Characteristics on Seasonal Variation of Stream Water Quality on Upland Headwater Streams in Forested Catchments

Seasonal variability of water quality in the upland headwater streams in ten forested catchments (37.0~209.0 ha) was examined from April to November 2021. Here, seven physicochemical parameters were analyzed including pH, electrical conductivity (EC), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen (T-N), total phosphorous (T-P), and BOD/TOC. The parameters were compared with those of lowerland rivers as middle and lower reaches within a watershed. The pH showed was low (6.4~6.9) during all the seasons, however, BOD and BOD/TOC in the fall season were 2-fold higher than in the spring and summer seasons. Based on environmental standards, the water quality level revealed that the upland headwater streams maintained the purity and cleanliness of water except for pH in the summer season. BOD/TOC of all the seasons and BOD of the fall season in the upland headwater streams were higher than that in the lowerland rivers, whereas the rest of the physicochemical parameters in the upland headwater streams were lower than that in the lowerland rivers. Additionally, the water quality level maintained the purity and cleanliness of water as "Good" in two reaches. The unique aspects of our study design enabled us to draw inferences about water quality characteristics with temporal and spatial analysis in upland headwater streams. This design will be useful for the long-term strategy of effective water quality management for integrated upland headwater streams and lowerland rivers within a watershed.

산림유역의 계류수질 현황 및 계절적 변동 특성