• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.325-336
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• 2010

This study presents the alteration of flow regime by effects of dams and water use in the Geum River Basin. The surface water use rate and the Impounded Runoff (IR) index were examined to assess the pressure indicators of the flow alteration. We applied the flow duration curve, flow regime coefficient, flood and low-flow frequency analysis as well as Range of Variability Approach (RVA) to investigate the quantitative changes in natural flow regimes. The results indicate that the high flow decreased and low flow increased respectively compared to the natural flow regimes at eight gauging stations. The Geum river is regulated by 139 dams and reservoirs storing 24% of the annual mean discharge and has high surface water use rate of 36%. These indicators are main pressure factors to alter flow regimes.