Integrated Water Resources Management Plan Research Articles

The Spatial-Temporal Matching Characteristics of Water Resources and Socio-Economic Development Factors: A Case Study of Guangdong Province

The spatial-temporal mismatch of water resources and socio-economic development in rapidly urbanized regions has been the focus of water resource management, and is one of the main limitations to sustainable development goals (SDGs). Guangdong Province is represented by a highly developed economy and society, and has been undergoing disproportionately rapid population growth during the past two decades. The uneven distribution and spatial mismatch of water resources have aggravated the contradictions between water supply demand. In this paper, we evaluate the matching degree of water resources and social economic elements, detect the spatial-temporal changing pattern of the matching degree, and reveal the changing mechanism using the combined methods of the Thiel index, the space–time Gini coefficient, and the Lorenz curve. The results show that (1) the temporal matching is relatively balanced and reasonable, while the spatial mismatch is prominent and deteriorating constantly, especially the connection between the amount of water and GDP; (2) the water volume pressure is mainly concentrated in the Peral River Delta and eastern and western Guangdong, while water consumption stress is relatively lower in northeastern Guangdong; and (3) the water volume inequality is dominated by an intercity difference and is primarily caused by regional differences. Based on the results, policy implications, such as the implementation of integrated water resource management plans, investment in the development of alternative water sources, as well as enhanced public education and the establishment of a water saving society, have been provided to alleviate the mismatch issue between water elements and socio-economic parameters, and to push the realization of water-related SDGs.

Stable Isotopes and Water Level Monitoring Integrated to Characterize Groundwater Recharge in the Pra Basin, Ghana

In the Pra Basin of Ghana, groundwater is increasingly becoming the alternative water supply due to the continual pollution of surface water resources through illegal mining and indiscriminate waste discharges into rivers. However, our understanding of hydrogeology and the dynamics of groundwater quality remains inadequate, posing challenges for sustainable water resource management. This study aims to characterize groundwater recharge by determining its origin and mechanism of recharge prior to entering the saturated zone and to provide spatial estimates of groundwater recharge using stable isotopes and water level measurements relevant to groundwater management in the basin. Ninety (90) water samples (surface water and groundwater) were collected to determine stable isotope ratios of oxygen (δ18O) and hydrogen (δ2H) and chloride concentration. In addition, ten boreholes were installed with automatic divers to collect time series data on groundwater levels for the 2022 water year. The Chloride Mass Balance (CMB) and the Water Table Fluctuation (WTF) methods were employed to estimate the total amount and spatial distribution of groundwater recharge for the basin. Analysis of the stable isotope data shows that the surface water samples in the Pra Basin have oxygen (δ18O) and hydrogen (δ2H) isotope ratios ranging from −2.8 to 2.2‰ vrs V-SMOW for δ18O and from −9.4 to 12.8‰ vrs V-SMOW for δ2H, with a mean of −0.9‰ vrs V-SMOW and 0.5‰ vrs V-SMOW, respectively. Measures in groundwater ranges from −3.0 to −1.5‰ vrs V-SMOW for δ18O and from −10.4 to −2.4‰ vrs V-SMOW for δ2H, with a mean of −2.3 and −7.0‰ vrs V-SMOW, respectively. The water in the Pra Basin originates from meteoric source. Groundwater has a relatively depleted isotopic signature compared to surface water due to the short residence time of infiltration within the extinction depth of evaporation in the vadose zone. Estimated evaporative losses in the catchment range from 51 to 77%, with a mean of 62% for surface water and from 55 to 61% with a mean of 57% for groundwater, respectively. Analysis of the stable isotope data and water level measurements suggests a potential hydraulic connection between surface water and groundwater. This hypothesis is supported by the fact that the isotopes of groundwater have comparatively lower values than surface water. Furthermore, the observation that the groundwater level remains constant in months with lower rainfall further supports this conclusion. The estimated annual groundwater recharge in the catchment ranges from 9 to 667 mm (average 165 mm) and accounts for 0.6% to 33.5% (average 10.7%) of mean annual precipitation. The total estimated mean recharge for the study catchment is 228 M m3, higher than the estimated total surface water use for the entire Pra Basin of 144 M m3 for 2010, indicating vast groundwater potential. Overall, our study provides a novel insight into the recharge mechanism and spatial quantification of groundwater recharge, which can be used to constrain groundwater flow and hydrogeochemical evolution models, which are crucial for effective groundwater management within the framework of the Pra Basin’s Integrated Water Resources Management Plan.

