• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.31 no.4B
• /
• pp.383-391
• /
• 2011

In this study, an evaluation method was proposed to determine the restoration section in the riverine ecobelt project. The target river for this study is the Hongcheon river in Kangwon-do. The Hongcheon river of 96 km was divided longitudinally into subsections of 2 km. The analysis through map and aerial photograph as well as field surveys were performed in 48-sub-sections. The fragmentation items were classified into connectivity and ecological functionality. The connectivity fragmentation was also divided into two items: the area discontinuity of the land use and the line discontinuity of river bank and road. Also, the ecological functional fragmentation was evaluated by using the items of river channel, river bed, vegetation, and the obstruction of river flow. These items was modified from those in the previous literature. From map analyses and field surveys, the fragmentation score was kept with each items in 48 sub-sections of Hongcheon river. The fragmentation rate was made from the total score in each section. The results showed that sections from F1 to G2 was evaluated to have high rates of all connectivity and functionality fragmentation of 1st or 2nd rate. Other sections have high connectivity fragmentation of 2nd rate, but low functional fragmentation. Thus, these sections are evaluated to be excludible in restoration site. This study seems to make a contribution to evaluate the fragmented sections for the riverine ecobelt project.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.173-184
• /
• 2014

Riparian areas are significant functional grounds for inhabiting ecological system on the river such as the self-regulation of the water quality and the foundation of important corridors. For such functional device to operate, consecutive land purchase scheme that prioritizes targeted areas with high pollutant load rate imposes sustainable development of the ecological riparian belt. The purpose of this study is focused on measuring the methodology for selecting land purchse order before establishing riparian belt in accordance with pollution loading estimation and the basin approach. The Yeongsan and Seomjin river which includes targeted areas of the land purchase have been classified into the large-medium-small(standard basin) influence areas based on their catchment rage, which than sub-divided the research area of Juam lake by 38 small basins and 223 units. Small basins with the high pollution load rates have been assessed as the first prioritized targets. For the second priority, the condition of the point pollutant sources, original area of the targets, original restored area were concerned. The final decision of the land purchase order targeted only those within 50 meter range from the basin. To validate the accumulated data, the on-site investigation went along the targeted zones, which the result shows that all prioritized areas included both point and non-point pollutant sources, and had not a small originally restored areas.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.42 no.4
• /
• pp.495-501
• /
• 2009

The study was conducted in 2007~2008 in order to understand preference of physical microhabitat on the $1^{st}$-class endangered species, Gobiobotia naktongensis inhabiting the Gam Stream, tributary of Nakdong River. The total number of fish caught from the study sites was 3,671 representing 7 families 24 species. There were 8 Korean endemic species including Odontobutis platycephala, and 2 introduced species (Carassius cuvieri, Micropterus salmoides) were found. According to investigation and analysis of physical microhabitat on Gobiobotia naktongensis caught in the Gam Stream, a total of 57 individuals were found at shallow depth (0.14~0.46 m) and run (0.239~0.585m $sec^{-1}$). As a result of sieve analysis, stream beds consisted of about 1% gravel and 99% sand (83.4% coarse sand, 15.6% find sand). Therefore, Gobiobotia naktongensis seemed to inhabit shallow-run with coarse sand bed than deep-pool microhabitat. The findings indicate preference of physical microhabitat on Gobiobotia naktongensis, and it is important to enhance efficiency of fish conservation and ecological restoration with understanding species-specific characteristics in microhabitat including protected species.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
• /
• v.10 no.6
• /
• pp.70-80
• /
• 2007

