In efforts to raise overall flood capacity to 0.92 billion m³, the government is hoping to manage the nation’s rivers in such a way that the country will be prepared against natural disasters resulting from climate change and be better able to cope with droughts and water shortages.
In order to raise the conveyance capacity of the rivers during floods, project directors plan to dredge sedimentary soils (0.52 billion m³) from the riverbeds, which will significantly lower the flood stage (0.4-3.9m).
* Dredging: an excavation operation carried out in rivers or seas to remove bottom sediments and deepen the waterway
* The sediments from the Four Rivers Restoration Project will be utilized for various agricultural purposes.
2. Efficiently prepare for droughts and water shortages
In order to cope with droughts and water shortages as much as 1.0 billion m³ in 2016, 16 weirs and two small dams will be built, and banks of agricultural reservoirs will be heightened along the rivers, securing a total of 1.3 billion m³ of water.
The project proposes building sixteen weirs along the main stream sectors of the four major rivers to secure 0.8 billion m³ of water. The water retention structures will be designed to be ‘movable,’ allowing for better control of water levels during floods or droughts.
The 16 movable weirs will be built on the four major rivers so that they can generate electricity using their small, built-in hydroelectric power generation equipment; each structure will be built with consideration to the historical and cultural aspects of each location and will add to the beauty of each area.
* Movable weirs on the four major rivers: The movable weirs to be built on the Han , Nakdong, Geum and Yeongsan River are to be operated by built-in hydroelectric power generation equipment and will be an environmentally-friendly means of controlling water level.
3. Create healthy rivers through the improvement of water quality and the restoration of eco-systems
The water quality improvement and eco-system restoration projects will substantially raise the amount of “good water” (rated “2nd class”), water that is clean enough for swimming (up from 76% in 2006 to a projected percent of 86% in 2012). The river eco-systems will also be improved by the creation of ecological streams and riverside belts.
In order to improve river quality, basic environmental facilities will be expanded to keep point source pollutants from entering the stream. To address nonpoint source pollutants (those without an identifiable point of source), an overall cleaning of the farmlands along the rivers will be conducted.
Farmland along the rivers will be converted back into retention reservoir not only to control flood water, but also to create eco-spaces such as wetlands, eco-streams, old river channels, etc. and ultimately restore the riverside ecosystems.
* Eco-streams: 929km, eco-wetlands: 39, old river channels: 2 (Yeongsan River)
4. Re-create riverside spaces as multi-purpose cultural spaces for local communities
A total of 1,728km of bike paths will be constructed across the nation, connecting the upper and lower reaches of the four major rivers. These riverside areas, which had been dissected by roads and levees, will be reconnected into riverside community areas, increasing overall accessibility to the rivers.
The project will create multi-purpose cultural spaces that will serve as cultural, tourist and entertainment venues, giving local residents greater opportunities to enjoy a variety of leisure activities, thereby improving their overall quality of life.
The project will contribute to the development of the local economy through the undertaking of the Green New Deal Project. Approximately 340,000 new jobs will result from the river restorative efforts, bringing in a total sum of approximately KRW 40 trillion (equivalent of USD 32 billion). Since the four rivers run through Korea, the economic benefits from the project’s operation will be shared evenly among the local communities.
* Local governments involved in the Four River Restoration Project:78 cities, counties and districts (Han River: 14 / Nakdong River: 30 / Geum River: 15 / Yeongsan & Seomjin Rivers: 19)
* Docklands are areas that were redeveloped principally for commercial and residential use from former ports after the decline of shipbuilding and marine transportation industries.
* The ‘Venice of the U.S.’, the San Antonio River Walk, is a network of walkways that maximizes the area’s urban value by connecting a variety of cultural facilities along the riverside.
Through the Four Rivers Restoration Project, Korea as a nation will continue to build its expertise in the water management sector and become a leader in the field, combining IT (Information Technology), ET (Environment Technology) and GT (Green Technology).
