Abashiri River Watershed (Japan) Maggie Ramos by

Information on the Abashiri River Watershed (Japan)

maggie17ramos1 — 2023-11-08 06:50:53 UTC

The Abashirir River is known for its Ryuhyo Drift Ice. The river rises in Tsubetsu within the slopes of Mount Ahoro located at the Akan Volcanic Complex. The river has fishing ports that are home to cultural sites.

Physical Perimeters

maggie17ramos1 — 2023-11-11 06:14:37 UTC

The Abashiri River has a surface area of 33 km2. The volume of the river is 0.2327 km3. It is 0.4m above sea level. The max depth is 16.1 m while the mean depth is 7.2m. The water level is unregulated and the shoreline length is 44 km. In terms of agriculture land takes over 15.9%. The residential area takes over 1.7%. The annual precipitation is 1,080 mm. This varies within the climate change temperatures. Moving on to the water quality. The water transparency is 4m, the PH value is 4m, DO concentration is 4.

Social Perimeters

maggie17ramos1 — 2023-11-11 06:22:52 UTC

The number of people reliant on the Abashiri River is 35,300. The water is used for agricultural purposes. Along with that, there is an industrial use of the water that uptakes the river channels. The domestic uses are helped by direct uptake of the groundwater from several upper-basin locations. Not to mention its use for food resources, water quality control, air quality control, etc. With that being said the threats to water security include floods, heatwaves, sea level rising, etc.

Urban Use

maggie17ramos1 — 2023-11-11 06:23:25 UTC

The cities around the Abashiri River rely on the following of the river. They serve as a clean, water, resource, power, generation, and primary waste. The Abashiri River also provides benefits more economically. For example, this brings tourism, natural activities, fishing, canoeing, hikes, etc.

Wildlife

maggie17ramos1 — 2023-11-11 06:23:45 UTC

There is many wildlife all around the Abashiri River. Surrounding the river is lots of birdlife like storks, eagles, kingfishers, etc. Many animals are seen year-round like xEzo deer, pikas, Ezo squirrels, Ezo red foxes, Ural owls, Blakiston's fish owls, etc. That being said, some animals are seen in season like brown bears, seals, whooper swans, white tail eagles, etc.

Tourism

maggie17ramos1 — 2023-11-11 06:24:12 UTC

Abashiri is a grand tourist attraction. The Abashiri has drift ice sight seeing icebreaker ships and whale watching. With this, there are many seasonal activities. Canoeing is very popular in the Abashiri River area. This gives individuals the opportunity to see and be next to the beautiful wildlife. Other things to do include, hiking, cycling, skiing, and horseback riding.

Agriculture Use

maggie17ramos1 — 2023-11-11 06:24:57 UTC

The Abashiri River impacts the agricultural aspect as well. The river is a vital resource for agriculture, which also affects the economy that provides the selling of crops. These crops are sugar, beets, wheat, potatoes, and onions. The large areas of grasslands also rely on this river. The agricultural land crop fields are 15.9% of the area.

Fishing

maggie17ramos1 — 2023-11-11 19:37:38 UTC

Trout fishing is a big deal within the Abashiri River. There are varieties of rivers with accessibility to differing fish size & diversity. The fishing grounds are abundant. Abashiri is one of the three largest fisheries in the world. The fish processing has significance to this secondary industry.

Culture

maggie17ramos1 — 2023-11-11 19:40:15 UTC

The Okhotsk culture and Moyoro people are well honored in Abashiri. Within this culture, there is archaeological, coastal, fishing, and hunter-gathering. This culture is one of the ancestral components of the Ainu people and has contributed to a lot of significant cultural elements.

Ecosystem Change: Loss of Habitat

maggie17ramos1 — 2023-11-11 19:40:30 UTC

The habitat conditions have been buried throughout the Abashiri River. The challenges that we see in the loss of the habitat include one that affects all ecosystems surrounding. When the Abashiri River is damaged, the landscape of the wildlife would mean it would be in danger as well. That along with the cultural, social, aesthetic, etc. connection to the river.

History

maggie17ramos1 — 2023-11-14 03:16:30 UTC

There is an interesting amount of historical information concerning the Abashiri River. Many historical sites in Abashiri prove that humans have colonized this area for over 20,000 years. An interesting fact is that remains from the Jamón have been discovered along the bottom of the lake of Abashiri. The coastal region of Hokkaido in regards to where Abashiri belongs, has two key industries in Abahiri. These include agriculture and forestry. Along with that livestock breeding and fish processing have become very vital. Many businesses along with cultural facilities have been developed over time.

Ecosystem Change: Loss of Species

maggie17ramos1 — 2023-11-14 14:28:06 UTC

So wildlife that can be expected to be seen around the Abashiri River is home to Steller's sea eagles, white-tailed eagles, foxes, brown bears, etc. A lot of these species are known to be unique, and overall they have been described to be in parent attributes to fishermen and beautiful views to encounter. With that being said, these animals can be sensitive to the land resources for survival. So the consequences to the watershed will involve the reliance on survival within the river resources. Many species that already have been struggling with extension will be challenged by these watershed effects.

Ecosystem Change: Ecosystem Services

maggie17ramos1 — 2023-11-14 14:28:52 UTC

The Abashiri River has many relations to the crucial economic resources for the area surrounding it. Agriculture, tourism, and fishing all rely on the Abashiri River. Not to mention the wildlife and the population of people around the area. The Abashiri River is a statement to fish species, having clean water, resources, farming resources, and overall beautiful sites. So the quality of the area surrounding the Abashiri River will be affected is the river is affected.

