• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.447-461
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• 2018

To realize river restoration that ecological characteristics of the river are reflected, we classified the river into four reaches of valley stream, upstream, midstream, and downstream based on substrate as well as riverbed gradient obtained from the relationship between distance from the river mouth, and above sea level. Considering that the rivers of Korea have been dominated by various and intense artificial interferences over a lengthy period, we determined cross sectional range of the river based on the geological map and clarified transformation degree by reach. Vegetation profile diagram was prepared by depicting horizontal range and vertical stratification of major vegetation appearing in a belt transect of 10 m breadth installed between weirs constructed in both sides of the river. Restoration models by river reach were prepared based on breadth of waterway, bare ground, herb, shrub, and tree dominated vegetation zones on vegetation profiles wherein a flooding regime was reflected. Species composition information collected from vegetation established in each zone was systematized to use for restoring each reach ecologically. Further, background that longitudinal reaches and horizontal zones were divided, was discussed by comparing with case studies in foreign countries. In addition, necessity of ecological restoration of the river was discussed based on degree of integrity of Korean rivers, ecological significance of riparian vegetation, and importance of reference information for ecological restoration of the river.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.95-102
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• 2012

To evaluate the effect of the 4 major rivers restoration project in the Nakdong River to water quality of the river, the Environmental Fluid Dynamics Code (EFDC) and Water Quality Analysis Simulation Program (WASP), are applied in series. Results showed overall decrease in biochemical oxygen demand ($BOD_5$) concentrations and increase in chlorophyll-a concentrations, while total nitrogen and total phosphorous concentrations did not show significant changes, relatively. Decrease in $BOD_5$ concentrations seems to be influenced by an increased hydraulic residence time, which may allow more time for the degradation of organic material. Changes in Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentration, due to the project were more significant for the upper stream areas that show relatively low Chl-a concentration ranges (less than 20 g/L). After the introduction of the Geumho River in the middle part of the Nakdong River, rapid growth of phytoplankton was observed. However, in this middle part of the Nakdong River, the ratio of Chl-a concentration change are less significant, compared to the upper stream areas, due to the project. In the lower stream area, Chl-a concentration decreased after the project. This seems to be resulted from the decreased light availability, due to increased depth, while the nutrient concentrations have been high enough to support phytoplankton growth.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.325-335
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• 2011

Estuary is a transitional zone between river and ocean environment that receives the maritime and riverine influence simultaneously. Estuaries are the most productive habitats because their incoming water provides large quantities of nutrients. The Seomjin River estuary, located in the middle south of Korea, has no barrage and shows natural characteristic of estuary. However, due to dredging and reclamation the environment of the estuary has been changed significantly in the river mouth. In addition, increased freshwater intake in midstream of the Seomjin River results in salinity intrusion. In this paper salinity variation in downstream estuary of the Seomjin River has been simulated and tested using EFDC model. The results of simulation were compared with measured data collected at three points, Culture & Art Center, Sumjin Iron Bridge, and Mokdori, located at 9Km, 14Km, and 15.5Km respectively from downstream estuary. Based on the simulated results, the contribution of the flushing discharge has been evaluated in preventing the salinity intrusion by increasing the discharge flowrates released from the Juam dam.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.535-542
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• 2007

The Geumho river watershed located in the middle of the Nakdong river has been threatened by high population growth and urbanization. Of concern specifically is the potential impact of future developments in the watershed on the reduction of base flow and the consequent risk of degradation of ecological habitats in Geumho river. Anticipated increase in imperviousness, on the other hand, is expected to elevate flood risk and the associated environmental damage. A watershed hydrology based modeling study is initiated in this study to assist in planning for sustainable future development in the Geumho river watershed. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) is selected to model the impact of urbanization in the Geumho river watershed on the hydrologic response thereof. The modeling results show that in general the likelihood that the watershed will experience high and low stream flows will increase in view of the urbanization so far achieved.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.206-213
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• 2008

Fish fauna and community structure were investigated at 2003, 2004 and 2006 in Lake Paldang and its inflows. In this survey, we collected 54 species belong to 14 families. Family Cyprinidae take 51.9% (28 species), Cobitidae and Gobiidae occupied 7.4% (each 4 species), respectively. E. erythropterus (11.8%) was dominant species and L. macrochirus (10.2%), designated as an ecosystem-invasive alien fish species by Ministry of Environment, M. yaluensis (9.1%), Z. platypus (7.7%) and R. brunneus (6.7%) were dominated in turn. H. molitrix, C. lutheri, P. altivelis, S. microdorsalis, L. costata. S. gracilis majimae, A. rivularis, P. koreanus. S. scherzeri and O. platycephala were rare species (less than 0.1% in relative abundance). In-lake area, 36 species of fishes belonging to 11 families were collected, and 48 species of 13 families were from inflows. The number of Korean endemic species were 19 species (35.2%), and 4 kinds of exotic species (7.4%), that is, C. cuvieri, H. molitrix, L. macrochirus and M. salmoides were found at this survey area. It was revealed by the analysis of fish community that diversity and richness indices were prominent at tributaries, and dominance index was high at the main body of Lake Paldang. Fish fauna showed rapid decline after dam construction which make the mid-Han river systems to lentic ecosystem, so many of meander-riffle fishes were disappeared dramatically. But after 1990s when installation of small scale wastewater treatment plants started in watershed, the water quality of small tributaries was improved. And also, expansion of the natural macrophytic vegetation of littoral zone should contribute to the development of diverse fish fauna in Lake Paldang.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.155-164
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• 2013