This study was surveyed from January to september, 2007 in order to evaluate the function of coastal wetland as a ecological axis in korea peninsula. Assessment was done by RAM (Rapid Assessment Method). RAM is consisted of total 8 contents and divided into high, moderate, low. The preservation grade of RAM is divided into 4 grades; absolute preservation, preservation, improvement and improvement or restoration. Throughout survey on total 14 wetlands of marine, estuary wetland and back marsh which are distributed in west coast in chung-nam province, their function was assessed. As result, total all the 14 wetlands were judged as preservation grade by assessment of 8 functional contents. The function of wetlands assessed as preservation grade showed high in water quality protection and improvement. Also, showed high in vegetation diversity, wildlife habitat and aesthetic recreation. Meanwhile, showed low in ground water recharge, Shoreline/Stream Bank Protection, Flood/Stormwater storage and Flood flow alteration. Of wetlands evaluated as preservation grade, Dae-ho, Sinduri, Bu-Nam lake, Sowhang dune and keum river estuary were assessed as absolute preservative area owing to habitation of international protection species and endangered species. These wetlands are essential to be managed continuously as a area having high ecological value. Farther, this wetlands will be done as a axis of ecological network related to land ecosystem.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.171-177
• /
• 2007

Korean rivers and their surrounding environments have been used excessively for rice production in the past and more recently for construction of urban areas to accomodate the rapidly increasing population. Affected Korean rivers experience dramatic fluctuations in their water levels and have faster currents compared with those in other countries. In order to restore more natural conditions in rivers experiencing such conditions, we employed a partial restoration method, which is designed to achieve physical and biological stability simultaneously. Concrete blocks were introduced to increase the river's physical stability during floods, and terra cottem, a soil enhancer, was used to reduce water loss due to intense heat. These interventions increased the river's ability to hold water and thereby promoted plant growth. This restoration method increased vegetation coverage and species diversity in treated areas, and changed the species composition in treated areas to more closely approximate that of the control site. These results suggest that this method is effective in restoring damaged habitats to more natural conditions.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.23 no.6
• /
• pp.15.1-15.14
• /
• 2020

Background: Large rivers are ecological treasures with high human value, but most have experienced decades of degradation from industrial and municipal sewage, row-crop agricultural practices, and hydrologic alteration. We reviewed published analyses of long-term fish diversity publications from three intensively managed large river ecosystems to demonstrate the conservation potential of large river ecosystems. Results: We show how the incorporation of recent advances in river concepts will allow a better understanding of river ecosystem functioning and conservation. Lastly, we focus on the Wabash River ecosystem based on high conservation value and provide a list of actions to maintain and support the ecosystem. In the Wabash River, there were originally 66 species of freshwater mussels, but now only 30 species with reproducing populations remain. Although there were multiple stressors over the last century, the largest change in Wabash River fish biodiversity was associated with rapid increases in municipal nutrient loading and invasive bigheaded carps. Conclusions: Like similarly neglected large river systems worldwide, the Wabash River has a surprising amount of ecological resilience and recovery. For instance, of the 151 native fish species found in the 1800s, only three species have experienced local extinctions, making the modern assemblage more intact than many comparable rivers in the Mississippi River basin. However, not all the changes are positive or support the idea of recovery. Primary production underpins the productivity of these ecosystems, and the Wabash River phytoplankton assemblages shifted from high-quality green algae in the 1970s to lower less nutritional blue-green algae as nutrient and invasive species have recently increased. Our recommendations for the Wabash River and other altered rivers include the restoration of natural hydrology for the mainstem and tributaries, nutrient reductions, mechanisms to restore historical hydrologic patterns, additional sediment controls, and improved local hydraulics.

• Journal of the Economic Geographical Society of Korea
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.247-261
• /
• 2013

The Youngsan River Restoration Project(YRRP) is to bring back the original appearance of the stream and to create a new waterfront. This project, which id part of the Four Major Rivers Restoration Project, began in 2009, and Juksan and Seungchon beams was completed, and waterway of Youngsan river also was constructed. Both sides of the river, bike trails, waterfront park of 70 places, including the composition and the amenities were installed. The purpose of this study is to analyze the useage behaviors and satisfaction on visitors of waterfront parks in Yeongsan River. Many visitors visit waterfront in order to walking and biking, there were many people who visit family and hobbyists club units. Visitors showed a relatively high level of satisfaction about the waterfront in the new composition such as bike trails, walking roads, and ecological parks created by the YRRP. However, the major problems was the lack of amenities in the waterfront.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
• /
• v.18 no.6
• /
• pp.151-165
• /
• 2015

