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This study aims mainly to develop not only new river-grade adjustment criterion but also river-district decision criterion and system prescribed in river law of Korea. These criteria have not been changed since the river law was established in 1961. In recent years, river-grade and district management which includes 3,893 rivers divided into national river - the first and second local river has not been properly worked to control the whole river system well.
For example, the conflict between local governments has often happened because of the bisection of management right in one river and flood on the joint line of a national river and a local river has been periodically occurred in terms of unbalance of river barrier's height. It is inevitably necessary to include some influences that reflect social conditions and the river's physical appearances such as multi-dam construction, river barrier to prevent overflow, basin facility and so on.
Therefore, this study tried to suggest the alternatives for effective and systematical river-grade and river- district system.
In the first chart, the purpose and necessity of this study are defined and a chart shows the process of sequence in the scope of this study. At the end of this chart, the expected result of the study are briefly anticipated as well.
In the second chart, it consists of three parts, the present situation of river authorized in river law, revised history of river law since 1961 and the problem of river management. The present situation of river authorized in river law is organized in academical concept of law, precipitation patterns in the recent years and the structure of
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A Study on the Improvement Method of River Law and System : River Grade & District
하천법령 및 제도개선방안 연구 Kwang-Mook Kim, Seung-Bok Lee, Young-Seok Oh
June 2004․162 pages․Korean
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river. On the other hand, the present situation of river-grade and district authorized in river law is also reviewed and analyzed to find out a solution from problem.
In the third chart, The foreign case studies are surveyed to get some distinct ideas.
Especially, three countries, Germany, United states of America and Japan are intensively surveyed. As a result of the survey, some features are drawn as follows. Germany theoretically established river-grade in the early 20 century. The United states of America divides rivers after considering the environmental condition of each river. Therefore, the river which is worthy to conserve, is strictly prevented from any kinds of construction.
Japan has a similar situation with Korea. It is very meaningful to survey the system composed by approximately 30,000 rivers. Japan deals intensively with levee areas adjacent to river district for escalating the land effectiveness and protecting the over-flood from a heavy rainfall.
In the fourth chart, there are two parts. the first part is to make the new river-grade criterion. The second part is to make the new river-district criterion and improve system as well. The new river-grade criterion is organized in 12 variables affecting river condition. These variables influence river's peculiar functions; water supply, flood control and river-water environment. The variables selected by delphi survey were divided into four factors; geographical factor, regional factor, natural factor and social/political factor.
After classifying the variables according to analytic hierarchy process, they are analyzed quantitatively to calculate relative weight among variables. As a result of the process, it is statistically testified that the most important variable is river- dimension. On the other hand, the new river-district criterion is also prepared to improve the related systems such as notification process, special river-district designation and sustainable conservation of wildlife.
In the fifth chart, a couple of alternatives responding to the problems of river management are discussed. First of all, the new river-grade criterion is applied to the present river-grade system. After adjusting, the number of national river increased from 65 to 462. The first local river also increased from 55 to 368. However, the second local river reduced from 3,773 to 3,063.
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In the case of river-district, new additional districts such as special levee management district and environment conservation district are suggested to form inside river-district.
These special districts are strongly prohibited from illegal construction and conserved for the wildlife living in river. Also, the amount of compensation is anticipated to be chargeable to the private property according to river law which regulates the owner provision “the nation own river”.
In the sixth chart, it includes the synthetic conclusion. It summarizes the contents of new river-grade and district. Finally, it also announces the restriction of this study caused by time limit and restricted scope.