Ecosystem Change: Water and Pollution

maggie17ramos1 — 2023-11-14 14:29:18 UTC

The water quality within this ecosystem seems to be good. The season of variation of transparency would depend on the temperature. The pH value as well. Along with that, the pollution caused to the watershed is due to the agricultural runoff. The melted ice can have some type of organisms living within them as well. These can obtain many toxins. Resulting in denitrification, sedimentation, and climate change, all affecting the water quality and pollution within the system.

Climate Change Effects on Water System

maggie17ramos1 — 2023-11-14 14:30:10 UTC

Climate change may impact the streamflow because of the change in precipitation and evaporation. Not to mention the change on the land surface. This can be seen as land-use land cover. A drought is also one of the most concerning things that could happen due to a response to climate change.

Agriculture and Food Security

maggie17ramos1 — 2023-11-14 14:30:44 UTC

Agriculture is a huge part of food security in Abashiri. It is famed as a leading region of farming in Japan. A lot of high-quality crops are produced there. These crops include potatoes, wheat, and sugar beets. Agriculture activities are also specifically towards daily farming and cultivation of many varieties of crops.

Current Management

maggie17ramos1 — 2023-11-14 14:30:58 UTC

The current management is analyzing the stream flow behavior of the climate and land-use land cover. The watershed is well taken care of. There is protection and improvement in the water quality and other natural resources within this watershed. The boundaries extended over some political boundaries, but have only excelled the benefits. Now there are more outdoor re-creations, clean drinking water, production of fisheries, and overall a better supported economic, and environmental situation that improve the quality of life.

Environmental Equity

maggie17ramos1 — 2023-11-14 14:31:14 UTC

The Watershed provides a healthy environment for all living things. This includes the humans around it. They benefit from clean water. The animals around the river also benefit from clean water and food security that is provided through those areas. Again, humans also benefit because of the food security and agriculture benefits. Not to mention the forest and in general nature benefits.

Solution 1: Hard Path/Support Reservation Projects

maggie17ramos1 — 2023-11-14 14:31:35 UTC

Supporting restoration projects can be very beneficial within watersheds. As of now, there aren’t any projects that are being held at the Abashiri River. However, there is always room for improvement, such as hard path solutions for the river. These improvements can be temporary solutions, but do raise the risk of it, being a problem again in the future. There can be restoration and building of in-track shirts, such as coral, reefs, seacrests, barriers, islands, etc. to reduce flood risks. This way it is an effective and eco-friendly way to reduce these dangers.

Solution 2: Planting

maggie17ramos1 — 2023-11-14 14:31:39 UTC

Taking time to plant trees around the watershed will help benefit the water. Once the trees are planted and grow the trees take up water from the soil through their roots. This means increasing soil water storage which will lengthen the amount of time before rain falls becomes front off. Runoff carries pollutants, like bacteria, nutrients, sediments, metal, etc. so if there’s more forest area within the watersheds, there would be more absorption of rain which will help maintain soil structure.

Solution 3: River Clean Up

maggie17ramos1 — 2023-11-14 14:31:48 UTC

River cleanup is a very beneficial way to help the watershed stay sustainable. For example, the benefits of the community coming together, like neighbors, friends, and family to protect the health of water is very important. This will help prevent pollution from many sources, like precipitation, land, runoff, etc. to the water. watersheds must stay clean to provide critical services, like productive fisheries, outdoor creation, clean, drinking water, and overall support our economy and environment.

Causal Loop Diagram

maggie17ramos1 — 2023-11-14 14:32:05 UTC

Resources:

maggie17ramos1 — 2023-11-14 14:33:02 UTC

Lake Abashiri: Lake Abashiri: World lake database - ILEC. World Lake Database : International Lake Environment Committee Foundation (ILEC). (n.d.). https://wldb.ilec.or.jp/Display/html/3569

Muging, S., & Takayuki, S. (2023, October 29). Estimating future streamflow under climate and land use change conditions in northeastern Hokkaido, Japan. Journal of

Hydrology: Regional Studies. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581823002422#:~:text=In%20addition%20to%20agricultural%20use,hokkaido.jp%2F280josuido%2F).

Muqing, S. (2023, February). Estimating streamflow of the Abashiri River under likely future climate and land use land cover conditions. HUSCAP. https://eprints.lib.hokudai.ac.jp/dspace/index.jsp

Organization, J. N. T. (n.d.). Abashiri: Travel Japan - japan national tourism organization (official site). Travel Japan. https://www.japan.travel/en/spot/2148/#:~:text=Abashiri%20is%20most%20famous%20for,scenes%20to%20the%20Okhotsk%20coast.

Ryuhyo no Machi Hokkaidō Abashiri Tourist Information: UU-Hokkaido Official Site. UU. (n.d.). https://uu-hokkaido.com/corporate/abakanko.shtml#:~:text=You%20can%20enjoy%20seasonal%20activities,even%20by%20Hokkaido%27s%20high%20standards!

網走市ホームページ. Overview of Abashiri｜English｜Abashiri City. (n.d.). https://www.city.abashiri.hokkaido.jp/english/overview.html#:~:text=part%20of%20Hokkaido.-,POPULATION,of%20Abashiri%20is%20approximately%2035%2C300.

Conclusion

maggie17ramos1 — 2023-11-14 14:33:22 UTC

The Abashiri River has so many attractions within its benefits, beautiful scenery, and overall many outdoor activities. This is why it maintains such attraction for tourist and makes the land that the watershed help maintain consistently. The Abashiri River helps to provide service for Hokkaido Japan. Without the River, there would be no support for the land and environment to excel to its full potential. Overall Abashiri River is a beautiful area that is a great example of how beneficial a watershed is to an environment.

maggie17ramos1 — 2023-11-17 03:25:45 UTC