Resident perceptions of urban stream restoration and water quality in South Korea

Abstract

This research explores if individual preferences for the major functions of stream restoration processes correlate water quality variations in an urban watershed of South Korea. We use a set of results from an analytical hierarchy process model to rank the major stream restoration functions and compare citizens' preferences for “water quality” improvement during stream restoration based on the water quality index (WQI) and ordinary least square regression. This study identifies the correlation between the WQI and individual perceptions regarding stream restoration. Regional context and individual characteristics also influence the demands and awareness of citizens pertaining to stream restoration. Our findings highlight the importance of understanding residents' perceptions and demographic information, including education, marriage status, gender, and residence period in different subwatersheds. The largest change (28.29) in the WQI score of one subwatershed was correlated with the participants' perception of water quality changes and water pollution (analytical hierarchy process index: 66.8%). On the basis of the survey results, we recommend that a human–ecological interdependent and adaptive consultative body is established in each subwatershed to successfully implement stream restoration projects.

Residents' perception of flood risk and urban stream restoration using multi‐criteria decision analysis

“…Similar findings were reported by Salami, Von Meding, and Giggins (2017) and Hong, Chang, and Chung (2018). These authors state the extended residence and family size were highly associated with significant agendas, such as flood prevention, water quality control, and streamflow management of stream restoration.…”

“…These authors state the extended residence and family size were highly associated with significant agendas, such as flood prevention, water quality control, and streamflow management of stream restoration. However, JC case results did not precisely match the findings of the previous studies addressed by Hong et al (2018) and Salami et al (2017). Their contrasting findings can be understood as a result of reflecting respondents' victim mentality from flooding experiences related to long residence periods in the watershed.…”

“…However, respondents of S2 with short residence (recent migrants) could not realize the importance of flood management. Besides, recent migrants in S2 were likely to be highly interested in using the waterfront spaces of JC for public recreational activities to the local communities rather than nature‐friendly amenity from ecological services shown in the cases of Salami et al (2017) and Hong et al (2018). Compared to major riverine flooding in other regions, Johnson Creek has more nuisance flooding with shallow flood areas (30–90 cm).…”

Comparing the functional recognition of aesthetics, hydrology, and quality in urban stream restoration through the framework of environmental perception

“…Urban area ratio is the ratio of the residential, commercial, and transportation zones covered with all impervious area such as roads, buildings, houses, and parking lots to the whole area (Source: Hong, Chang, & Chung, ).…”

Estimation of Water-Use Rates Based on Hydro-Meteorological Variables Using Deep Belief Network

“…A soft path solution deals with technologies and policies that aim to improve the overall productivity of water use rather than new supply sources [10]. It delivers diverse water services matched to the users' needs and works with water users at the community scale level [7,11]. The stream water coordination council (SWCC) operates in South Korea and consists of individual water users and suppliers at the community level.…”