Estimation of River Ecological Flow in the Downstream Section of Seomjingang Dam

섬진강 댐 하류 구간에서의 하천 생태유량 산정

It is very important to secure sufficient river maintenance flow for the ecosystem, since the ecosystem in the downstream section of the dam is greatly affected by the stream maintenance flow from the dam. However, the amount of discharge from the Seomjingang Dam is decreasing year by year, this study estimated the ecological flow required for the downstream section of the Seomjingang Dam, which is known as the habitat of the endangered Acheilognathus somjinensis, in order to secure the river flow of the Seomjingang Dam. For this purpose, the proper discharge was calculated using the PHABSIM model, which is a hydrological survey and physical habitat simulation method, and the proper discharge of other fish species were also comprehensively reviewed. As a result of this study, the current river maintenance flow at the Seomjingang Dam partially satisfies the ecological maintenance flow including the Acheilognathus somjinensis in the downstream section of the Seomjingang Dam. However, this is recognized as the minimum discharge to maintain the ecology in the downstream section of the Seomjingang Dam, and it would be more desirable to secure larger river maintenance flow than this. This study can contribute the determination of the river maintenance flow of the Seomjingang Dam by proposing the river maintenance flow considering the fish habitat environment in the river.