Issues and policy tasks of river management along with changing conditions of national territory

Lee Sang-eun, Head of Water Resources Research Center under Environment & Resources Research Division 

Summary

1> As the country enters the era of USD 30,000 per capital income and more people begin to demand better quality of living and recognize the need to adjust river management system. Also, changing environment surrounding river management system such as enactment of Framework Act on Water Management and Water Resources Act and amendment of Government Organization Act provokes the urgency of revising relevant laws and regulations in general 

2> Key issues related to river management are as follows: Improving public satisfaction for river improvement projects, reinvent the identity of river as territorial resource, strengthening cooperation among basins and values of mutual development, restoring river and enhancing eco-friendliness, and contributing to safe and secure national territory

3> Need to respond to key policy tasks such as improving river planning system encompassing river improvement plan, performance management, spatial use, repair and maintenance, and better environment surrounding rivers based on a comprehensive analysis of changing internal/external conditions and current issues 

4> With the installation of Water Resources Research Center, Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements (KRIHS) aims to contribute for sustainable development of national territory by identifying and conducting research on river related tasks and reviewing theories of such issues concurrently based on the mid- to long-term territorial policy of the government 

Policy proposals

① (Improve river planning system) Redefine short/mid/long term river planning system to provide national goals and directions, further develop management guidelines tailored to certain basins, and flexibly respond to the situations while monitoring each river site

② (Improve spatial values of river) For urban river areas, plan and operate those areas to link them with the demands for promotion of cities and communities, adjust management authority between the central and local governments, and introduce special permissions for occupation and use of river

③ (Extend the longevity of river facilities and strengthen maintenance effort) Redefine the concept of repair and maintenance in consideration of changing and multifaceted roles of river, make efforts to extend the longevity of river facilities according to the life cycle stages, and strengthen safety management  

④ (Prevent reckless development and improve eco-friendliness) Minimize artificialization and privatization of river space, introduce the concept of total water pollution load for stream preservation and prevention of reckless development, provide comprehensive strategies for management of facilities affecting the environment such as unauthorized livestock pen, illegal agricultural land, water intake weirs, etc. 

⑤ (Performance monitoring) Set measurable management goals during river planning, assess the investment efficiency of river projects, and establish a basis for constant performance monitoring to persuade the public on the expenditure