South Korean "Four-River Project: enhanced water resources

[geminif4ucorsair]

This is copy of article in The Korean Herald (19Oct2009) that details some of the forthcoming Water related projects. which relates to the Yongsan / Han / Geum and Nakdong River's. [A link is also provided, though web site archive does not include the original paper graphics.]

Preparing Korea for the age of water
2010-03-30 13:27
Text Dictionary

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This is the sixth installment in a series of articles shedding light on Korea`s territorial policies -- an integral part of the nation`s development strategy. Researchers from the Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements, a state-run institute committed to studying means of enhancing the use of national territory, will deal with about two dozen themes related to formulating the territorial development strategy. -- Ed. By Kim Sun-hee, Sim Ou-bae Sim Extreme meteorological phenomena such as heavy rainfalls, droughts, heat waves and powerful tropical storms have increased recently as a result of climate change. The average temperature in Korea rose by about 1.5 degrees centigrade over 99 years between 1906 and 2005, showing a faster pace of climate change than the global average. The number of rainy days has declined. But the overall amount and intensity of precipitation increased and the frequency of super typhoons affecting the nation has also increased. Two-thirds of the country`s annual precipitation falls from June to September, exposing areas to the danger of flooding. But during nine months of the year, rivers tend to be short of water.

The May-June 2009 edition of Foreign Policy, a U.S. journal on diplomacy, presented post-economic crisis global issues. Water is one of the most important factors it said will affect the world. "Water is the new gold, and a few savvy countries and companies are already banking on it," the journal said. As climate change proceeds, it predicted securing water sources would be essential for the existence and prosperity of human beings. Korea has rich saltwater source, being surrounded by the sea on three sides. And although there are few freshwater lakes, there are a large number of rivers. Four of the largest are the Han, Geum, Nakdong and Yeongsan rivers. By utilizing this distinctive geographical feature, Korea can enhance its national competitiveness responding to the changes in global economic trends and sense of values.

The government has launched the Four-River Project, aimed at cleaning up and reviving the major rivers and spurring regional and national development. It is a multi-purpose project to better prepare for the future. As part of efforts to combat climate change, the project seeks to prevent flooding and water shortages. It also aims to use expanded water networks for leisure and cultural activities and contribute to refined territorial space by revamping "riverscapes" in harmony with surrounding urban centers. The four rivers are valuable resources shared by many local governments as the basis for mutual development and regional cooperation. The Four-River Project will be developed into a new multipurpose strategy to benefit all the regions by supporting regional development to overcome the current economic crisis through green growth. It will also help create jobs and invigorate regional economies. The Four-River Project is a nationally planned comprehensive project that incorporates cutting-edge technologies.

The project is related to not just water resources, but also to other various fields such as ecology and urban and regional development. Cooperative systems were established on central and local government levels to coordinate positions of relevant parties key to success of the project. Multi-purpose strategies The Four-River Project pursues multiple goals: It prepares for climate change and promotes coexistence between man and nature. It also seeks to renew the national territory, foster balanced regional development and build bases for green growth. Source: Four-River Project Master Plan (June 23, 2009) Its major strategies are: 1) establishment of comprehensive preventative countermeasures; 2) creation of hi-tech waterside networks that incorporate IT, ET and GT; 3) making Korea an internationally recognized green country through with an advanced flood control system; and 4) establishment of a collaborative governance system in which local citizens play a central role.

These strategies employ five basic principles. First, we need to take proactive approaches toward climate change. In order to tackle drought, water resources must be secured, and investment must focus on preventative measures rather than just recovery from flood damage. Second, we have to diversify the channels to obtain water resources including dredging, setting up barriers, improving (expanding and connecting) water resource facilities, and consistently developing new facilities. Third, a new approach in river management and locally customized countermeasures should be applied. Flood control ability can be maximized through dredging and sediment control, fit for different regional characteristics. Fourth, the rivers can be utilized as multi-purpose spaces where nature and humans intermingle. We will create recreational facilities along the rivers, build a beautiful riverscape, increase accessibility to the rivers, and promote regional development and culture. Lastly, ecological integrity should be restored and water quality must be improved. Farming within the river banks must end. The old river paths should be restored and biodiversity should be achieved through wetlands and water-side ecological belts. Source: Four-River Project Master Plan (June 23, 2009) Four-River plan details The core aspects of the Four-River Project include dredging rivers, building barriers, creating "ecological rivers," fortifying levees, building dams and flood retention basins, constructing reservoirs for irrigation and establishing measures to improve the quality of water.