To confirm the relationship between climate change and Stephanodiscus in Mulgeum station of Nakdong River, Korea, this study was conducted. The temperature in crease by climate change was observed in the study site, where the temperature was gradually increased in most seasons, except for summer season. The mass proliferation of Stephanodiscus constantly appeared in every year, especially between November and March, and when Stephanodiscus abundance was above 90% in phytoplankton biomass. Among this period, phytoplankton biomass was high related with water temperature ($r^2$=0.249, P<0.01) than nutrient factors such as nitrogen and phosphorus in the study site. Finally, temperature by climate change can be regarded as the affecting factor for chl. a variation, because temperature was strongly related with water temperature ($r^2$=0.748, P<0.01). From 1997 to 2010, the annual maximum phytoplankton biomass was recorded in the range of temperature from $4.8^{\circ}C$ to $8.4^{\circ}C$, and the range was regarded as the temperature condition for the optimal growth of Stephanodiscus in the study site. On the optimal growth temperature, the trend of monthly average temperature corresponded to the trend of chl. a variation from November to March. In future, the increase of temperature by climate change can prolong Stephanodiscus blooming period in winter and spring seasons.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.723-731
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• 2015

We investigated the spatial and temporal patterns of water quality in the Gangjung-Goryoung weir that is located in the middle area of the Nakdong river, Korea. The monitoring results indicated that there are discernible vertical differences in water quality during the pre- and post-monsoon periods (May to September). During this period, it was observed that the weak thermal stratification formed at the maximum level, and pH, Chl-a, and DO concentrations in the surface layer were higher than those in the bottom layer. This vertical difference was especially noticeable for DO concentrations: there were DO depletions at the bottom layer in late June to early August. During the summer monsoon period with heavy rainfall, there was a decline in vertical differences in water quality. From this study, it was suggested that continuous monitoring of vertical profiles could become a useful tool for identifying the spatial and temporal distributions of water quality and for developing the best management policy for water quality in the Nakdong river.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.21 no.spc
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• pp.1-8
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• 2019

River works for water utilization have substantially altered the natural flow regime, and it has resulted in deformation of healthy river ecosystems. In Korea, river restoration projects have conducted actively since 1990's. Major purposes of the river restoration are the rehabilitation of modified river channel, improvement of water quality, and creation of aquatic habitats as well as recreational spaces using natural material for river work. However, there have been little interests about the restoration of flow regime which influences to most aspects of river ecosystems. The restoration of natural flow regime has received much attention in preservation of aquatic ecosystems. It should be needed to explore the relationship between flow regime and river ecosystems, and the restoring flow regime is essential. This paper introduce the concept of environmental flow through the interrelation between flow regime and river ecosystem. It provides rolls of flow regime and addresses the method of establishing target flow regime using the RVA(Range of Variability Approach) that suggested by Richter et al.(1997) through analysis of altered flow pattern case of Han river basin.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.38 no.2 s.112
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• pp.160-180
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• 2005

Long-term data (Ministry of Environment Water Quality Monitoring data) of phytoplankton biomass (chlorophyll a) and water quality were analyzed to investigate trends in biomass of the primary producers and water quality for the estuarine systems in Korea: Sumjin River, Han River, Asan Lake- Bay, Youngsan River, Keum River and Nakdong River. The literatures were also reviewed to examine the characteristics of phytoplankton biomass and water quality in the estuarine systems. The Sumjin River estuary, the single estuary without a dike in Korea showed the characteristics similar to other typical estuarine systems. Phytoplankton biomass was high during the fall at transitional regions (5 ${\sim}$ 15 psu) after riverine freshwater inputs were increased in summer. Concentrations of the nitrate and silicate were increased with the high river discharge rates. Phytoplankton biomass and nutrient concentrations were high during spring at the lower regions in the Han River whereas phytoplankton biomass and nutrient concentrations were high during spring at the upper regions in the Youngsan River. Phytoplankton biomass was the highest in the Asan Lake and nutrient concentrations were high at the upper region of the lake. In Nakdong River, phytoplankton biomass was high during winter and the biomass was slightly higher at upper region than at lower region. Long-term trends showed that total nitrogen and total phosphorus were mostly increased in the river systems. Implications of these results relevant to the water quality management for the river systems were also discussed.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.61-77
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• 2020

In South Korea, major public waters have been systematic management under national level. Water environment network has been continuous monitoring for change of aquatic ecosystem, river and reservoir. In Water Quality Monitoring Networks, the data have been generally monitored Per eight days or month, while in Automatic Water Quality Monitoring Network the data have been monitored at daily intervals. Therefore, we were compared and analyzed water quality data between the networks using statistic method for same water quality item. Mann-kendall test results confirm that all points in Water Temperature (WT) and DO were not statistically significant. In particular, the result revealed that there is significant variation of TOC in the four different sites, TN in two different sites, TP in three different sites, WT in seven different sites, pH in two different sites between Water Quality Monitoring Network and Automatic Water Quality Monitoring Network. As a result firm LOWESS, TOC and pH clearly shows different trend. Among different sites, the water quality show the significantly positive correlations between at Sinam-Sangju2 and Namgang-Namgang4. Negative correlation significantly appeared in TP (ADD_Lower-AD1 site), TOC (DG-SG site), pH (GR-GR site), TP (JP-CN) and TN, TP, pH, EC, DO (GC-GC2-1 site).