Yakima Basin Integrated Plan—A collaborative partner's perspective

AbstractResilience to climate change is not a process that can be done single‐handedly. Centring the focus around building both a climate‐resilient system and well‐rounded partnerships, the Kittitas Reclamation District (KRD), Washington State, USA, as part of the Yakima River Basin Integrated Water Resource Management Plan (YBIP), has been successful in mitigating water scarcity in the Kittitas Valley and benefitting the larger Yakima River Basin. By using collaborative governance, a decision‐making process that breaks down barriers and engages people across the boundaries of public agencies, different levels of government and the public, the KRD has modified its long‐term operational goals. The priority is now to establish if a proposed project can provide benefits to other interests and their water needs throughout the Yakima River Basin. We must work together to look at the big picture of a large geographical area in an effort to solve multiple water issues through a single project. As part of YBIP, the goals come to fruition through comprehensive planning for water conservation and the established relationships the partners have with each other. We work together using trust, respect and civility to move towards action and acknowledging that achieving our goals is made possible through collaboration. Opportunities to work together are sought out and taken so that water conservation and other water resiliency projects can be funded and implemented as quickly as possible in an effort to plan for future water scarcity. Protecting the certainty of the water supply for the future of the farms and the ecosystem is of utmost importance.

River Sand and Gravel Mining Monitoring Using Remote Sensing and UAVs

The development of methodologies for analyzing the evolution and pressures exerted on the river channel network is one of the main concerns of researchers today. The assessment of natural or artificial changes of river channels and beds plays an important role in environmental protection, but also in the implementation of integrated water resource management plans. Given the episodic and dynamic nature of river bank and bed erosion, along with the difficulty of reaching certain reaches, a methodological approach that uses aerial imagery, initially from satellite sources and afterwards from unmanned aerial vehicles, is proposed. This approach was utilized in a perennial river in Romania but also in an ephemeral torrent channel in Greece, in order to test the prevalent types of hydrographic network in the Mediterranean and Black Sea region. The methodology used was able to identify the location and the volume of the bed material extracted and the time frame in which it occurred. These encouraging results showcase an accurate but also relevantly low-cost monitoring method for illegal anthropogenic activities that can be easily adopted by the responsible authorities. The adoption of the method will contribute to the more efficient monitoring of river protection, by accurately and timely identifying areas of illegal river bed extraction that will enable authorities to enforce European Union and national legislation.

Wastewater reclamation trends in Thailand.

Thailand constantly faces the problem of water scarcity, resulting from an imbalance between available water supply and increasing water demand for economic and community expansion, as well as climate change. To address this shortage, wastewater reclamation is being planned and implemented throughout the country, along with a 20-year, long-term integrated water resource management plan. Significant opportunities from municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are dependent on the following factors: the establishment of a reuse water framework and a tangible target for treated wastewater set by local government authorities; widespread recognition and adaptation of wastewater reuse measures in the agriculture, industry, tourism and service sectors regarding climate change and water stress; and the implementation of joint investment water reuse projects between private and government agencies. However, wastewater reclamation faces some significant challenges, specifically: the limitations of regulation and monitoring for specific reuse purposes; a lack of public confidence in the water quality; the limited commercial development of reclaimed wastewater research; and difficulties in self-sustaining business models through adapting circular economy principles. This study aims to provide an overview of the wastewater reclamation, present research trends, currently operating WWTPs as well as opportunities and challenges to speed up water reuse activities in Thailand.

