“What's Happened to This Stream?” … Jukgyecheon in Yeongju, Gyeongbuk, Named ‘Best’ in Ecological Stream Restoration

Ministry of Environment Excellence Case Review, Selected as 'Best' Among 26 Sites Nationwide

Yeongju Jukgyecheon.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] Among the nationwide rivers restored as ecological rivers, Jukgyecheon in Yeongju, Gyeongbuk Province, was selected as the most successful case.

Gyeongbuk Province announced on the 2nd that Jukgyecheon was selected as the "Best" in the final evaluation of last year's "National Ecological River Restoration Project" conducted by the Ministry of Environment.

The evaluation targeted 26 ecological rivers nationwide that were completed in 2018 with the aim of improving water quality and restoring aquatic ecosystems. After the first document screening by the local environmental office, a second comprehensive evaluation was conducted on 11 projects nationwide, including Jukgyecheon.

Yeongju Jukgyecheon received high marks in water quality and aquatic ecosystem restoration, as well as ecological river monitoring and post-management, winning the "Best" award along with a prize of 3 million KRW.

The Jukgyecheon ecological river restoration project was completed in December 2018, investing 6.7 billion KRW in total project costs, including 4 billion KRW in national funds and 2.7 billion KRW in local funds, for the 3 km section from Jangsu Bridge to the confluence with Seocheon.

It is evaluated that the project restored the original river's biodiversity and health by reinforcing the riverbank, creating willow riverside resting areas, establishing ecological wetlands, installing fishways, and creating habitats for organisms, thereby providing a pleasant waterside space.

Compared to the survey conducted in 2013 before the project implementation, biodiversity increased in all categories including mammals, birds, and amphibians and reptiles.

Moreover, the ecological environment has greatly improved, as traces of the Eurasian otter, a legally protected species classified as a first-class endangered wild animal and Natural Monument No. 330, have been continuously found.

Gyeongbuk Province plans to improve issues through continuous monitoring and post-management to maintain the ecological river functions and provide citizens with a waterfront space and an ecological learning site.

Choi Young-sook, Director of the Environment and Forest Resources Bureau of Gyeongbuk Province, said, "We will apply the excellent case of Jukgyecheon to ongoing projects," and added, "This year, we will invest 41.2 billion KRW in 10 rivers to create better rivers."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.