The plan is estimated to cost 16.9 trillion won. Also, 5.3 trillion won will be invested in measures for the Seomjin River and its major tributaries, expansion of reservoirs for irrigation, and water quality enhancement projects. The overarching goals of the Four-River Project are: 1) storing a sufficient amount of water resources to prepare for a possible shortage, 2) creating organic measures for flood prevention, 3) improving water quality and ecological health, 4) creating multi-purpose spaces for local citizens, and 5) spurring regional development around the rivers. To prepare for the looming water shortage, projects need to include dredging rivers and building barriers, small- and medium-sized dams, and reservoirs for irrigation. Some 800 million tons of water can be obtained by dredging rivers and building barriers, and the water stored within the barrier can be used in multiple ways, such as keeping the river from being dried out. Types of sluices can be selected based on the water pressure at ordinary water levels. Barriers can be built as regional landmarks by adopting designs that match the surrounding environment, and eco-friendly features such as fish paths and wetlands can be constructed. Flood prevention projects will include dredging river sediment, building flood retention basins and riverside reservoirs, refurbishing old banks, installing more sluice gates at banks on estuaries, and building dams. In the past, the focus was on increasing the height of existing levees and restoring damage after natural disasters struck. However, the Four-River Project seeks to shift to a new flood control measure of eliminating the root cause. The plan is to maximize the use of the natural environment to expand the width and the depth of the main rivers. Flood retention basins and riverside reservoirs will be built to protect the lower part of the river in times of flooding. At regular times, the river areas will be turned into spaces for improving ecological integrity.

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Source: Homepage of the Four-River Project of the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs (http://www.mltm.go.kr/4river)

To improve water quality and revitalize ecology, 34 highly polluted river valleys should be monitored systematically. More facilities should be built to prevent pollutants from spilling into the river in the first place. For undeveloped riverside areas, the government plans to establish multi-functional recreational sites, improve accessibility to rivers, revitalize nearby urban areas, use waterfronts in various ways, and create beautiful civic spaces. It is also planning to construct bicycle paths connecting the upper and lower parts of rivers. Recreational features will include esplanades, inline skating rinks, and facilities for water sports and camping areas and rest areas. The link between rivers and urban areas should also be reinforced by eliminating spatial interruptions caused by physical barriers like roads and banks. Other goals are to develop riverside regions into urban areas, renew old city centers, create tourist attractions, and establish riverside landmarks that reflect unique regional and spatial features. Historical and cultural riverside belts can be formed by linking riverside landmarks and recreational facilities with historical spots in the region. These belts can be designed according to geographical features of the rivers and the surrounding areas, the landscape, and cultural and historical facts. Moreover, by constructing bank protection, waterfronts, banks and buildings, the government aims to design integrated, multi-dimensional waterfront spaces, instead of disconnected and monotonous spaces.

Projects to enhance related regional development around rivers will include repair and reconstruction of tributaries, building nearby cultural facilities, creating vibrant and beautiful rural areas, and encouraging green-growth industries utilizing the four major rivers. Green tourism can be promoted by offering riverside tours, including vacation packages that include trips to various local attractions. Each river area would be developed and marketed according to its unique features. Furthermore, the government is planning to provide support to develop a new base for economic growth of struggling inland regions and agricultural and fishing villages near the rivers. Fusion of technologies Various leading technologies will be incorporated into the Four-River Project. A comprehensive river management system that adopts a high-tech water monitoring system based on a multi-sensor platform will be built to manage the water resources in an environment-friendly manner and monitor the water level on a real time basis. Underwater sensors will be developed to monitor the water quality, and cutting edge IT will be utilized to restore the four rivers. Various sensors will monitor the water quality of the rivers on a real time basis and when pollution levels rise, it will be dealt with immediately and systematically through the help of a geographic information system (GIS). These will help reduce non-point source pollutants at cities and rural areas, prevent accidental water pollutions, and help respond rapidly to unnatural conditions. Additionally, to transform the four rivers into a digital cultural tour complex, a four river digital tour system will be built. The system digitalizes the cultural heritage around the four rivers using remote communication and GPS technology. Implementation of the project

