French colonial period saw formalization of prek construction and rehabilitation with the aim of spreading flood waters with nutrient and sediments to the lowlands described as “colmatage”. Along the Bassac River preks have been established at fairly regular intervals along the river and found to be a useful way to avoid flood level surge along particular stretches of the river system. 

The original of the “colmatage” canal is related to fishing lots that extend along the Mekong-Bassac-Tonle Sap Rivers (see. G. Mache, 1930 and Loys Petillot, 1911). The transformation from fishing lots to flood control function and expansion of urban and settlement areas started in early 1960 terminating with the abolishment of fishing lots in 2015.

Thescope of work for rehabilitation of the Preks cluster (6 Preks) sub-projects as following: rehabilitation of the Preks with the total length 22,758 m, rehabilitation of the gravel road along the preks with the total length 31,581 m, rehabilitation of the canals inBoeungarea with length 8,920 m, construction of the concrete U shape canals with total length 548 m, construction of 5 head regulators, construction of 13 bridges, construction of 14 concrete pipe culverts,construction of 3 tail escape structures, construction of 1 junction structure, construction of concrete pipe line with length 310 m, construction of 6 box culverts, construction of 4 check drop structures, construction of 1 FWUC building office, construction and installation of 731 electricity poles and demolition of 6 existing structures.

The project will provide sufficient water for supplementary irrigation to the chamkar area 227 ha, cash crop/annual crop 268 ha and 353 ha of wet and dry season rice crop and supplementary irrigation for 2,479 ha to the dry season rice crop in the Boeung Area.  

The beneficiary community comprises 8 villages in Prek Sdei and Sampov Poun commune of Koh Thom district in Kandal province, composed of 3,310 HH direct beneficiaries who farm the areas and will benefit from the sub-projects implementation. The rehabilitation of the prek will bring the positive impacts on flood mitigation, provide sufficient water to crop production for a whole year, resulting in lower risks of crop losses from flood damage and drought in some years. Better accessible roads along the preks, it is good chance for crop’s transportation in the subprojects area. The project also provides the knowledge and support to improve agricultural practices, agro-ecological technologies, market linkages and water management practices as to boost crop productivity, which means better livelihood outcomes for the household.