement and flood control projects involving river channels undertaken by the Drainage Services Department may have an adverse impact on the ecology in the area. Environmental groups urge the government to enact legislation to eliminate illegal construction within river channels.新界的水浸問題嚴重，渠務署於是興建混凝土水渠，拉直、擴闊和挖深河道來增加疏導雨水的能力。學者指出，混凝土水渠的設計，反映該署從工程師的角度去治理河道，破壞景觀和生態環境。濕地魚塘面積大幅減少，蓄水的容量下降，因而導致新界水浸。河流遭受合法或不合法的工程破壞，沒有法例保護，生態環境繼續受到傷害。
