Assessment of Lateral Connectivity in the Isolated Former Floodplain of the Stream, Korea

초록

New attempts to restore former floodplains isolated by artificial levees are being made recently for the recovery of the lateral connectivity between channels and floodplains in Korea. We are trying to develop the assessment system of the lateral connectivity in streams from the ecological aspects of hydrology, habitat quality and wildlife movement. The assessment system of lateral connectivity was divided into the connectivity between channels and floodplains and the habitat condition of the isolated former floodplains. The connectivity was evaluated by the hydrological exchange and the biological movement. The habitat condition was assessed the preservability of the wetland and terrestrial zones in the isolated former floodplains. The developed assessment system was applied to total 33 sites of Mangyeong-gang River and Cheongmi-cheon Stream. The results of these applications showed that the assessment system of the lateral connectivity can be utilized as an objective and effective tools for evaluating the current floodplain condition and selecting the high priority restoration sites.