• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.52 no.spc2
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• pp.823-833
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• 2019

This study presents the impact of natural flow patterns on downstream fish habitat and economic outcomes in the Dal Stream, Korea. The study reach is 3.35 km long, located downstream form the Goesan Dam. To assess such impact, this study performed physical habitat simulations. The River2D model was used for the computation of the flow and the HSI model for the habitat simulation. Two physical habitat variables, flow depth and velocity, were used. The Zacco platypus, Zacco temminckii, Coreoleuciscus splendidus, and Opsariichthys bidens were selected as the target species in the study area. Using the building block approach (BBA), the scenarios for the hydropeaking mitigation were presented. Scenario 1 and scenario 2 were proposed by using the magnitude - duration concept and averaged the hydrologic data over the each month, respectively. Simulation results indicated that the scenarios effects significantly increased by about 18.6% for the weighted usable area (WUA). In addition, hydroelectric power benefits with both scenarios were investigated. It was revealed that the change of storing and releasing water decreased by about 27% for hydroelectric power benefits. In order to increase economic benefits, the scenario was modified with the discharges corresponding to the hydropeaking condition except the flood season. As a result, the hydroelectric power benefits were almost the same, however the aquatic habitat for the target species increased by about 5%. The change of dam re-operations through natural flow patterns provides an opportunity to minimize environmental and economic benefits in order to balance water management.