Transboundary Water Bodies Research Articles

Troubling environmental governance: citizen legal experiments with transboundary commons

ABSTRACT Environmental phenomena shed light on the fiction that inter-state borders constitute on some level, and the limitations of state-based environmental governance. Transboundary watersheds, in particular, flow across borders of different kinds, evincing the interdependence of water bodies, both human and nonhuman. The lack of cross-border comprehensive environmental governance imposes regional forms of inequity and inefficient forms of water protection. In Central America, to address such problems, citizens have created a legal prototype for how transboundary watersheds could be governed as a commons going forward. This endeavour has been led by Salvadorans, concerned as they are by their country’s position as a lower co-riparian and their significant interdependence with transboundary water bodies. I argue that, in addition to destabilizing established approaches to environmental governance, the legal prototype opens avenues for forms of earthly politics and multispecies justice by placing the reproduction of life, human and nonhuman, side by side.

Analysis of modern problems of cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan in the field of environmental management and environmental safety

Aim. The problems of cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan in the field of nature management and environmental safety are considered. Possible directions for the development of cooperation both at the interstate and interregional levels of border territories are presented. Purpose is to analyse the current state of cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan in the field of environmental management and environmental safety. Material and Methods. The main results were obtained using a systematic approach through field geographical research, comparative historical and comparative typological analysis, etc. Materials regarding water resources, reservoirs and statistical indicators of the dynamics and structure of water use were used. Results. The main problems in the field of nature management and environmental safety of the two countries were identified. The prospects of interstate cooperation between Russia and Kazakhstan at the interstate and regional levels on transboundary environmental problems and sustainable use of land and water resources, protection of wildlife are identified and substantiated. Based on a retrospective analysis of the experience of interaction between the two countries and possible prospects for cooperation, concepts and directions for the development of strategic partnership in field of cross‐border nature management and environmental safety of transboundary water bodies, and the conservation of migratory species of wildlife are proposed. Conclusions. The modern post–virgin space is confidently transforming into an agro‐export one – an analogue of the virgin one at a new technological and climatic stage with an export orientation in the face of new challenges. The further development of this space should be based on the optimisation of agriculture and water use, taking into account the preservation of natural diversity.

AGREEMENTS ON TRANSBOUNDARY WATER BODIES: STATE AND PROSPECTS OF DEVELOPMENT

The article deals with the regulation of transboundary water bodies on the basis of multilateral and bilateral agreements of the Republic of Kazakhstan with the countries of Central Asia, the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China. The main purpose of the study is to analyze the existing international agreements regulating the issues of joint use of transboundary water bodies and to develop proposals to address issues related to insufficient volume of incoming water. With the collapse of the Soviet Union and the destruction of the unified system of regulation of the water industry, surface waters ceased to be considered internal water bodies, and acquired a transboundary character requiring comprehensive international legal regulation. Particular attention to transboundary water bodies is due to the high dependence of Kazakhstan on neighboring countries forming more than 40 km3 out of 100 km3 of the total long-term flow of rivers and temporary watercourses. Of the existing 8 water management basins of the country, only the Nura-Sarysu basin does not have transboundary water bodies. A decrease in the volume of water can have a negative impact on industrial production, utilities and agriculture of the country. The adoption of preventive measures and the conclusion of transparent agreements with neighboring countries will avoid catastrophic consequences for the country's economy and human life. In this regard, the authorized state bodies represented by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, need to actively use dialogue platforms within the framework of regional organizations and signed agreements to build the potential of relations between neighboring countries to address issues of equal water allocation. The comparative legal method was used as the main research method, which allowed analyzing the existing interstate agreements. The results of the study indicate a large amount of work done between neighboring countries, however, modern global challenges encourage countries to defend a tougher position that meets national interests, which in turn is not always beneficial for downstream countries.

Transboundary Transitional Waters: Arenas for Cross-Border Cooperation or Confrontation?

The Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 evoked academic interest in various aspects of international security and stability. The main objective of this study was to elicit the essential features and indicators for gauging the current state of cross-border cooperation and the risks of confrontation in and around transboundary transitional waters, i.e., those transitional waters where two or more countries share an estuary, delta, or lagoon while having a contiguous border in the territorial waters. The Cooperation and Confrontation Index comprises five facets and 25 indicators spread equally among these five facets. The following are the facets based on the integrated values with which the Cooperation and Confrontation Index for each transboundary transitional water body is calculated: 1. Socioeconomic Cohesion; 2. Environmental Coherence; 3. Cross-border Connectivity; 4. Cross-border Co-operation; and 5. Confrontation Risk. A comprehensive worldwide inventory of transboundary transitional waters was created. The investigation results show that eight transboundary transitional water areas are under high confrontation risk, while six areas are under no confrontation risk. The conclusion is that this risk of confrontation is closely correlated with the level of corruption in a more bellicose country sharing the transboundary transitional water body.

