Toward the creation of watershed-community: From the case of the Iwaki River watershed-community

• Published in: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE Vol. 19; no. 4; pp. 309 - 318
• Main Authors: Yamashita, Y.(Hirosaki Univ., Aomori (Japan)), Sawada, S, Tanaka, S, Kudo, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: SOCIETY OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, JAPAN 2006; 社団法人 環境科学会
• Subjects: BASSIN VERSANT; COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT; COURS D'EAU; CUENCAS HIDROGRAFICAS; CURSOS DE AGUA; PARTICIPACION COMUNITARIA; PARTICIPATION COMMUNAUTAIRE; River recovery, Watershed-Community, Disaster Prevention, Agricultural Projects, Civil Life; RIVERS; WATERSHEDS; 河川環境,流域社会,河川整備計画,共通理解,合意形成
• ISSN: 0915-0048; 1884-5029
• DOI: 10.11353/sesj1988.19.309

This study examined the possibility of cooperation in recovery efforts of a river ecology. The Iwaki River, located in western Aomori Prefecture, has been subject to degradation since the 1960s. This study outlined 40-plus year process of Change surrounding the Iwaki River as related to disaster prevention, agricultural activities, and civil life (excluding industry, as a feature of this river). We characterize this process as three phases. Phase 1 (pre- 1960) was a period of struggle against nature in which the river remained abundantly natural. Phase 2 (1960-1970) was the turning point, characterized by the completion of disaster prevention and agricultural development projects, ushering in a modern consumer-based lifestyle which increasingly impacted on the river. Phase 3 (post-1970) is a period of resulting ecological degradation for the river. At present, new problems are emerging, so the river is facing a new phase. The research concludes that this river degradation is the result of complex interactions among many variables, and thus the resolution of such degradation depends on the creation of a Watershed-Community and cooperation among all involved parties. The presentation concluded by considering the possibility of the establishment of such a Watershed-Community.