Sokcho City Selected for Yeongrangho Lake Entrance Ecological Restoration Project
Improving Sediment Inflow and Shoreline Erosion
Promoting Ecological Recovery Through New Vegetation Zones
The 'Yeongrangho Lake Entrance Ecological Restoration Project' in Sokcho, Gangwon Province, has been finally selected as a recipient of the 2026 Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment's Ecosystem Conservation Charge Reimbursement Project, securing 450 million won in national funding.
Ecological Restoration Project Rendering at the Entrance of Yeongrangho Lake. Provided by Sokcho City
This project aims to address the inflow of stormwater sediments and other materials at the entrance of Yeongrangho Lake near Daemyung Tower Yeongrangho Apartment, where odor complaints have been reported, and to mitigate shoreline erosion around the Tongcheon County Patriot Memorial Monument. It will also establish new vegetation zones.
Sokcho City plans to reduce sediment accumulation and improve the hydrological and hydraulic environment, while promoting water purification by planting native aquatic plants such as reeds and bulrushes. The eroded shoreline will be restored to a natural state, creating a stable habitat for birds and aquatic organisms. In addition, species such as the spot-billed duck and little egret will be designated as ecological indicator species, with efforts to restore the food web and enhance biodiversity being pursued simultaneously.
During the implementation of the project, the existing park pathways and user environment will be preserved as much as possible, and low-impact construction methods will be applied to minimize ecological damage. The area will be developed as a space for ecological exploration and education, with systematic maintenance and ecological monitoring to ensure and manage the ongoing effectiveness of the restoration.
The Ecosystem Conservation Charge Reimbursement Project is an initiative by the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment that returns a portion of the charges paid by developers of a certain scale or larger, in order to encourage the conservation and restoration of damaged ecosystems. Sokcho City has previously carried out the Oeongchi Reservoir Restoration Project (2021) and the Yeongrangho Lake Wetland Endangered Wild Plant Restoration Project (2024), successfully restoring native amphibians such as toads and endangered wild plants including Lysimachia coreana and Euryale ferox.
A Sokcho City official stated, "We will strengthen Sokcho's image as an ecological city where nature and people coexist, and foster Yeongrangho Lake as a sustainable hub for ecological tourism and environmental education."
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