Управление водными ресурсами в мире

The article provides an overview of existing approaches to water resources management at the international level. The specificity of water resources management in developed and developing countries has been shown. The features of the implementation of integrated water resources management in the countries of the world have been analysed. The main governing bodies that monitor and control the state of transboundary water bodies have been considered. The peculiarities of the promotion of the Water Framework Directive in the EU countries have been shown. The analysis of the water resources management system at the international level allows a more comprehensive assessment of the state of the world's water resources.

Russian-Kazakh transboundary water bodies: typology, dynamics, economic significance

The issues related to transboundary reservoirs in the state border zone of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan are analysed and their typology is articulated. Issues concerning the legal definition of the concept of "transboundary water body" in the legislation of the two countries are outlined. As a result of comparative decoding of differenttime images of remote satellite sensing of the earth, border sections where the course of rivers change were identified.Aim. To analyse and classify transboundary water bodies on sections of the state border of Russia and the Republic of Kazakhstan and identify problematic situations.Material and Methods. The study of these transboundary water bodies was carried out on the basis of both the analysis of interstate agreements on the delineation of the border of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan, the use of cartographic methods and the analysis of retrospective satellite images.Results. Inconsistencies in the level of legal definition of the concept of "transboundary water body" in the legislation of the two countries are shown. Transboundary water bodies on the state border of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan have been identified and classified. Based on a retrospective analysis of satellite images, problematic situations arising from changes in the location of water bodies as a result of channel deformations of transboundary rivers and fluctuation of lakes have been identified.Conclusions. According to the results of this work, all waterbodies located in the state border zone along its entire length have been identified. A typology of these has been carried out and the length of boundary watercourse sections has been established. Using the example of the transborder Ural River, the situation of the section of the river along which the state border lies is shown with an analysis of the changes in the channel and their dynamics.

Sustainable development goals and water use in the Russian Federation

The article analyzes the connection of the UN Sustainable Development Goals with projects on water use and improvement of the state of fresh water sources in Russia. The importance of cooperation between neighboring states on the problems of transboundary water bodies was emphasized, the agreements reached were named. Achievements in providing the population with high-quality and safe drinking water were noted. The author notes that the discharge of poorly treated and untreated effluents into rivers hinders the achievement of certain sustainable development goals and proposes to introduce the Clean Effluent initiative into the Ecology national project.

Water Quality Problems Analysis and Assessment of the Ecological Security Level of the Transboundary Ural-Caspian Basin of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Both the insufficiency of water resources and the contamination of even transboundary water bodies are serious problems. Water quality analyses of the transboundary (between Russia and Kazakhstan) Ural River and the Kazakh sector of the Caspian Sea, and their assessment are the main research questions of this study. It is shown that the Ural River is heavily contaminated by polychlorinated biphenyls, heavy metals, oil contaminants, and pesticides, arising from industrial enterprises and agricultural objects. The results show that these toxicants are not only present in water, but they are also accumulated in the muscular tissues of all fish (Abramis brama, Sander lucioperca, Aspius aspius). The Caspian Sea is heavily contaminated by petroleum hydrocarbons due to off shore oil production. A sufficiently high level of accumulation of petroleum hydrocarbons, organochlorine pesticides and heavy metals was determined in the muscles of Caspian fish. All these contaminations lead to the loss of biodiversity and bio-productivity of the Caspian Sea. The authors propose a methodology for a quantitative assessment of the environmental safety level in relation to the Kazakh part of the Caspian Sea, based on bioindication methods. Recommendations, aimed for maintaining acceptable values of water resources quality, are suggested.

PERMISSIBLE NUTRIENT LOADINGS ON INTERNATIONAL LAKES

Permissible phosphorus and nitrogen loadings were calculated for 17 international (transboundary) water bodies, which allow them to remain in an oligotrophic state. The calculations were performed by the methods suggested by Vollenweider, Vollenweider and Dillon, and Lozovik. The study was based on mathematical models linking the permissible nutrient loadings on water bodies with their morphometric, hydrological, and assimilation characteristics. A statistically significant relationship was established between the permissible nutrient loadings on sixteen transboundary lakes and one transboundary storage reservoir and their catchment areas. The revealed quantitative ratios enable environment agencies to make informed decisions about the need for reducing human pressure on the investigated water bodies.

Youth waves in transboundary water diplomacy

Young people, aged between 18 and 29, have an untapped potential to generate effective transboundary water diplomacy. Two thirds of the 263 transboundary water bodies around the world have no cooperative agreement, and climate change is expected to exacerbate pre-existing challenges. There are three key rationales for involving youth in transboundary governance: doing so is a form of climate justice; youth have a recognised ability to aid peacebuilding and conflict resolution; and there are a number of positive multiplier effects of youth empowerment as reflected by the Sustainable Development Goals. Case studies are presented to highlight these points. In the Nile Basin, youth have been involved in grass-roots initiatives, including a workshop on transboundary diplomacy by the Water Youth Network, and the Nile Project, where cultural connection across borders is achieved through music and a university scholars’ programme.

