Director of the Water Resources Bureau, Hsu Shiang-kueen, suggests that the most significant factor in altering the flow of watercourses into fewer, larger channels, has been excessive development in Hsichih. In particular, he cites the unrestricted land clearance and construction of two-thirds of Hsichih on hillsides.
經濟部水資源局長徐享昆則指出，汐止地區過度開發，尤其是佔汐止三分之二的山坡地被濫墾濫建，引起水文水道走樣是造成大水的主因。