This study surveys and analyzes the ecology of Gangseo area to be developed near Nakdonggang River and West Nakdonggang River in Busan - before its development. With the result of the surveys as its basis, the study also finds ways to conserve the area's bird habitats in response to the planned development. According to the site surveys over four seasons, West Nakdonggang River which is near the targeted development area is a wintering ground for migratory birds. Some representative bird types in this area are ducks, geese, and other water birds. There are even six legally protected species. The average altitude of their flight is calculated to be $92.4{\pm}18.8m$ and the main purpose for the migration is determined to be for food. According to evalution of the conservation value of the area, Nakdonggang River and West Nakdonggang River turns out to have the highest conservation value. Other areas are developable as long as it was environmentally friendly. Therefore, this study suggests incorporation of ecological parks and biotopes within the targeted development area along with the proposal for spaces in the surroundings where the wintering birds can rest and feed. Especially for the wintering birds that rest at Nakdonggang River and West Nakdonggang River, their flight direction and pattern was examined to determine that their resting ground should be located 50~100m off of the river bank. Furthermore, this study proposes ways to maximize bird habitat by building ecological corridors between the agricultural channel and other small streams in the targeted development area and the habitats in the surroundings. Lastly, the study suggests the construction of low buildings, at most 20m in height, near Nakdonggang River and West Nakdonggang River considering the birds' flight altitude and direction.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.81-96
• /
• 2021

The purpose of this study was conducted in order to provide the necessary basic data, to establish management solutions and to improve biodiversity by calculating similarity index, urbanization index (UI), and disturbed index (DI) to understand current status of naturalized and invasive alien plants in Eulsukdo, Maekdo and Samnak ecological parks in Busan, South Korea. The numbers of naturalized plants identified in these parks were 76 taxa; 20 families, 53 genera, and 76 species. As a result of the similarity index analysis, the most similarity level (83.0%) was obtained at Eulsukdo and Maekdo parks. The numbers of invasive plants identified in the two parks were 11 taxa; Rumex acetosella L., Sicyos angulatus L., Solanum carolinense L., Ambrosia artemisiifolia L., Ambrosia trifida L., Hypochaeris radicata L., Lactuca serriola L., Solidago altissima L., Symphyotrichum pilosum (Willd.) G.L.Nesom, Paspalum distichum L., and Humulus scandens (Lour.) Merr. Overall, UI and DI were 28.6% and 66.7%, respectively, indicating that the ecosystem disruption was serious.

• Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.1-6
• /
• 2022

Among the 13 species of otters in the world, only one Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) is found in South Korea. In the Korean Peninsula, otter pelts were historically valuable and expensive commodities used for international trade, and otters have long been poached as hunting animals. Recent rapid economic development in South Korea has increased habitat fragmentation and loss, creating a continuing threat to the natural environment. Otters live only in the area of rivers and streams as a family group and are territorial (linear habitat). Due to these limited conditions of otter habitat, the population size of otter is lower than that of onshore mammals. According to recent research, DNA analyses using microsatellite markers have shown that only approximately 7-21 otter individuals inhabit river systems for a length of 50-230 km. Korea's urban streams are associated with many threats that hinder otters from inhabiting them. Many areas around the urban streams are surrounded by high concrete riverbanks, and the risk of roadkill is also high. Nevertheless, ecological restoration projects in the urban rivers will contribute greatly to the stable inhabitation of otters. Detailed otter conservation strategies, such as the elimination of threat factors, improvement of habitat environment, and restoration of food resources and shelter, will provide a positive restoration effect on otter and river ecosystems as well.