poster - International Conference of Agricultural Engineering

Rural Stream Monitoring for the Investigation of Stream Depletion in
Rural Areas
Sung M. Kim 1* ․Sung J. Kim 1 ․Sang M. Kim 2
1 Graduate School, Gyeongsang National Univ., Jinju 660-701, Korea
2 Dept. of Agricultural Engineering (Inst. of Agric. & Life Sci.), Gyeongsang National Univ.,
Jinju 660-701, Korea
*Corresponding author. E-mail: kin8945@naver.com
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to monitor the stream flow of rural streams for investigating the status of
stream depletion located downstream from irrigation reservoirs. The Bonghyun and Hai reservoirs, located in Haimyeon,
which is in the city of Gosung in the Gyeongnam Province, were selected for stream and watershed study.
The stream flow monitoring was conducted seven times from March to September, 2011. The stream flow was
measured in eight stations downstream from the two reservoirs. Stream depletion was found in most of the
reservoirs downstream for the non-irrigation periods, and even in the irrigation periods when there were a lot of
antecedent precipitation. The correlation analysis for water quality data indicated that the correlation between
BOD and T-N was highest for the reservoirs. The correlation among BOD, T-N, and turbidity was high for both the
Hai and Bonghyeon reservoirs. Continuous monitoring of rural streams located downstream from reservoirs are
required to quantify the status of stream flow depletion, as well as to determine the amount of environmental flow.
Key words - Environmental flows, Stream flow monitoring, Irrigation reservoir, Water supply
Ⅰ. Introduction
Due to massive urbanization and industrial restructuring of Korea during its rapid economic
growth period after 1970, Korea's waterside environment has been severely destroyed. In
particular, the mass production and consumption from human activities released pollutants in
excess of the self-purification systems in streams; consequently, the streams have lost their
original functions (Yang, 2004). In recent years, interests about the environmental functions
of streams as a buffer zone have increased as citizens' income levels and their quality of life
improve. Also, a reassessment is being made actively about the ecological and
environmental features in the cities of Korea. (Lim, 2001). Therefore, a need for the
introduction of water used for environmental maintenance has been raised. The maintenance
of stream flow is defined as the drought flow of streams in need to maintain the normal
functioning of the streams (Kim, 2011). However, the natural and social conditions, while
considering the possibility of using the supply capabilities of water for the maintenance of
streams were calculated by considering the eight categories of water quality maintenance
(KRCC, 2010). Currently, the many streams in Korea have lost their function as water
sources. The drying out of medium-sized and small streams due to the lack of water in them
will cause problems in irrigation, along with agricultural land shortages, with an increase in
water pollution and a loss of function of the environment. As a result, the loss of economic
aspects worsens every year. Hwang & Lee (2005) suggest that there is an urgent need to
seek causes and implement preventive measures.
Most advanced nations have accumulated environmental technology and know-how about
water management. By contrast, Korea has not yet achieved sustainable environmental
water management, and knowledge about the hydraulic characteristics of streams and
ecosystems has been very limited. Environmental water management with its unique
environment of watersheds, having a constant flow like drought flow, was also thought to be
limited. In the past, most studies were based on the habitat evaluative methods of fish for the
environment with their optimal flows (KICT, 1995). The introduction of automated equipment
is difficult and requires the participation of skilled ecology professionals. A few overseas
examples are the IWMI (International Water Management Institute), the IBRD (International
Bank for Reconstruction and Development), and the CRC (Co-operative Research Centre).
They operate on-site monitoring systems adapted for specific purposes in environmental
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