The government decided in December 2008 to promote the Four-River Project as part of its Green New Deal. It is investing a lot of money in a short period of time to solve water pollution problems and to rebuild territory around rivers. Since then, pilot projects have been launched in Andong, Naju, Chungju, and Busan. The government Office of Four-River Project was created within the Ministry for Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs on Feb. 5. On April 14, the vice-ministerial-level office was expanded and reorganized into a ministerial-level commission. The purpose was to reinforce its external function of moderating different opinions among the ministries. The Council of Governmental Support, a pan-governmental council run by the Prime Minister`s Office, and Regional Councils for each river were set up to solicit opinions of the local governments. A conference hosted by the three committees directly under the control of the president -- the Regional Development Committee, the Green Growth Committee, and National Construction Committee -- the Ministry for Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs, the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism took place on April 27. A regional conference on May 5, a conference of related ministries on May 11-15, and consultation with professionals held May 14-22, and a May 25 public hearing followed. These meetings led to the development and publication of the Four-River Project Master Plan on June 8. Source: Four-River Project Master Plan (June 23, 2009) Global model The Four-River Project is not simply for river restoration but represents a change in the river and water management paradigm. It is also environmentally friendly. Its aim is to not just prevent flood damages and solve water shortages, but revive the rivers all across the country through comprehensive and fundamental renewal of rivers, which includes water quality improvement, promotion of riverside cultures, and construction of recreational areas and refined riverscapes. It also involves promoting green growth by drawing the local residents closer to the rivers and making them build their lives around rivers.

The restoration of the four major rivers, which constitutes 70 percent of national territory, will benefit most citizens nationwide. It is a green new deal and a core green growth project that would incur regional development, create jobs for 340,000 people, and contribute to the production of about 40 trillion won worth of goods.

In conclusion, the Four-River Project will generate water-spatial synergy by promoting development of mega economic zones, renewing cities, and spurring urban and rural development and integration, and thereby play a core role in building a new type of national territorial development paradigm. On April 1, Hillary Benn, Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs of the United Kingdom and Mr. Pavan Sukhdev, the project leader for the green economy initiative of the United Nations Environment Program, during their meeting with President Lee Myung-bak, emphasized that Korea`s Four-River Project is one of the five principal projects the United Nations is espousing to meet the demands of climate change. Secretary of State Hillary Benn remarked that Korea`s Green New Deal is an economic development policy for overcoming the global financial crisis, and at the same time, it is a global example of low carbon policy to meet the challenges of the climate change. He also commented that the green growth policy of Korea is drawing considerable interest from the world`s leaders at the G20 summit meeting in London. Furthermore, on August 20, in its `Interim report on Korea`s green growth policy,` UNEP stated that if the Four-River Project, which is the core green growth project of UNEP, succeeds, enough water might be procured to solve the water shortage and drought caused by the climate change. If the Four-River Project is successful, it will tackle climate change effectively, bring about an improvement in the river management method by introducing cutting edge technologies, and provide a new vision for Korea by reorganizing the national territory around rivers under multi-governance. In addition, the Four-River Project will become a global model for green growth that helps overcome the economic crisis and lead the regional development. The experience and technology accumulated through the Four-River Project will advance Korea to be among the world`s top nations in terms of water resources.
http://www.koreaherald.com/specialrepor ... 1019000073
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Overall cost of development of these hydro and Water Resource projects is noted at 19.6 trillion K-Won...at @ 1050 p/US$, that close enough to US$19 Bn.

Worth considering for upgrading SR2020.