• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.483-501
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to apply a multi-metric model of Lentic Ecosystem Health Assessments(LEHA) for environmental impact assessments of Cheongpyung Reservoir during 2005 - 2006 and assessed the ecological model values. The ecosystem model of LEHA was composed of eleven metrics such as biological parameters($B_p$), physical parameters($P_p$), and chemical parameters($C_p$), and determined the rank of ecological health by the criteria. The variables of $B_p$ were metrics of % sensitive species($M_2$, NMS) and insectivore species($M_5$, % $I_n$), which decrease as the water quality degradates, and these metric values were low as 1.5% and 32.4%, respectively. In contrast, the proportions of tolerant species and omnivore species as the other $B_p$ parameters were 43% and 62%, respectively, which indicate a degradation and disturbance of the ecosystem. Riparian vegetation coverage($M_9$, % $V_c$) as a variable of $P_p$, were higher in the 2nd than 1st survey, and decreased toward the dam site from the headwaters. This was due to a habitat simplification(modifications) by frequent bottom dredging of sand and rocks. The variables of $C_p$ were two metrics of specific conductivity($M_{10}$, $C_I$) as an indicator of ionic contents(cations and anions) and the Trophic State Index(TSI) based on chlorophyll-a($M_{11}$, $TSI_{CHL}$) as an indicator of trophic state. These metric values of $C_p$ had high temporal variations, but low spatial variations on the main axis of the reservoir along with the ecological health of a good condition. The environmental impact assessments using the LEHA multi-metric model indicated that the model values of LEHA averaged 30.7 in 1st survey(fair - poor condition) vs. 28 in 2nd survey(poor condition), indicating a temporal variation of the ecological health. The model values of LEHA showed a minimum(28) in the lacustrine zone(S5) and ranged from 29 to 30 in the other locations sampled, indicating a low longitudinal variation. Overall, environmental impact assessments, based on LEHA model, suggest that chemical water quality conditions were in good, but biological conditions were disturbed due to habitat modifications by frequent dredgings in the system.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2022

An estuary is an area where a freshwater river or stream meets the ocean. Even before the importance of the value of estuaries was recognized, the estuary was lost because of large-scale conversion by draining, filling, damming, and dredging. In South Korea, 643 estuaries are located, and the total area is 3,248,300 ha, accounting for 32.5% of the total area of South Korea. Over 35% of Korean estuaries are closed estuaries which are only temporally connected with the sea, either permanently or periodically. Since 2008, in order to preserve the estuary ecosystem and solve major issues in the estuary by accumulating knowledge about the estuarine ecosystem, the Ministry of Environment of Republic of Korea has been conducting the "Estuarine Ecosystem Monitoring and Assessment Project". At 668 sites of 325 estuaries, epilithic diatom, benthic macroinvertebrate, fish, and vegetation are investigated, and the habitat condition of each site is evaluated using the newly developed biotic index. More than 100 researchers annually record 2,097 species of estuaries according to the standardized survey guidelines over the past 14 years and provide strictly managed data necessary for establishing estuaries conservation policies. As a result of bibliometric analysis of 1,195 research articles related to the monitoring and assessment of the estuarine ecosystem, research on pollutants such as heavy metals and sediment control have recently been conducted. "Estuarine Ecosystem Monitoring and Assessment Project" is an ecological monitoring type of long-term mandated monitoring that is usually focused on identifying trends. Although it is difficult to identify the mechanism influencing a change in an ecosystem through long-term mandated monitoring, providing empirical data for supporting evidence-based policy, decision-making, and the management of ecosystems. In order to increase the efficiency of the project, research to investigate the relationship between sediments and pollutants and organisms can be conducted at specific estuaries or sites to compensate for the shortcomings of mandatory monitoring.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.39 no.6 s.167
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• pp.533-544
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• 2006

