Chapter 14 - Urban river governance

Abstract

Rivers continue as central for urban life although at times they have become neglected and polluted to the extent of becoming a nuisance. This chapter offers an overview of what water management and governance can bring to revival and sustainability of urban rivers as well as meeting the increasing water demands in cities. Urban water management has traditionally been limited to single-sector approaches and it is often found that the management of urban rivers does not have a dedicated space in this. Over the years, a transition is noted with the evolving concepts around IUWM, SUWM, urban water resilience, and source-to-sea management, which could be beneficial for urban planners. These approaches will not only help cities in managing their rivers but also mitigate the water-related hazards like floods, droughts, sea-level rise; in conserving ecosystems; improving management of the continuum of land to freshwater, coastal and marine systems; and protecting the health and well-being of people. But applying these concepts in the context of urban rivers might not be easy, given that roles and responsibilities of managing river basins spread across different governance levels, from municipalities to national, involving a wide range of stakeholders. Overlapping governance responsibilities with a lack of clarity of roles and responsibilities can lead to inaction and inefficiencies, and conflicting aims. In this chapter, we present practical tools and case studies that will guide cities to identify and address these governance challenges, and further strengthen their institutional arrangements for urban river governance. A set of guiding principles is outlined that will enable urban planners, practitioners, and other stakeholders to better understand how to integrate river management within urban planning and urban water management.