Kayanuma, Old Channel Restoration 1
Restoration Site 1 : Kayanuma, Old Channel Restoration 1
One of the major projects is river channel restoration. A previously straightened channel was redirected back to its original meandering course, which had been abandoned.
From the 1970s to the 1980s, river channels were straightened for flood control and agricultural development. About 30 years later, as the need for land reclamation in this area declined and momentum for wetland restoration increased, the channels were restored to their original courses.  
L: Straightened Channel 6/12/1999 R: Re-meandered Channel 8/3/2011 Restoring the old river channel aims to suppress sediment inflow into the wetland, which is a major objective of wetland restoration. As a result of the restoration, water flow in the channel becomes slower, causing sediment to overflow from the channel onto the surrounding areas.This process helps reduce the amount of sediment entering the wetland. The photo below shows flooding conditions during a major flood in 2016. At this site, it can be observed that sediment inflow into the central part of the wetland decreased, as large amounts of sediment overflowed with the water and were deposited outside the main flow channel. 
8/24/2016 Sediment inflow into the wetland was successfully reduced during the 2016 flood, compared to conditions without the measure. Another positive environmental effect is an increase in fish species. Following the restoration, a rare species of salmon was found in this meandering channel. 
Kushiro Wetland Restoration ProjectKushiro WetlandWetland Restoration Restoration Site 1 : Kayanuma, Old Channel Restoration 1 Restoration Site 2 : Numaoro, Old Channel Restoration 2 Restoration Site 3 : Kuchoro, Sediment Retention Basin Restoration Site 4 : Hororo, Reconversion of Farmland into Wetlands Kushiro Wetland Nature Restoration Council Project Goals Sediment reduction flowing into the wetland Implovement of habitat for fish Restoring Wetland Vegetation History 1 : Wetland Development History 2 : Shift Toward Wetland Conservation and Restoration Peatland |