• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.218-227
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• 2011

The objective approach for assessment of stream naturalness is an essential part of the stream restoration project. This study proposes the methodology for the assessment of stream naturalness considering physical, biological and chemical factors. Physical factors consists of riffle and pool, river bed material, bank protection, floodplain vegetation and levee materials; biological factors are benthic macroinvertebrate, KSI (Korean Saprobic Index), and IBI (Index of Biological Integrity) and chemical factors are pH, DO (dissolved oxygen), and TP (total phosphorus). This procedure is applied to the Mokgamcheon. As a result, the downstream of Mokgamcheon (zone I) needs the prompt improvement of stream naturalness, compared to the others (zone II and III). This evaluation technique will be an effective tool to quantify the stream naturalness and can be used to set the target of stream restoration project.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.6 no.6
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• pp.49-55
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• 2003

Total phosphorous removal rate was examined of a subsurface-flow treatment wetland system which was constructed on floodplain in the down reach of the Kwangju Stream in Korea from May to June 2001. Its dimensions were 29 meter in length, 9 meter in width and 0.65 meter in depth. A bottom layer of 45 cm in depth was filled with crushed granite with about 15~30 mm in diameter and a middle layer of 10 cm in depth had pea pebbles with about 10 mm in diameter. An upper layer of 5 cm in depth contained course sand. Reeds(Phragmites australis) were transplanted on the surface of the system. They were dug out of natural wetlands and stems were cut at about 40 cm height from their bottom ends. Water of the Kwangju Stream flowed from a submerged dam into it via a pipe by gravity flow and treated effluent was funneled back into the Stream. The number of reed stems increased from 80 stems/$m^2$ in July 2001 to 136 stems/$m^2$ in September 2001. The hight of stems was 44.2 cm in July 2001 and 75.3 cm in September 2001. The establishment of reeds at early operating stage of the system was good. Volume and water quality of inflow and outflow were investigated from July 2001 through December 2001. The average inflow was 40 $m^3$/day and hydraulic detention time was about 1.5 days. The concentration of total phosphorous n influent and effluent was 0.83 and 0.33 mg/L, respectively. The removal rate of total phosphorous averaged about 60%. The removal efficiency was slightly higher, compared with that of subsurface-flow wetlands operating in North America, whose retention rate of total phosphorous was reported to be about 56%. The good abatement rate could be attributed to sedimentation of particle phosphorous in pores of the media and adsorption of phosphorous to the biofilm developed on the surface of them. Increase of standing density of reeds within a few years will develop root zones which may lead to increment in the phosphorous retention rate.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.56-63
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• 2001

This paper presents treatment efficiency and plant growth of a subsurface-flow constructed wetland system (23 m in length, 6.5 m in width, 0.65 m in depth) over one year after its establishment on floodplain of a stream in June 2000. An upper layer of 10 cm in depth was filled with course sand and the main biological layer of 50 cm depth with crushed stone with 8 - 15 mm in diameter. The system was planted with common reeds (Phragmites australis) grown on pots. Effluent discharged from a secondary-level treatment plant was funneled into it. Reed stems emerging in April 2001 grew up to 145.9cm until July 2001. The number of reed stems in July 2001 increased by about 11 times compared with that just after planting. The system was inundated seven times by storms over the monitoring period. Reeds were slightly bent after flooding, however they returned to almost upright standing in a couple of weeks. Small portion of inside slope of berm was eroded and the system surface had a sedimentation of 2 - 3 mm in depth. The average removal rates for SS, $BOD_5$, T-N and T-P was 73%, 70%, 53%, and 72%, respectively. The purification efficiencies for SS and $BOD_5$ were fairly good. The reduction rates for T-N was relatively low for the period of late fall through winter until early spring due to lower water temperature which retarded microbial nitrification and denitrification mechanisms. Reduction in the concentration of T-P during fall and winter was relatively higher than that during spring. Leach of phosphorous from plant litters lying on system surface and slight resuspension of precipitated phosphorous in substrates resulted in lower reduction for T-P in spring.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.1-19
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• 2023

