• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.30 no.2B
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• pp.211-217
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• 2010

This paper presents numerical investigations of the physical habitat changes induced by the hydropeaking in the downstream river of dam. For the two-dimensional ecohydraulic simulations, River2D model is used. Pirami (Zacco platypus) is selected as the target fish for investigating the impact of the hydropeaking. For validation of the model, the water surface elevations are simulated with two different water discharges. The computed results are compared with field data in the literature, and the result shows that the model successfully simulates the water flows. The weight usable area (WUA) of Pirami with the life cycle and the composite suitability index with different water discharges are computed and discussed. The results show that habitat for Pirami appears to be best in the bend region downstream of the dam. The discharge of the maximum WUA for adult Pirami is computed to be about 9 $m^3/s$. Also, the WUA computed in a condition of hydropeaking during seven days are presented. The averaged discharge of the hydropeaking appears to be about 20% larger than the drought flow, but the WUA by the hydropeaking is computed to be 60-100% smaller. This result shows that the hydropeaking reduces quantity of habitat available to fish.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2007.05a
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• pp.2039-2043
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• 2007

Like other major river basin systems in the West of the United States the Platte River Basin are faced with the challenges of allocating more water for plant and animal species. A part of the Central Platte River was designated as critical habitat for the whooping crane in 1978. The water allocation system in the Platte River Basin is dominated by the Prior Appropriation Doctrine, which allocates water according to the priorities based on the date of water use. The Platte River Basin segregated into five subregions for purpose of analysis. 24 years of historic records of monthly flow and all the demands were complied. The simulation of river basin modeling includes physical operation of the system including water allocation by water rights and interstate compact agreements, reservoir operations, and diversion with consumptive use and return flow. MODSIM, a generalized river basin network model, was used for estimating the timing and magnitude of impacts on river flows and diversions associated with water transfers from each region. A total of 20 alternatives were considered, covering transfers from each of the five regions of basin with several options. The result shows that the timing and availability of augmented water at the critical habitat is not only a function of use by junior appropriators, but also of river losses, and timing of return flows.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.200-210
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• 2023

Background: Cambaroides similis is an endangered candidate species living in the stream of South Korea. Freshwater crayfish is known to decline rapidly not only domestically, but also internationally. Its decline is projected to be further exacerbated due to climate change. Understanding physical characteristics of the habitat is crucial for the conservation of an organism. However, comprehensive data regarding the distribution and physical habitat characteristics of C. similis are currently unavailable in South Korea. Thus, the objective of this study was to ascertain preferred ranges for water depth, current velocity, and streambed substrate of C. similis using Weibull model. Results: In this study, C. similis was found at 59 sites across 12 regions in South Korea. Its optimal water depth preferences ranged from 11.9 cm to 30.1 cm. Its current velocity preferences ranged from 9.8 cm s^-1 to 29.1 cm s^-1. Its substrate preferences ranged from -5.1 𝜱_m to -2.5 𝜱_m. Median values of central tendency were determined as follows: water depth of 21.4 cm, current velocity of 21.2 cm s^-1, and substrate of -4.1 𝜱_m. Mean values of central tendency were determined as follows: water depth of 21.8 cm, current velocity of 22.0 cm s^-1, and substrate of -4.4 𝜱_m. Mode values of central tendency were determined as follows: water depth of 21.7 cm, current velocity of 20.1 cm s^-1, and substrate of -3.7 𝜱_m. Conclusions: Based on habitat suitability analysis, physical microhabitat characteristics of C. similis within a stream were identified as Run section with coarse particle substrate, low water depth, and slow current velocity. Due to high sensitivity of these habitats to environmental changes, prioritized selection and assessment of threats should be carried out as a primary step.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.137-144
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• 2010

There is a host of habitat assessment systems available to evaluate and grade tidal flat ecosystems in Korea. Nevertheless, we recognize the need to develop a better ecological scheme to improve reliability and accuracy given the importance of using an empirical approach in assigning grades to indicators and the limitation of current systems which evaluate tidal flats on a regional basis. A preferable system would be one that enables habitat mapping within a tidal flat, provides a diagnosis of ecological stress/health, has a high level of ecological relevance, communicability, and statistical robustness, and enables evaluation of diverse habitats within a tidal flat. The following points should be considered in framing such a system. Indicators should discriminate habitat quality into five to seven grades accomodating diverse characteristics and conservation value of a habitat, and the grading should be made from frequency distribution of indicators based on nationwide data.We suggest the following tasks in crafting such a system: i) The decision on selection of indicators should be made based on accuracy of assessment and practical application; ii) effects of physical habitat conditions on variability of indicators should be reflected; and, iii) further works on stress/health indicators should be addressed for adopting a multiple-indicator approach which reduces misdiagnosis.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.43-49
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• 2016

Fishways are constructed to provide longitudinal connectivity of streams or rivers where their flow has been altered by in-stream structures such as dams or weirs. Nature-like fishways have an additional function of providing fish habitats. In the study, we estimated the role of a nature-like fishway (length: 700 m, slope: 1/100) for fish habitat by using two dominant species in the Sangju Weir, Nakdong River, to calculate the optimal ecological flow rate using Physical HABitat SIMulation (PHABSIM). To identify the dominant species that used the fishway, we conducted trap monitoring from August to November 2012 at the fishway exit. The dominant species were Zacco platypus and Opsariichthys uncirostric amurensis with a relative abundance of 62.1% and 35.9%, respectively. Optimal habitat suitability indices (HSIs) for Z. platypus and O. u. amurensis were calculated as 0.6-0.8 m/s (water velocity) and 0.2-0.4 m (water depth), and 0.5-0.7 m/s (water velocity) and 0.1-0.3 m (water depth), respectively. The optimal ecological flow rates (OEFs) for Z. platypus and O. u. amurensis were 1.6 and 1.7 cubic meter per second (CMS), respectively. The results of the study can be used in a management plan to increase the habitat function of nature-like fishways in the Sangju Weir. This methodology can be utilized as an appropriate tool that can determine the habitat function of all nature-like fishways.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.440-447
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• 2013