Calculation of Potential Groundwater Resources in Orkhon River Basin

Available groundwater research work and data levels are very limited due to the wide territory of our country. Potential Groundwater resources need to be calculated by basin to implement Integrated Water Resources Management Plans. For this purpose, previously the calculations were done twice in the Orkhon River Basin. The last calculation was done 10 years ago, therefore Integrated Water Resources Management Plan needs to be redeveloped, using updated research work and data levels. The Orkhon River is one of the biggest rivers in Mongolia, rising from Khangai Mountain Range and flowing into the Selenge River. The Orkhon River Basin includes the Tuul, Kharaa, and Yeruu rivers basins which rise in the Khentii Mountains. For the first time, a hydrogeological structure map of the basin was developed which analyzed and systemized the hydrogeological structure, the morphostructure factors, and the hydraulic properties of the hydrogeological formations distributed in the Orkhon River Basin. There are two types of hydrogeological basins and three types of hydrogeological massifs in the basin. This paper presents the calculation of the Potential Groundwater Resources (PGR) in the Orkhon River Basin based on groundwater well data, reports of groundwater exploration and research works, and the hydrogeological maps at a scale of 1:500,000. As a result of this calculation, there are 1.99 km3 of PGR in this basin.The largest resources are found in the linear intermountain hydrogeological basin which occupies 98 percent of the total PGR. Further improvement of the quality and standards of water research remains an important issue for hydrogeologists today.

Hydrological impacts of climate change in selected ungauged sub-watersheds of Lake Tana Sub-Basin, Upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia: A regionalization approach

Climate change is a global issue affecting the world's hydrology and water resources. Quantifying climate change impacts on hydrology is important for integrated water resources management. The ungauged watersheds of Lake Tana sub-basin are vital for different habitats and communities where various socio-economic activities such as irrigation, and fishing are carried out. Therefore, assessment of the impact of climate change on this sub basin is critical to settingup an integrated water resource management plan for susitnablity of livelihoods. Climate effect evaluation on ungauged catchments' hydrology using continuous hydrological modeling is difficult with the absence of adequate measured hydro-meteorological data for modeling. This study, thus, used a regionalization approach for ungauged watershed impact assessment and an HBV hydrological model for simulation of flow for different RCP scenarios and time domains. Impacts of climate change on the hydrology of the ungauged sub watersheds namely (Gilgel Abay, Gumara, Megech, and Ribb) were studied using two ensemble GCM driven by one RCM(RCA4) under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 for the 2040s (2020-2049), and 2070s (2050-2079) time domains. The following results were obtained: Summer rainfall drops for RCP4.5, and increments for RCP8.5 with a decline from March to June. Rainfall decreased under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 in the spring. It was conclude that increased flow in the dry seasons, provided water for agriculture and other uses while, a decrease flow during the rainy seasons would reduce Lake Tana's storage during the summer. Summer storage is useful for the Tana Belles Hydropower project as it, potentially influences water demand and lake's Navigation depth. In the future these changes will potentially have a severe influence on agricultural production by reducing water supply, thereby calling for the successful implementation of adaptation measures to reduce vulnerability. As the study results revealed that there would be future dry flow decreases and wet flow increases, it is therefore,important that the government, and decision-makers should plan for integrated water resources management activities where for example, wet season flow could be stored for dry season use by providing storage structures.

Enhancing Governance Capacity to Ensure a Long-Term Water Supply: The Case of Windhoek, Namibia

Windhoek, Namibia, faces water stress, urbanisation, climate change and governance challenges; these issues are constraining water provision and underpinning the urgency to implement an integrated water resource management plan. Windhoek has provided access to water during droughts by relying on multiple water resources including treated wastewater. However, significant infrastructure investments are required to ensure continued water security. Through applying the City Blueprint Approach—an indicator assessment aiming to provide a holistic understanding of water management and governance—we substantiate how Namibia can enhance the capacity to implement legislation, with long-term focus and collaboration with experts and stakeholders.

Assessment of Two Adjacent Mountainous Riparian Areas along Nestos River Tributaries of Greece

The riparian areas of the Mediterranean are unique but face many pressures from anthropogenic and climate change impacts. They have very rich and diverse plant communities as a result of the dynamic fluvio-geomorphologic conditions of the Mediterranean streams. In this study, the riparian areas of two adjacent mountainous tributaries (Arkoudorema and Vathirema) of the Nestos River were studied. To assess the condition of riparian areas holistically, diverse measurements are required. This is why fluvio-geomorphologic (in the field and with GIS), vegetation (surveys and visual protocols) and ground-dwelling insect (pitfall traps and indices) measurements were taken along an elevational gradient. The results of all three methodologies draw to similar conclusions, with Vathirema sub-watershed riparian areas being in better condition than Arkoudoreama. This was expected, since Vathirema has less anthropogenic pressures. In addition, the riparian areas in higher elevations were in better condition for the same reason. To implement integrated water resources management plans, fluvio-geomorphologic and biological (e.g., vegetation and insects) datasets are required to provide a holistic view on the watershed and riparian area conditions. For the studied sub-watersheds, we recommend these measurements to continue, to record the current anthropogenic pressures and based on this information to suggest best management practices that will secure long-term sustainability.