This study aimed to identify the characteristics of the plant growth forms within the Amsa-dong Ecological and Landscape Conservation Area, a floodplain along the Han River, based on 20 years of flora monitoring data. The analysis revealed that there were 106 taxa identified in 2003, 158 taxa in 2006, 107 taxa in 2013, and 202 taxa in 2020. Compared to 2003 and 2013, the number of taxa increased significantly by approximately 50 taxa in 2006 and around 100 taxa in 2020. It is presumed that this is due to the influx of seeds caused by the flooding of the Han River due to record-breaking heavy rains during the rainy seasons of 2006 and 2020, leading to a rapid increase in the number of taxa. This was also confirmed in aquatic plants(HH) as a result of comparison of life style analysis by year. The analysis revealed that there were 19 aquatic plant(HH) in 2003, 32 aquatic plant(HH) in 2006, 9 aquatic plant(HH) in 2013, and 30 aquatic plant(HH) in 2020. The number of aquatic plants(HH) increased slightly in 2006 and 2020 compared to 2003 and 2013, and the influx of rare aquatic plants in urban rivers was confirmed. Consistent with the results of the vascular flora analysis above, these plants are believed to have been introduced from the upper reaches of the Han River when the Han River flooded due to heavy rains during the record-breaking rainy season in 2006 and 2020.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.53 no.10
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• pp.833-843
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• 2020

Ecohydraulics is a newly born discipline in the early 1990s by the interdisciplinary approach combined with aquatic ecology in one discipline and geomorphology, hydrology, and fluid hydrodynamics in another. Major areas of ecohydraulics can be delineated as habitat hydraulics (including environmental flow), vegetation hydraulics, eco-corridor hydraulics, eutrophication hydraulics, and ecological restoration hydraulics. Reviews of relevant international journals and literature reveal that ecohydraulics has remained in the limited areas of fish response, hydraulic modeling, and physical habitat response. It has not reached a truly interdisciplinary stage. Literature reviews in Korea reveal that only 3% of the total number of the papers listed in the Journal of KWRA during the last 24 years is related to ecohydraulics. It is about 20% of the total listed in the Journal of Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure. Most of those related to ecohydraulics in Korea concern vegetation hydraulics, habitat hydraulics, and ecological restoration hydraulics. In contrast, dynamic flow modeling areas, including turbulence, fauna motion simulation, and eutrophication hydraulics, are not found. Areas of further research in ecohydraulics in Korea may be specified as follows: 1) environmental flows adapted to the traits of the rivers in Korea, 2) development of the dynamic floodplain vegetation models (DFVM) to assess the changes from the white river to green river, 3) development of the eutrophication hydraulic model to predict the freshwater algal blooms, and 4) development of the models to evaluate the physical, chemical, and biological impacts of the stream restoration, decommissioning and removal of old weirs or small dams.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.508-523
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• 2017

This study monitored the changes before and after restoration of ecological stream focusing on the places which are applied Sustainable Structured wetland Biotop (SSB) system and ecological Fish-way for restoration of Maeno stream. A total of 11 species and 191 individuals of fishes were founded out which were not verified inhabitation before restoration at SSB wetlands. Especially, it was could identified that micro habitat and healthy Fish-way was created because the restored target species, Microphysogobio yaluensis and Iksookimia koreensis were identified that habitation was monitored in SSB wetland. Amphibian have been restored to a number of Rana nigromaculata found in and around wetlands at the time of the third survey, which is highly active after restoration. Specified endangered species class 1 and natural monuments designated by the Ministry of Environment, Lutra lutra lutra, as a Mammalian, uses the wetlands and ecological Fish-way as habitat areas, and the his habitat is restored. In the case of Flora, vascular plants emerging in the survey area were increased to 7 and 13 species before restoration and 15 and 19 species directly after restoration, and 22 species and 33 species after restoration. Vegetation after restoration was found to be a basic producer of various ecosystems and a plant community that contributes to the purification of water quality such as Phragmites japonica communities. As the result of water quality monitoring, the average of treatment efficiencies were BOD 64.3%, T-N 47.2%, T-P 80.7%. Successful treatment of the nonpoint pullution source, which is a limiting factor to disturb the ecosystem, creatively restored the target species in the water quality class I, II.

