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Original Article

National-Scale Estimation and Feasibility Assessment of Environmental Flows Using Maximum Weighted Usable Area

최대 가중가용면적을 이용한 전국 단위 환경생태유량 산정과 확보 가능성 평가

Soohong Kim1
,
Hyeongsik Kang2*
,
Inhong Song3
,
Eunmi Hong4
김 수홍1
,
강 형식2*
,
송 인홍3
,
홍 은미4
1Researcher, Land and Environment Research Group, Korea Environment Institute, Sejong 30147, Korea
2Chief Research Fellow, Land and Environment Research Group, Korea Environment Institute, Sejong 30147, Korea
3Associate Professor, Department of Rural Systems Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
4Associate Professor, Department of Environmental Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea
1한국환경연구원 국토환경연구본부 물관리연구실 연구원
2한국환경연구원 국토환경연구본부 선임연구위원
3서울대학교 조경지역시스템공학부 지역시스템공학전공 부교수
4강원대학교 에코환경과학전공 부교수
*Corresponding Author
31 December 2025. pp. 221-230
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Abstract

This study estimated ecological flows (EF) at vulnerable sites across the nation and evaluated their attainability. The PHABSIM model was applied to derive the optimal EF for representative fish species at each site, and the results were compared with flow regime indicators–low flow (Q355), subnormal flow (Q275), and normal flow (Q185). In addition, deficiency days (periods when EF was not met) were calculated for each site and river basin using hydrological data from 2015–2024. The analysis revealed that EF values at most sites were estimated above the normal flow, indicating that higher discharges than those suggested by conventional flow regimes are required to sustain riverine ecosystems. In contrast, several upstream sites exhibited almost no deficiency days, suggesting that ecological flows can remain relatively stable even during low-flow periods. These basin- and site-specific differences appear to reflect a combination of factors, including longitudinal position (upstream–downstream), the presence of artificial structures, and hydrological characteristics of the basins. This study is among the first nationwide efforts to quantify EF and incorporate deficiency-day analysis to evaluate the practical attainability of ecological flows. The findings provide fundamental insights for river management and ecological flow policies.

Keywords
Deficiency days
Ecological flow
Flow regime
Habitat assessment

본 연구는 전국의 취약지점을 대상으로 환경생태유량을 산정하고 그 확보 가능성을 평가하였다. PHABSIM 모형을 적용하여 지점별 대표 어종에 따른 최적 환경생태유량을 도출하였으며, 이를 갈수량(Q355), 저수량(Q275), 평수량(Q185)과 비교하였다. 또한 2015–2024년 유량 자료를 활용하여 지점별·권역별 부족일수(최적 환경생태유량에 도달하지 못한 기간)를 산정하였다. 분석 결과, 대다수의 지점에서 환경생태유량이 평수량 이상의 범위로 산정되어 하천 생태계 보전을 위해 기존 평수량보다 높은 유량이 필요함을 알 수 있었다. 일부 상류 지점에서는 부족일수가 거의 발생하지 않아 갈수기에도 비교적 안정적으로 생태유량이 확보되는 것으로 확인되었다. 이러한 권역별·지점별 편차는 상·중·하류 위치, 인공 구조물의 영향, 수문 체계 특성 등 복합적인 요인에서 기인한 것으로 해석된다. 본 연구는 전국 단위에서 환경생태유량을(Ecological Flow, EF) 정량적으로 산정하고 부족일수 분석을 도입하여 실제 유량 확보 가능성을 평가한 최초의 사례 중 하나로서, 하천 생태유량 관리의 기초 자료를 제공한다는 점에서 의의가 있다.

키워드
부족일수
환경생태유량
유황
서식처 평가
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Information
  • Publisher :Korean Society of Ecology and Infrastructure Engineering
  • Publisher(Ko) :응용생태공학회
  • Journal Title :Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
  • Journal Title(Ko) :응용생태공학회 논문집
  • Volume : 12
  • No :4
  • Pages :221-230
  • Received Date : 2025-10-02
  • Revised Date : 2025-11-20
  • Accepted Date : 2025-11-28
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.17820/eri.2025.12.4.221
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