6th Forum Research Articles

Abstract The production and use of energy and the capture and use of water are vital to the economy and the health and welfare of all nations, and the wise stewardship of these resources is essential to the protection of the environment. After the 6th World Water Forum held in Marseille (France, 2012), Electricite de France (EDF) and the World Water Council (WWC) have agreed to work on “the multipurpose water uses of hydropower reservoirs”. This framework bridges between 6th Forum in Marseille and the 7th Forum in Daegu/Gyeongbuk in the Republic of Korea and addresses the following issues: (i) how to minimize contradictions/competition among multipurpose water uses of hydropower reservoirs, and (ii) how to set an appropriate governance to allow coordinated/integrated water uses management (in terms of strategy, planning, decision-making and operation). This process was conducted under a participative multi-stakeholder approach with governments, banks, NGOs, international organizations, hydropower utilities, and other sectors. Multipurpose hydropower reservoirs are designed and/or operated to provide services beyond electricity generation, such as water supply, flood and drought management, irrigation, navigation, fisheries, environmental services and recreational activities, etc. While these objectives (renewable and power services, water quantity management, ecosystem services, economic growth and local livelihoods) can conflict at times, they are also often complementary. Although there are no universal solutions, there are principles that can be shared and adapted to local contexts. Indeed the development and/or operation of such multipurpose hydropower reservoirs to reach sustainable water management should rely on the following principles: shared vision, shared resource, shared responsibilities, shared rights and risks, shared costs and benefits. These principles and acknowledgement of joint sharing among all the stakeholders are essential to successful development and management of multipurpose hydropower reservoirs, and should frame all phases from early stage to operation. The SHARE concept also gives guidance. Based on 12 worldwide case studies of multipurpose hydropower reservoirs, the SHARE concept was developed and proposed as a solution to address this issue. A special focus will be presented on the Durance–Verdon Rivers in France.

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