The deposition of solids in combined sewer systems results in a loss of flow capacity that may restrict flow and cause a local flooding and enhanced solids deposition. In order to solve these problems and proper pipe management, estimation of solid loads from sewer and surface in a drainage basin is needed but this task is very difficult and extremely expensive. In this study, generalized procedures for estimating sewer solid loads during dry weather in combined sewer systems and for estimating solid loads on surface in a drainage basin developed by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency were applied and analyzed in Gunja drainage basin in Korea. As result, the estimated solid loads from sewer and surface are 205.8,759kg/yr and 1,321,993kg/yr respectively, and total solid loads is 1,527,752kg/yr. The estimated solid removal from street cleaning, dredging from pipe system and pumping house is 1,486,636kg/yr. Therefore, the applied methods show resonable results. More reliable estimation can be achieved if long-term measurements and adjustment of estimation equations are carried out, and this estimation methods can be used usefully for the management of combined sewer system with reduction of cost and effort.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.438-444
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• 2018

Korea has recently selected twenty-two ports for reinforcement breakwater installation of protection facilities, due to rise sea level caused by global warming and increase in the number of typhoon and tsunami. In addition, due to consistent enlargement of ship size, dredging for depth of water for large vessel's berthing and enlargement of berth is under construction. However, no definite construction plan for the reinforcement and lengthening of crown height, which has close relationship with the safe mooring of ships. In this study, domestic and foreign design criteria of crown height were analyzed, and the crown height evaluation index and evaluation method were developed by dividing it into environment and ship elements. In particular, in the case of ship evaluation index, each step was set up in 4 steps according to domestic and foreign regulations, weighted by each step, and the safety level of crown height was evaluated. As a result of the mooring safety simulation of the 100,000 ton cruise ship, the appropriate minimum crown height standard was derived to be 3 m above A.H.H.W. The results of this study are expected to be used as basic data to propose the crown height standard reflecting ship characteristics.

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2024

Lagoon, attributed to the postglacial sea-level rise, has experienced rapid geomorphological changes due to increasing human impact. This study tried to infer how rapidly increasing human impact during the Holocene affects on geomorphological changes of lagoons and their surroundings, especially on Cheongchoho, Gyeongpoho and Pungho with significant changes in area and shapes. It was confirmed that the period of rapid artificial change commonly began in the 1960s to 1970s and geomorphological landscape rapidly changed since human impact intensified afterward. Intensive development not only affected on depth, area and shape changes, but also had significant impacts on water environment and biodiversity, attributed to disturbed flow between freshwater and seawater due to dredging and the installation of artificial structures. Lastly, various types of human impact were observed to be complexly interrelated, which seems to be associated with the geomorphologic process influenced by both terrestrial and marine environments. It is thought to be the result of complex interactions between humans who develop and utilize the terrain and changes in environmental conditions.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.194-199
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• 2020

Unlike in the past, the world is facing water shortages due to climate change and difficulties in simultaneously managing the risks of flooding. The Four Major Rivers project was carried out with the aim of realizing a powerful nation of water by managing water resources and fostering the water industry, and the construction period was relatively short compared to the unprecedented scale. Therefore, the prediction and analysis of how the river environment changes after the Four Major Rivers Project is insufficient. Currently, part of the construction section of the Four Major Rivers Project is caused by repeated erosion and sedimentation due to the effects of sandification caused by large dredging and flood-time reservoirs, and the head erosion of the tributaries occurs. In order to solve these problems, the riverbed maintenance work was installed, but it resulted in erosion of both sides of the river and the development of new approaches and techniques to keep the river bed stable, such as erosion and excessive sedimentation, is required. The water agent plays a role of securing a certain depth of water for the main stream by concentrating the flow so much in the center and preventing levee erosion by controlling the flow direction and flow velocity. In addition, Groyne products provide various ecological environments by forming a natural form of riverbeds by inducing local erosion and deposition in addition to the protection functions of the river bank and embankment. Therefore, after reviewing the method of determining the shape of the Groyne structure currently in use by utilizing the mobile limit flow rate and marginal reflux force, a new Critical Movement Velocity(${\bar{U}}_d$) and a new resistance coefficient formula considering the mathematical factors applicable to the actual domestic stream were developed and the measures applicable to Groyne installation were proposed.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.195-210
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• 2023