Geospatial approach for developing an integrated water resource management plan in Rajshahi, Bangladesh

The integrated water resource management (IWRM) plan plays a substantial role in addressing institutional problems and capacity building for the use, control, preservation, and sustainability of water systems, especially for developing countries like Bangladesh. Bangladesh is undergoing dramatic changes in land cover/land use (LC/LU) change, primarily due to rapid urbanization. Urbanization converts the natural resources (water bodies) into impervious surfaces (urban areas and roads). Rajshahi is one of the largest metropolitan cities in Bangladesh, and its urban sustainability is affected by the demolishment of water bodies influenced by rapid LC/LU change. Satellite images at different spatial resolutions are extensively used for extracting water body information at various periods. Using multi-temporal Landsat TM/OLI satellite images, the study aimed to estimate the spatiotemporal LC/LU change and identify the most influential LC/LU parameters that contributed to the reduction of surface water body from 1989 to 2019. The support vector machine, matrix union, and image difference algorithms were applied to estimate LC/LU classification, conversion of LC/LU, and water body to other LC/LU classes. Results revealed that a massive increase in the built-up area (16%) and infrastructural development were the primary cause for water body reduction, and loss of water bodies was estimated at around 8% in the last 30 years. Key informant's interviews were conducted to identify the effective management and technical strategies for developing a sustainable IWRM plan utilizing modern technology. The estimated hydro-geomorphological (modeling flow direction, stream network, flow accumulation, and surface water potential zones) information would be beneficial to any developing country.. This study will contribute to the development of effective strategies for conserving existing water bodies and ensuring ecological and environmental sustainability by increasing plant biodiversity and mitigating the effects of heatwaves.

Estimation of the return periods of maxima rainfall and floods at the Pra River Catchment, Ghana, West Africa using the Gumbel extreme value theory

The Pra river catchment in Ghana is adversely affected by perennial flooding from high-intensity rainfall events. To aid in flood management at the catchment, the Gumbel extreme value distribution has been used to estimate the return periods of maxima rainfall, flood, and consecutive dry and wet days (CDD and CWD) for a period of 5 to 100 years. The results revealed an expected increase in maxima rainfall, CDD and CWD. Maxima rainfall favours the south of the catchment while the CDD decreases northward. Furthermore, an increase in the magnitude of CWD observed at the centre of the catchment had a maximum of approximately 30 days for the 100 year return period, while lower flood volumes had a higher recurrence of 50% to 100% for 1 to 2 year return periods. The inclusion of a projected increase in anthropogenic activities and climate factors at the catchment will slightly affect the magnitude of these variables for the various return periods. Nonetheless, the findings in this study will be of essential input to policy implementation of the Integrated Water Resource Management Plan for river catchments in Ghana, West Africa.

Battling Water Limits to Growth: Lessons from Water Trends in the Central Plateau of Iran.

The Zayandeh-Rud River Basin in the central plateau of Iran continues to grapple with water shortages due to a water-intensive development path made possible by a primarily supply-oriented water management approach to battle the water limits to growth. Despite inter-basin water transfers and increasing groundwater supply, recurring water shortages and associated tensions among stakeholders underscore key weaknesses in the current water management paradigm. There was an alarming trend of groundwater depletion in the basin's four main aquifers in the 1993-2016 period as indicated by the results of the Mann-Kendall3 (MK3) test and Innovative Trend Analysis (ITA) of groundwater volume. The basin's water resources declined by more than 6 BCM in 2016 compared to 2005 based on the equivalent water height (EWH) derived from monthly data (2002-2016) from the GRACE. The extensive groundwater depletion is an unequivocal evidence of reduced water availability in the face of growing basin-wide demand, necessitating water saving in all water use sectors. Implementing an integrated water resources management plan that accounts for evolving water supply priorities, growing demand and scarcity, and institutional changes is an urgent step to alleviate the growing tensions and preempt future water insecurity problems that are bound to occur if demand management approaches are delayed.