The ecological health, based on the Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) and Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI) was evaluated in 10 stream sites of Southern Han River. Eleven parameters of 12 parameters (Karr 1981) were modified for the application of regional Korean circumstance. The ecological health, based on IBI grade, was in "good condition" and the IBI score ranged from 33 to 47. Nine parameters of the original 12-parameter metrics in QHEI model (Plafkin et al. 1989) were applied in the habitat assessment. The mean QHEI model values were judged as "partially supporting" and ranged from 75 (non-supporting) to 109 (supporting). Comparative analyses revealed that values of IBI and QHEI models were greater in Gj stream than Ig- and Dn streams. The analysis of fish compositions showed that the proportions of insectivore, omnivore, and carnivore were 61.9%, 19%, and 9.5%, respectively. According to tolerance guild analysis, sensitive species and tolerant species were 76.1% and 4.7%, respectively, indicating a healthy trophic state in terms of food chain. The analysis by habitat guild type indicated that riffle benthic species dominated (57.1%) when compared to water column species (28.5%). The introduced species and individuals with diseases or external abnormality were not observed. Overall, the model values of IBI and QHEI suggested that the ecological health was maintained well in this upstream region.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.490-502
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• 2021

This study was conducted to analyze the current status of fish fauna and characteristics of the fish community according to the habitat of Woraksan National Park, Korea. The spatially balanced sampling selected 20 stations from major streams of Woraksan National Park, and three surveys were conducted in each season. The physical environments of the habitat were mostly mountain streams (Aa), with large stones and gravels scattered over the stream. The average altitude of the habitat was 304.4 m, and the average depth of water was 40.3 cm, being less than 1 m in most cases, and the river water level was distributed from 3rd to 5th streams. The principal component analysis of the physical environmental factors by habitat showed that the substrate properties differed according to the altitude. The survey identified a total of 2,183 individuals in 16 species belonging to 7 families. The dominant species was Zacco koreanus(86.2%), and the subdominant species was Rhynchocypris oxycephalus(3.8%). Pseudopungtungia tenuicorpa, classified as the endangered wildlife II, was the first endangered legally protected species found in this survey. Analysis of the rank abundance curve model in the fish community showed the Zipf model at 9 out of 20 points, the Lognormal model in 3 points, and the Preemption model in 4 points. The remaining 4 habitats showed only one species and were not analyzed. The canonical correspondence analysis of 20 stations and fish species was performed to understand the characteristics of the fish community according to environmental factors. The fish communities were divided according to differences in habitat environment by the altitude.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.55 no.12
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• pp.1041-1052
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• 2022

This study is to estimate the optimal ecological flow and analysis the spatial distribution of fish habitat for Andong dam downstream reach (4,565.7 km²) using PHABSIM (Physical Habiat Simulation System) and River2D. To establish habitat models, the cross-section informations and hydraulic input data were collected uisng the Nakdong river basic plan report. The establishment range of PHABSIM was set up about 410.0 m from Gudam streamflow gauging station (GD) and about 6.0 km including GD for River2D. To select representative fish species and construct HSI (Habitat Suitability Index), the fish survey was performed at Pungji bridge where showed well the physical characteristics of target stream located downstream of GD. As a result of the fish survey, Zacco platypus was showed highly relative abundance resulting in selecting as the representative fish species, and HSI was constructed using physical habitat characteristics of the Zacco platypus. The optimal range of HSI was 0.3~0.5 m/s at the velocity suitability index, 0.4~0.6 m at the depth suitability index, and the substrate was sand to fine gravel. As a result of estimating the optimal ecological flow by applying HSI to PHABSIM, the optimal ecological flow for target stream was 20.0 m³/sec. As a result of analysis two-dimensional spatial analysis of fish habitat using River2D, WUA (Weighted Usable Area) was estimated 107,392.0 m²/1000 m under the ecological flow condition and it showed the fish habitat was secured throughout the target stream compared with Q₃₅₅ condition.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.52 no.spc2
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• pp.811-822
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• 2019

Environmental flows in the downstream sections of Yongdam Dam, Wonju Stream Dam, and Hongcheon River were estimated with selected target fish species such as Nigra for the site of Yongdam Dam, Splendidus for the site of Wonju Stream Dam, and Signifer for the site of Hongcheon River by considering endangered and domestic species. Physical habitat analysis was performed to estimate environmental flows for the study sites by applying the Physical Habitat Simulation (PHABSIM) and RIVER2D which combined hydraulic and habitat models. Based on the monitored data for ecological environment, the Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) for the target species was estimated by applying the Instream Flow and Aquatic Systems Group (IFASG). In particular, based on the result of fish monitoring, the HSI for each stage of the growth for target species was analyzed. As a result, the Weighted Usable Area (WUA) was maximized at $4.9m^3/s$ of flow discharge during spawning, $5.8m^3/s$ during the period of juvenile, and $8.9m^3/s$ during the adult fish season at the downstream section of Yongdam Dam. The result of the Wonju Stream Dam showed an optimal environmental flow of $0.4m^3/s$, $1.0m^3/s$, and $1.5m^3/s$ during the period of spawning, juvenile, and adult. The habitat analysis for the site of Hongcheon River, which is a non-regulated stream, produced an optimum environmental flow of $5m^3/s$ in the spawning period, $4m^3/s$ in the juvenile stage and $6m^3/s$ in the adult stage.