Additional deposition and erosion in large rivers in South Korea have continued to occur toward morphological stabilization after massive dredging through the four major river restoration project, subsequently requiring precise bathymetry monitoring. Hyperspectral bathymetry method has increasingly been highlighted as an alternative way to estimate bathymetry with high spatial resolution in shallow depth for replacing classical intrusive direct measurement techniques. This study introduced the conventional Optimal Band Ratio Analysis (OBRA) of hyperspectral bathymetry method, and evaluated the performance in a domestic large river in normal turbid and flow condition. Maximum measurable depth was estimated by applying correlation coefficient and root mean square error (RMSE) produced during OBRA with cascadedly applying cut-off depth, where the consequent hyperspectral bathymetry map excluded the region over the derived maximum measurable depth. Also non-linearity was considered in building relation between optimal band and depth. We applied the method to the Nakdong and Hwang River confluence as a large river case and obtained the following features. First, the hyperspectal method showed acceptable performance in morphological mapping for shallow regions, where the maximum measurable depth was 2.5 m and 1.25 m in the Nakdong and Hwang river, respectively. Second, RMSE was more feasible to derive the maximum measurable depth rather than the conventional correlation coefficient whereby considering various scenario of excluding range of in situ depths for OBRA. Third, highly turbid region in Hwang River did not allow hyperspectral bathymetry mapping compared with the case of adjacent Nakdong River, where maximum measurable depth was down to half in Hwang River.

• 한국해양학회지
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.390-402
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• 1995

Bimonthly sampling was carried out over the period February 1983 to April 1985 at two stations in Kwang-yang Bay, Korea, in order to study the temporal changes of benthic ploychaete communities. In addition, an important focus of the study was the large-scale reclamation and dredging operations that were taking place for industrial purposes during the study period. The muddy station, located on the main channel, showed high mud content (94%), whereas the sandy station, situated on the north channel of Myodo, demonstrated mud content of 42%. At the muddy station, the number of species and individuals were highest in the early sampling stage, but markedly declined in October 1983, and then gradually increased as in the early state. At the sandy station, the number of species highly oscillated during the entire period. The density was affected by the pectinated Lagis bocki showing particulary high density in February 1983 and 1984. However, the high density in the winter time did not occur in February 1985. The analysis of similarities and clusterings between communities were carried out to evaluate temporal changes in community structure. Significant changes occurred during the study period in the community structures at both stations, but each maintained different patterns of species dominance over time. At the muddy station, this transitionary phase was found in October 1983 but in December 1984 at the sandy station. Comparisons with earlier communities suggest that faunal changes in the dominant species composition occurred from Lumbrineris longifolia to Heteromastus filiformis over this time period. The colonization of this opportunistic pioneer, H, filiformis, seems to manifest environmental disturbances in this bay area.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.214-226
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• 2013

To understand the changing patterns in phytoplankton communities, we conducted 12 surveys along the Nakdong River, its estuary, and adjacent coastal areas between January 2011 and October 2012 (during the period of barrage construction and sediment dredging). Monthly precipitation ranged from 0 to 502 mm during the survey period, and salinity ranged between 0.1 psu and 0.3 psu in the Nakdong River, regardless of the depth, indicating no seawater influence, while salinity showed large seasonal fluctuations in the estuarine and coastal station, ranging from 0.1 psu to 34.8 psu. A total of 402 phytoplankton species were identified, 178 species from the river and 331 species from the estuary and coastal areas. Phytoplankton standing crop increased in 2012 compared to that in 2011, and was found to be highest in the river, followed by the estuary and coastal areas. Among the top 20 species in frequency of occurrence and dominance, Stephanodiscus spp., Aulacoseira granulata, and Aulacoseira granulata var. angustissima and Pseudo-nitzschia spp. were important species along the river-estuary-coastal areas. Diatoms were the major taxonomic group inhabiting the Nakdong river-estuary-coastal areas. A comparison of seasonal dominant phytoplankton species revealed a slight decrease over the years, from 13 species in 2011 to 10 species in 2012. However, no significant difference was found in the diversity of phytoplankton species between the two survey years, although lightly greater diversity was observed in the coastal areas than in the river and estuary. Cluster analysis with community composition data revealed that the community structure varied significantly in 2011 depending on the time of survey, while in 2012, it hardly showed any variation and was simpler. An increase in the phytoplankton standing crop, fewer dominant species, and simpler community structure in 2012 compared to those in 2011 are probably due to the rapid environmental changes along the Nakdong River. To investigate these ecological relationships, it is necessary to conduct further studies focusing on integrated analyses of biocenosis, including phytoplankton with respect to the changes in nutrient distribution, variation of freshwater discharge, and effect area of freshwater in the Nakdong estuary and adjacent coastal areas.