"Maintain the Four Major Rivers Weirs as They Are"…National Water Management Basic Plan Amendment Confirmed

The revised National Water Management Basic Plan, which removed the treatment measures for the Four Major Rivers' weirs, has been finalized.

On the 21st, the Ministry of Environment announced that as a follow-up measure to the decision by the Presidential National Water Management Committee on the 4th of last month to cancel the treatment measures for the Geumgang and Yeongsangang weirs, it will revise the 1st National Water Management Basic Plan (2021?2030) and announce it on the 25th. The National Water Management Basic Plan is the highest-level statutory plan in the water management sector, established by the Minister of Environment under the 'Framework Act on Water Management.'

The revised National Water Management Basic Plan has deleted tasks related to the treatment measures for the Four Major Rivers' weirs, such as dismantling and permanent opening. It also clarified some phrases and terms, including the application of statutory terminology. The deleted contents include △ preparation of treatment measures for 11 weirs on the Hangang and Nakdonggang Rivers △ promotion of natural restoration of 5 weirs on the Geumgang and Yeongsangang Rivers △ decisions on treatment measures for the Geumgang and Yeongsangang weirs △ and plans for restoring the natural state of our rivers.

Additionally, it incorporated tasks proposed by the National Water Management Committee at the time of the cancellation decision, such as △ scientific linked operation of dams, weirs, and sluice gates △ accumulation of sufficient objective data on quantity, quality, and aquatic ecology throughout the Four Major Rivers basin △ multifaceted analysis of causes of algal blooms and establishment and promotion of reduction measures related to weir treatment measures.

Some terms were revised to clarify their meanings, and non-statutory terms were replaced with statutory terms. ‘Natural restoration’ was changed to ‘enhancement of appropriateness and sustainability,’ and ‘river’ was changed to ‘stream’ (Article 2 of the Stream Act).

Earlier, the Board of Audit and Inspection announced in July the results of an audit indicating that the previous administration’s decision to dismantle and permanently open the Geumgang and Yeongsangang weirs was excessively forced. Accordingly, the Ministry of Environment decided to preserve all 16 weirs of the Four Major Rivers. Last month, the National Water Management Committee canceled the treatment measures for the Geumgang and Yeongsangang weirs.

Han Hwa-jin, Minister of Environment, stated, "With the revision of the National Water Management Basic Plan, we will put an end to inefficient debates over the Four Major Rivers' weirs and focus on preventing water disasters such as extreme floods and droughts in the era of climate crisis, achieving innovation in water management based on science."

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