Analysis of Korean TMLD Design Flow Variation due to Large Dam Effluents and Water Use Scenarios

The goal of this study is to establish an integrated watershed hydrologic model for the whole Nakdong River basin whose area is an approximately 24,000 km2. Including a number of watershed elements such as rainfall, runoff, water use, and so on, the proposed model is based on SWAT model, and is used to improve the flow duration curve estimation of ungauged watersheds for Korean Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL). The model is also used to recognize quantitatively the river flow variation due to water use elements and large dam effluents in the whole watershed. The established combined watershed hydrologic model, SWAT-Nakdong, is used to evaluate the quantified influences of artificial water balance elements, such as a dam and water use in the watershed. We apply two water balance scenarios in this study: the dam scenario considering effluent conditions of 4 large multi-purpose dams, Andong dam, Imha dam, Namgang dam, and Habcheon dam, and the water use scenario considering a water use for stream line and the effluent from a treatment plant. The two scenarios are used to investigate the impacts on TMDL design flow and flow duration of particular locations in Nakdong River main stream. The results from this study will provide the basic guideline for the natural flow restoration in Nakdong River.