Asian River Restoration Network (ARRN)

The Asian River Restoration Network was established in Nov. 2006 to support the exchange of information relating to environmental restoration of rivers and watersheds. JRRN has a role of ARRN secretariat currently.

Go to ARRN website

Contact us (Secretariat)


Lofty Chuoh Bldg., 7th Flr.

17-24, Shinkawa 1cho-me, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0033, JAPAN

Foundation for Riverfront Improvement and Restoration
Tel: +81-3-6228-3860
Fax: +81-3-3523-0640
E-mail:info@a-rr.net

World's WATERFRONT: JAPAN

< World's WATERFRONT:JAPAN Category: Hokuriku >

Restoration of Kuratsuki Channel (Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture)

Kuratsuki Channel is a waterway 1,500 m in total length running from the center of Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture to the northwest area. In ancient times, it was used for irrigation and fire prevention for the castle and as the motive energy of the waterwheel to squeeze canola oil. Even today the rural area extending from the center of Kanazawa City to the northwest part is irrigated by this canal. In the urban area, it is used as water for fire prevention and for agriculture downstream.
In 1993, the channel was partially opened and a pocket park was constructed in the neighborhood of Kakinokibatake and in 1999 it was opened in the district between Korinbo and Takaoka Town. This helped to create a pleasant and lively atmosphere in the central urban area. Kuratsuki Channel was designated as one of the 100 best canals in Japan.

Restoration of Fushimi and Takahashi River (Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture)

In Fushimi and Takahashi Rivers running in the southern part of Kanazawa City, a serious problem of water quality deterioration was caused by the rapid urbanization of the surrounding areas. The water quality was such that the BOD exceeded 10 mg/l but it was improved to approximately 3 mg/l by the construction of a sewage system that started in 1976.
Today, the ascent of salmon is seen and the former clear stream has been revived. The "river festival" is held by the local people and the river space has become a place for recreation and relaxation for citizens.
Fushimi and Takahashi Rivers were recognized as rivers in which the water environment was conserved and recovered by the sewage system and designated as one the "100 revived waters."

Restoration of Shinano River (Niigata Prefecture)

In the middle basin of Shinano River, problems such as the simplified river channel, vanishing shallows and pools, change of high water channels into the land area and overgrowth of alien species such as robinia pseudoacacia have occurred because river improvement work focusing on flood control was promoted.
Now, however, a natural regeneration project is being conducted to restore the waterfront line (ecotone) and pools and recover the former channels. Also since July 2001, efforts have been made to increase the outflow from Nishiotaki Dam on a trial basis in cooperation with power generation companies. This is because the shallows are discontinued and algae proliferated abnormally due to a decrease in the river flow, which is caused by water intake for power generation and smoothing. While reviewing the effect and impact of an increase of the outflow on the downstream river environmental regeneration, we are improving the water environment adaptively and gradually.