• Journal of Industrial Technology
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• v.35
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• pp.55-58
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• 2015

Natural shifting of rivers has been disturbed by anthropological activities. Urbanization in Kathmandu has been encroached the natural floodplain of Bagmati and currently channeled by training walls. The study compares the change in shape of Dhobikhola, a small tributary using 1966 and 2014 satellite images. It has been found that the original shape is heavily changed over time at the beginning and end section of river under study. The river width is now fixed by training walls and roads along the banks. Using multiple data sets like satellite images and GIS analysis, these shifts can be easily detected to plan for management and restoration of physical and ecological behaviors of rivers.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.145-155
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• 2018

In a monsoonal climate, the soil seed bank can play an important role in plant regeneration after the severe annual floods that disturb above-ground vegetation within the riparian zone. To investigate the relationship between the soil seed bank and vegetation, we measured the species composition of the soil seed bank and the extant above-ground vegetation in six major plant communities (Artemisia selengensis, Miscanthus sacchariflorus, Persicaria nodosa, Phalaris arundinacea, Phragmites japonica, and Rorippa palustris) in the Cheongmicheon Stream, Korea. A total of 21 species germinated from the floodplain soil seed banks. The most diverse seed bank (21 species) was found in the A. selengensis community, wheres the lowest number of species was found in the R. palustris community (2 species). Most soil seed banks were composed of annuals (90%), exceptions being Rumex crispus and Artemisia princeps, which are perennial ruderals. The similarity of species composition between the soil seed bank and above-ground vegetation was low with Sorensen's similarity indices averaging 29% (range 12 - 42%). Crucially, existing dominant perennials of the extant vegetation including A. selengensis, M. sacchariflorus, P. japonica and P. arundinacea were absent from the soil seed bank. In conclusion, the soil seed banks of the floodplains of the Cheongmicheon Stream were mainly composed of viable seeds of ruderal plants, which could germinate rapidly after severe flood disturbance. The soil seed bank may, therefore, be useful for the restoration of the early succession stages of riparian vegetation after flood disturbances.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.177-189
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• 2022

Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are defined as practical and technical approaches to restoring functioning ecosystems and biodiversity as a means to address socio-environmental challenges and provide human-nature co-benefits. This study reviews NbS-related literature to identify its key characteristics, techniques, and challenges for its application in climate-adaptive water management. The review finds that NbS has been commonly used as an umbrella term incorporating a wide range of existing ecosystem-based approaches such as low-impact development (LID), best management practices (BMP), forest landscape restoration (FLR), and blue-green infrastructure (BGI), rather than being a uniquely-situated practice. Its technical form and operation can vary significantly depending on the spatial scale (small versus large), objective (mitigation, adaptation, naturalization), and problem (water supply, quality, flooding). Commonly cited techniques include green spaces, permeable surfaces, wetlands, infiltration ponds, and riparian buffers in urban sites, while afforestation, floodplain restoration, and reed beds appear common in non- and less-urban settings. There is a greater lack of operational clarity for large-scale NbS than for small-scale NbS in urban areas. NbS can be a powerful tool that enables an integrated and coordinated action embracing not only water management, but also microclimate moderation, ecosystem conservation, and emissions reduction. This study points out the importance of developing decision-making guidelines that can inform practitioners of the selection, operation, and evaluation of NbS for specific sites. The absence of this framework is one of the obstacles to mainstreaming NbS for water management. More case studies are needed for empirical assessment of NbS.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.137-146
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• 2015

Lateral connectivity between a main channel and a former channel plays an integral role in maintaining ecological functions of stream-floodplain ecosystems. This study virtually restored the connectivity of the former channel, which is currently isolated by channelization, in the Mangyeong River, Korea. Fish habitat improvement after the connectivity restoration was evaluated using River2D, two-dimensional depth-averaged hydraulic modeling, depending on normal and flood flow conditions. Target fish species were crucian carp (Carassius auratus), which are known as lentic species, and pale chub (Zacco platypus), known as lotic species. The weighted usable area (WUA) of the two species was increased after the connectivity restoration: the two-way connection between the main and formal channels was more effective than the one-way connection. The result of the physical habitat simulation at a flood flow condition demonstrated an increased rate of the WUA than during a normal flow condition. In particular, the WUA of pale chub increased about four times on the two-way connectivity restoration. This result suggests that habitat availability of both lentic and lotic fish species will increase after a connectivity restoration, and a two-way connectivity restoration may be more effective. In addition, the restored formal channel would function as a shelter for fish during the flood season.