Abstract

The present study aims to investigate the long-term channel morphological changes derived from channelization, embankment and levee construction works in unregulated fluvial channel of the Jiseock River. Analyses of aerial photographs taken past (Year 1966) and recent (Year 2002) showed the temporally remarkable changes in channel planform such as channel shape, bar migration, vegetation encroachment in bar. During the period, the natural single threading changed into braided types together with decreasing sinuosity by 9.2%, increasing vegetation occupied bar ranged 97% of total bars area. Because such channel morphological changes are closely similar to those in dam downstream channels, we assume that both/either flow regime alteration and/or sediment transport discontinuity may be critical for the fixed channel and spread of vegetated bars even in unregulated river without dam reservoir upstream. We found more reduced frequency and magnitude of flooding water level comparing with past, but no significant alteration of inter annual water level variation. Bed material has been coarsened by 4~5 times and the riverbed has been degraded in overall channel but aggraded locally in conjunction reach of tributaries. The results indicates that reduced sediment dynamics in fluvial channel which derived by bed material coarsening, river bed degradation and unbalanced sediment transport capacity between tributary and mainstem can be a causal factor to trigger channel morphological changes even in unregulated rivers.

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