The Geum River Revitalization Project has its plan that converts 50 spots of 199 km long area into 'ecological stream'. The project above consists of 6 districts works ordered from Daejeon Local Land Management Administration and another 6 districts works ordered from Daejeon-Chungnam Province, the local government under jurisdiction; the 'district of Happiness' in Yeonngi county broke ground for its first leading work. This project, which was injected with total KRW 2.9 Trillion, includes the following as its contents: waterway enhancement for mainstream and tributaries of the Geum River; reinforcement work for timeworn embankment, improvement of water quality, restoration of ecosystem, creation of bike paths and more.
At first in order to block the inflow of contaminants which is main factor deteriorating the water quality, we secure 161 sewage facilities, improve sewers throughout 133 villages and newly create or extend facilities for cattle waste. With this, farmlands of 23 million m2 and vinyl greenhouse of 5,670,000 m2 inside of river area are scheduled to be get rid of; instead, 50 places of ecological parks and ecological streams are planned to be newly created. In addition, upper regions of weir installed and the areas with higher COD or TP (Total Phosphorus) are going to be designated as region of intensive management.
Works for raising the embankment of agricultural purpose reservoir around the Geum River are to be begun in earnest. Due to the works on reservoirs, it is expected to get capacity storing 6,000 m3 agricultural purpose water at least in the province. It will take double effect of securing the water inflow essential for river maintenance and creating stable agricultural infrastructure. After the completion of this enterprise, amount of secured water will have increased up to 110 million m3; flood control capacity up to 100 million m3; 'Good Water' achievement coefficient from 64% in 2006 to 79% by 2012. 'Good Water' in this project can be defined as the hydraulic environment which marsh snails can live within.
The Geum River Revitalization Project is not simple improvement work for a river but synthetically being promoted project with affiliation of migratory birds and regional historic Baekjae culture in ecological and economical way. The biggest habitat of migratory birds in Asia, the estuary of the Geum River, will be equipped with new ecological park of birds. At the side of pavilion of bird expedition, migratory birds' observatory, study booth and aquatic botanical garden will be created with keeping distance from natural area for intact state of indigenous ecosystem. Bike paths and ship's courses are being prepared for open.
The bike path alongside the river will be created starting from Geumnam-myeon, Yeonngi-gun (unit of county) through Seocheon and Buyeo and finally to Banpo-myeon in Gongju city with total range of 192 km on 7 sections. Also 67 km long ships course connecting Gongju and Buyeo is going to be open, which will contribute to vitalize the local tourism attractions embracing The Geum Rivers Basin and Baekjae cultural areas. And old ferries are to be restored with historic and nostalgic sentiments.