Using Multiobjective Optimization to Inform Green Infrastructure Decisions as Part of Robust Integrated Water Resources Management Plans.

Uncertainty in the impacts of climate change and development on freshwater resources pose significant challenges for water resources management. Integrated and adaptive approaches to water resources management are a promising means of addressing uncertainty that afford flexibility in balancing multiple stakeholder objectives. However, guidance on designing such plans is lacking. In this study, we use multi-objective optimization to strategically incorporate green infrastructure (GI) into water resources management plans that maximize reductions in nutrient loads, minimize stormwater runoff, and minimize costs. Robust decision-making methods are applied to the resulting plan options to evaluate how optimized GI implementation varies under different possible future climates and to determine which solutions would be robust under a range of plausible future conditions. We demonstrate these coupled methods using a case study in southern Massachusetts, to address water quality issues related to point and nonpoint source nutrients in a rapidly developing watershed.

Хот суурин газрын усны нөөцийн нэгдсэн менежментийн үнэлгээ: Чиг хандлага ба нөлөөллийн тогтолцоо

The large number of people living together in urban areas requires a comprehensive solutions for issues such as the reasonable allocation and adequate use of natural resources, urban planning, and efficient waste management to meet the city's needs. One of the main factors influencing the health and comfort of urban residents is the supply of clean water and sewerage systems. Therefore, in order to rationally allocate and use water resources to meet urban needs, and to create a healthy and comfortable living environment for city residents, it is necessary to develop an integrated water resources management plan at the national and basin levels, as well as an integrated water management plan and assessment for city level. In addition to assessing the current state of water management, it is important to identify factors and trends that may further strain water resources to prevent future risks. To address the pressures on water management in Ulaanbaatar and Darkhan, representing Mongolia's urban areas, the City Blueprint Approach, developed by the EU Water Innovation Partnership and the Dutch Institute of Water Cycle, was used in this study. Currently, this approach is used in about 80 cities in more than 40 countries, it is a relatively new and innovative method among Asian cities. As a result, water management in Ulaanbaatar and Darkhan is hampered by both social, economic, and environmental factors.

The water crisis in Iran: Development or destruction?

AbstractThis study investigates Iran's water resources, crisis intensity, causes, and solutions to control and mitigate water crisis. The emphasis is on Kashan city as symbol of the Karizian civilization in central of Iran, which is now facing problems in both quality and quantity of water. Carried out as a library and documentary research, we reviewed the status of Kashan's and Iran's water resources, and identified four major reasons for the present water crisis on a local and national wide scale: (a) lack of land use spatial planning; (b) mismanagement, thirst for development, and self‐sufficiency: (c) political decisions on water allocation; and (d) lack of proper water pricing and inability of farmers to optimize irrigation systems. As a consequence, the country is challenged with severe water problems at both local and nation‐wide scale, including increasing water demand and scarcity, decreasing groundwater table, deteriorating water quality, and increasing loss of ecosystems. If integrated water resources management plan is not immediately implemented to solve this problem, it is possible that the condition will be more disastrous in the coming years. The study proposes some actions that should be immediately applied to protect water resources and avoid tragic conditions in a country with a brilliant and long history in water resources management.

Formulation of integrated water resources management (IWRM) plan at district level: a case study from Bundelkhand region of India

Abstract Integrated water resources management (IWRM) is being implemented all over the world, considering its wide area of applications and flexible spatial scale. Scientists have found IWRM useful in an Indian context also where a coordinated development of water and land resources is sought as part of complete economic, social and environmental welfare. The paper presents the concepts of ‘Local IWRM’ planning applied to water conservation and management in a case study of Ur river watershed in Tikamgarh district of Madhya Pradesh (India). The Plan considers effective utilization of land, water and other available natural resources, linked to the vulnerabilities and livelihood opportunities in the geographical area. The IWRM Plan, designed in three sections – (1) water management, (2) land management, and (3) livelihood management – provides specific suggestions on the activities under these three themes as useful inputs to the District Irrigation Plan (DIP) of the Government. The proposed IWRM Plan intends to promote the component of water demand management in district level planning and is envisioned to be an ‘implementable’ planning document for district level government. Acceptability of the IWRM plan is potentially enhanced as the plan was developed through a participatory process, wherein all relevant stakeholders were consulted at different stages of development.

