• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.42 no.4
• /
• pp.413-421
• /
• 2009

Eleven lake sediment core samples were obtained and analyzed to develop a chronology using $^{137}Cs$ (in 1963) and two tephra layers (Ko-c2 in 1694 and Ta-a in 1739). Sedimentation rates estimated for the past ca 300 years in Lake Shirarutoro indicated that catchment development has influenced the shallowing process in the lake by increasing sediment production. The sediment yield under initial land-use development conditions for the first two periods was estimated as 514 tons $yr^{-1}$ from 1694 to 1739 and 542 tons $yr^{-1}$ from 1739~1963. The development of the Shirarutoro catchment intensified in the 1960s with deforestation and agriculture activity leading to an increased sediment yield of 1261 tons $yr^{-1}$ after 1963. The sediment yields after intensified land use development, such as forestry and agricultural development, were about 2 times higher than that under initial development conditions, leading to accelerated lake shallowing over the last ca 50 years. Sedimentation rates differed with location in the lake because of spatial variation in the sediment flux from the contributing rivers and their catchments. The sedimentation rates before 1963 were low in all sites except for one site close to the Shirarutoroetoro River. The sedimentation rate in 1739~1963 was accumulated mostly at the inflow of the Shirarutoroetoro River by sediment production associated with forestry for charcoal production and initial agricultural development. The sedimentation rate after 1963 increased. In particular, the southern zone of the lake near the conjunction with the Kushiro River had a high sedimentation rate, which is attributable to sediment inflow back from the Kushiro River during floods.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.43 no.5
• /
• pp.755-763
• /
• 2010

Fine sediment loadings from agricultural watersheds have led to habitat degradation in Lake Takkobu, northern Japan. Fifteen lake sediment core samples were obtained and analyzed to develop a chronology using physical sediment characters, $^{137}Cs$, and tephra. The reconstructed sedimentation rates over the past ca 300 years suggested that sedimentation rates increased drastically after land use development. With a natural sedimentation rate of 0.1-1.1 mm $year^{-1}$ until 1898, lake sedimentation accelerated to 0.6-12.8 mm $year^{-1}$ after 1898. The sedimentation rates after land use change, such as forestry, river engineering works, and agricultural development, were about 6-12 times higher than that under natural conditions, leading to accelerated lake shallowing over the last ca 100 years. Sedimentation rates between 1898 and 1963 differed with location in the lake because of spatial variation in the sediment flux from the contributing rivers and their watersheds. The sedimentation rate in the southern zone between 1898 and 1963 was significantly higher than that in the middle and northern zones, reflecting active sediment production associated with forestry for charcoal production and canal construction for transportation in the southern watersheds and wetlands. The sedimentation rate after 1963 did not vary among the three zones, because decreasing sedimentation was found in most of the southern sites whereas an increasing trend was observed in the middle and northern sites. This result can be explained by shallowing of lake-bottom morphology with sedimentation and the resultant reduction of sediment retention capacity in the southern zone. Moreover, the sedimentation rate at sampling sites close to river mouths increased by 5-32 times compared with natural rates before 1898. The Kushiro River, into which Lake Takkobu drains under regular flow conditions, further contributed to an increased sedimentation rate, because water from the Kushiro River flows back into Lake Takkobu during floods.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.103 no.1
• /
• pp.80-86
• /
• 2014

$^{210}Pb$ dating was conducted to examine the influence of land use changes in the forest catchment on lake sedimentation. The Kushiro River, into which Lake Takkobu drains under regular flow conditions, contributed to an increased sedimentation rate in sampling point at the lake outflow because turbid water from the Kushiro River flows back into Lake Takkobu during floods. The elevated sediment flux from the catchment dilutes the $^{210}Pb$ concentration in sampling points at the inflow of the Takkobu River and the lake outflow, which causes fluctuations in the $^{210}Pb$ concentrations in sediment cores. The $^{210}Pb$ dating was estimated using the CRS (Constant rate of Supply) model. The dates by the CRS model in Lake Takkobu profiles were in good agreement with the dates by $^{137}Cs$. Sedimentation rates reconstructed for the past 100-150 years suggested that sedimentation rates increased drastically following land use changes. While a natural sedimentation rate of $0.01-0.03g/cm^2/year$ is observed until the 1880s, whereas lake sedimentation accelerated to $0.03-0.09g/cm^2/year$ following land use changes such as deforestation and channelization, between the 1880s and 1940s. In particular, the sedimentation rates have been associated with deforestation, channelization, agricultural development and road construction, since the 1980s, and these rates were about 9-28 times higher than those under natural conditions, leading to accelerated lake shallowing.