The foundations of the Chungsha Bridge had become exposed because of illegal gravel extraction in that area. Along the 42-kilometer section of river from the Erhshui Bridge downstream to the sea, there are 89 gravel plants.
舉一例來說：民國八十四年，現已卸任的省長宋楚瑜至雲林濁水溪上游巡視中沙大橋橋基裸露的情形，由於當地違法盜採砂石的情形嚴重，從濁水溪二水橋下游到出海口，四十二公里的河段就有八十九家砂石廠。