Multiobjective Analysis of Green-Blue Water Uses in a Highly Utilized Basin: Case Study of Pangani Basin, Africa

The concept of integrated water resource management (IWRM) attempts to integrate all elements of water resources. Different tools are developed to assist in developing sound IWRM plans. One such tool is multiobjective analysis using an integrated hydro-economic model (IHEM). However, IHEM mainly deals with the optimization of river flow (blue water) in a river basin. This paper linked a distributed model of green water (landscape water uses) in the upper catchment with mainly blue water uses in the lower catchment of the Pangani Basin. The results show that agricultural water use has the highest water productivity and competes with all other objective functions in the catchment. The generation of firm energy competes with the downstream ecosystem requirements. The integrated study shows that improving rainfed cropping through supplementary irrigation has comparable marginal water values to full-scale irrigation but are much higher compared with hydropower. However, hydropower has more benefits if used in conjunction with the environment. The methodological approach has increased the understanding of trade-offs between green and blue water uses that are highly interdependent in African landscapes.

Active Water Resource Management: Pariah or Blueprint for Western Water Management?

Active Water Resource Management:Pariah or Blueprint for Western Water Management? Michael Pease (bio) and Tricia Snyder (bio) Introduction The western United States is plagued with chronic water shortages, frequent drought, and unclear water rights. Attempts to deal with shortages are a complicated web of federal, state, and local management. Many river basins suffer from imperfect data about water ownership and priority (Matthews, 2004; Tarlock, 2006), constraining water managers during periods of water scarcity. The fallout from inadequate water planning is conflated by attributes of water rights being undefined. Considerable research has focused on watershed-level planning (Howe, 2005; Cohen and Davidson, 2011). Additional focus is needed on intergenerational planning (Mullin, 2009). Daly (1977) referred to such long-range planning as "moral growth," and it icould be considered a cornerstone of sustainable water use. It could also be considered a "third rail" of multi-scalar resource management (Liverman, 2004; Perramond, 2012). Many drought-stricken regions default to additional groundwater pumping during periods of water scarcity. Increasingly regions have recognized the need to restrict such action because of the deleterious effect it can have on senior surface water users (California Sustainable Groundwater Act, 2015; Whatcom County v. Western Washington Growth Management Hearings Board, 2016). Mullin (2009) stated, "Communities are beginning to develop strategies for managing existing resources more effectively as it becomes more difficult to build their way out of water shortages." [End Page 1013] Field of Dreams or Wall Street? At the risk of gross oversimplification, there are two entrenched groups of western water sects; these can be characterized by two VHS-era cult classic movies. The first group are those that view new water projects as key to "make new water"; these are the Field of Dreams supporters who ascribe to the tautology of "build it and they will come." The others are the adherents of Wall Street, believing that "greed is good" and free market exchanges are the best way to manage water. The former has been the dominant operating platform since the creation of the Bureau of Reclamation (Newlands Reclamation Act, 1902) and the beginning of the Reclamation Era. Numerous eulogies have been given to the end of the "big project era" (Sax, 1990; Dziegielewski, 2003). Recent evidence including the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (2016), Yakima Basin Integrated Water Resource Management Plan, and the Navajo Pipeline suggest large water projects are still part of our water management paradigm even if some of the projects are "spurred on by ideology more than common sense" (Beard, 2016). However, these projects are reliant on billions of federal dollars. With the inherent uncertainties of congressional funding priorities, options that do not rely upon large infrastructure projects are needed. As former U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Beard stated, "The most fundamental change we need to make is to thoroughly understand how we can use the water we have already available most effectively" (Beard, 2016). Reallocation of existing water supplies has been touted as a more cost-effective option than new supply-side options for water management (McCormick, 1994a; Dinar et al., 1997; Colby, 1988; Brookshire et al., 2004; Howe, 2012). Some "success" stories exist for water reallocations (Howe and Goemans, 2003; Brewer et al., 2007). However, water markets have been plagued by numerous social and institutional challenges, including a lack of price signals, difficulties linking interested buyers and willing sellers, and third-party considerations (Howe, 2000; Matthews, 2003; Hennessy, 2004; Roth et al., 2005; Howe, 2012). Certain reclamation rights possess limitations on place of use; a few interstate compacts place limitations on out-of-state water transfers (Matthews and Pease, 2006; Willis et al., 2008). Krutilla (2010) provides a thorough review of transaction costs precluding efficient natural resource transfers; many of these are applicable to water transfers. Markets for water will never be "free markets" (Dellapenna, 2005); however, few [End Page 1014] if any goods truly meet such a definition. Despite the limitations of "completely free" markets, willing buyers and sellers can reallocate water in using price signals to reflect the scarcity of water (Johansson et al., 2002). It is unlikely bulk water sales will ever be a freely traded homogeneous good (Michelsen...

