Integrated watershed management for mitigating streamflow depletion in an urbanized watershed in Korea

A systematic, seven-step approach to integrated watershed planning and management is applied to an urbanized watershed, the Anyangcheon (AY) watershed in Korea which consists of (1) understanding watershed components and processes, (2) identifying and ranking problems to be solved, (3) setting clear and specific goals, (4) developing a list of management options, (5) eliminating infeasible options (6) testing the effectiveness of remaining feasible options, and (7) developing the final options. Watershed characteristics, water quantity and quality simulations with SWAT and PLOAD models, and the developed problem indices of PFD (Potential Flood Damage), PSD (Potential Streamflow Depletion), and PWQD (Potential Water Quality Deterioration) identify that streamflow depletion is more serious than flood risk and water pollution in the study watershed (Steps 1 and 2). Instreamflow requirements, which are the maximum value of the average low flow and the fish flow, are estimated using regional regression and the software PHABSIM (Step 3). Feasible solutions that improve the depleted streams are listed and screened qualitatively against technical, economical, and environmental criteria (Steps 4 and 5). Effectiveness of the remaining 14 feasible alternatives are then analyzed using SWAT (Step 6) and alternative evaluation index (AEI) and their priority ranks are determined against an evaluation criterion that uses the concept of pressure, state, and response (Step 7).