1997 年 62 巻 500 号 p. 153-160
The Ariake creek region has a unique environment, but a large farmland improvement project has recently led to the reorganization of the water system. This has had profound influence on this region. Therefore we investigate various functions and systems of existing traditional creeks and study these roles in the environmental conservation. Then following are made clear in this study. 1. Creeks are artificial channels which are consisted of relations between several natural, geographical elements in this region and human behavior for these. 2. Forms of creeks indicate the days when those were formed. These forms represent ecological or dynamic meanings. 3. Creeks have many various functions, not only agricultural but also living, ecological, spatial and against disaster. 4. It is need to restore the various functions and the water environmental totality.