Habitat restoration incentives for major infrastructure projects

ABSTRACTIncentives for early consideration of habitat restoration measures for major infrastructure projects include public support, streamlined regulatory review, cost savings, and opportunities for innovation. Three case study projects in Washington State are used to demonstrate the benefits of these incentives: the Seattle Department of Transportation Elliott Bay Seawall Project in Seattle; the Washington State Department of Transportation State Route 520 Bridge Replacement and High-occupancy Vehicle Program between Seattle and Bellevue; and the Washington State Department of Ecology/U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Yakima River Basin Integrated Water Resource Management Plan in the Yakima River Basin. In all case studies, project proponents considered habitat restoration early in the design phase, and in some cases, incorporated habitat restoration into the design of the project, allowing them to develop innovative design approaches and partnerships to accommodate multiple stakeholder interests and provide ...

An Environmentally Friendly Integrated Development Approach for Nepal (Experiences from Irrigation Sector Projects)

Nepal has distinctly three ecological regions: (i) high mountain, (ii) mid-hills, and (iii) terai with their varying climatic and physiographic features. The experiences gathered from Irrigation Sector Projects implemented under various donor agencies such as the World Bank (WB), Asian Development Bank (ADB), and UN/ILO have shown that successful irrigation projects must be defined and planned according to specific ecological regions and pertinent to the local environment. An integrated development approach considers the land use, roads, market, and other economic activities as they relate to prospects for poverty alleviation. Land evaluation and subsequent land use planning according to the soil, climate, land profile, and suitability of agriculture practices should be considered in the development works to ensure true benefit to the rural populations. The integrated approach as such will provide long term sustainability through environmentally sound practices. This approach has been widely applied in the European countries, Korea, Japan, and Sri Lanka.This paper primarily focuses on the irrigation and development approaches most suitable to Nepal’s three ecological regions. High mountain regions should be developed with pasture land, horticulture, organic vegetable farming, and tourism. Irrigation technology in these areas should be simple pipe conveyance, and tank irrigation. In the mid-hills horticulture on the sloping terrain and cereal crops in the river valleys with other diversified cropping systems should be applied. The Terai region is the ‘Bread Basket’ of Nepal, and has high potential for diversified agriculture and industrial development.For development in these regions to succeed, road networks and transportation facilities are essential to economic growth. Road transportation maximizes opportunity for tourism and other economic activities. Development work must be planned in an integrated approach, which should be based on appropriate land use patterns for environmentally sustainable practices. An ideal solution would be to envision the watershed as the unit for eco-friendly sustainable development planning involving all the stakeholders under the watershed purview. As an example, the principles of Integrated Water Resources Management Planning (IWRMP), and Integrated Watershed Management Plan (IWMP) have been successfully applied in the USA and Australia (Box 1). It has illustrated that vegetative covered catchment stores large amount of rain water, increases groundwater table, reduces erosion of soil, and lastly decreases the intensity of flood hazard. Whereas, the naked catchment areas are highly erodible, does not store rain water, susceptible to high erosion and landslides, and increases the flood intensity by three fold than a vegetative covered one. The vegetative cover increases the water resources availability for over all development for agriculture. HYDRO Nepal JournalJournal of Water Energy and EnvironmentIssue: 20Page: 31-40