Landslide-Induced Mass Transport of Radionuclides along Transboundary Mailuu-Suu River Networks in Central Asia

Seismically triggered landslides are a major hazard and have caused severe secondary losses. This problem is especially important in the seismic prone Mailuu-Suu catchment in Kyrgyzstan, as it hosts disproportionately sensitive active or legacy uranium sites with deposited radioactive extractive wastes. These sites show a quasi-continuous release of radioactive contamination into surface waters, and especially after natural hazards, a sudden and massive input of pollutants into the surface waters is expected. However, landslides of contaminated sediments into surface waters represent a substantial exposure pathway that has not been properly addressed in the existing river basin management to date. To fill this gap, satellite imagery was massively employed to extract topography and geometric information, and the seismic Scoops3D and the one-dimensional numerical model, Hydrologic Engineering Centre, River Analysis System (HEC-RAS), were chosen to simulate the landslide-induced mass transport of total suspended solids (TSS) and natural radionuclides (Pb-210 as a proxy for modeling purposes) within the Mailuu-Suu river networks under two earthquake and two hydrological scenarios. The results show that the seismically vulnerable areas dominated in the upstream areas, and the mass of landslides increased dramatically with the increase of earthquake levels. After the landslides, the concentrations of radionuclides increased suddenly and dramatically. The peak values decreased along the longitudinal gradient of river networks, with the concentration curves becoming flat and wide in the downstream sections, and the transport speed of radionuclides decreased along the river networks. The conclusions of this study are that landslides commonly release a significant amount of pollutants with a relatively fast transport along river networks. Improved quantitative understanding of waterborne pollution dispersion across national borders will contribute to better co-ordination between governments and regulatory authorities of riparian states and, consequently, to future prevention of transnational political conflicts that have flared up in the last two decades over alleged pollution of transboundary water bodies.

Forecasting water consumption on transboundary water resources for water resource management using the feed-forward neural network: a case study of the Nile River in Egypt and Kenya

Water resources are an essential component of a country’s natural resource potential. Pressure on these resources is set to increase due to increased water demand, climate change and rainfall variability. This could lead to conflicts between sectoral users, within or between countries, especially among transboundary countries. Interest in transboundary water resources is a priority, especially where issues such as uncertainty regarding the status of transboundary waterbodies and reductions in water volume persist. In this study, we used the feed-forward neural network to forecast water demand along the Nile River in two countries, Egypt and Kenya. Two scenarios were modelled. Input data for the first scenario included preceding records of precipitation, gross domestic product, population and water use in the agricultural sector. The second scenario observed the effects of the growing economy on water resources by doubling the gross domestic product and keeping all other inputs constant. For Kenya, the results projected a steady increase in water demand throughout the next 20 years for both scenarios. However, for Egypt, the observed trend in both scenarios was a decline in water demand, followed by a steady increase. The results underscore the importance of forecasting for easier future planning and management, and to help governing bodies along transboundary water resources develop timely strategies in the future to alleviate future water shortages and poor management of water resources.

Potentials and critiques of building a Southeast Asian interdisciplinary knowledge community on critical geoengineering studies

Geoengineering has generally been a research province of the Global North. Developing countries, especially climate-vulnerable regions such as Southeast Asia, have made few contributions to a critical understanding of geoengineering. To deliver more climate action, we need to amplify Global South voices in this debate. This essay summarizes the deliberations of a workshop that sought to build an inter- and multi-disciplinary knowledge community on the critical study of geoengineering in Southeast Asia. Held in Indonesia, this workshop involved discussions among 17 social science researchers, climate modelers, environmental policy analysts, and civil society actors from the region. On the basis of in-depth discussions, research themes were developed to help guide future geoengineering research in Southeast Asia. These themes included: biochar techniques for carbon capture and storage; expansive modeling of regional impacts of stratospheric aerosol injection, especially for transboundary water bodies; national and regional governance implications of carbon dioxide removal and solar radiation management; and critical social study of these technologies. The workshop participants called for support for regional research on geoengineering through new funding opportunities and increased international collaboration.

URANIUM AND OTHER TOXIC ELEMENTS IN TRANSBOUNDARY WATERS NEAR KAMYSHANOVSKY DEPOSIT

The paper is devoted to revealing the signs of negative impact from the territory of the Kamyshanovskoye deposit (Kyrgyzstan) on the level of contamination with uranium and other hazardous elements in transboundary water bodies, in the first place in the Shu River. For this, six control points along the irrigation canal at this territory were chosen together with 9 control points along the Shu river within the area. The elemental composition of water samples was studied employing MS-ICP and OES-ICP; concentration values of 22 elements were determined. The calculations were performed based on the obtained contents of toxic elements of the 1st and 2nd classes. Corresponding sanitary standards exceed the corresponding values by 1.5 – 6.7 times. At that, uranium makes the main contribution to the toxicity level of the studied water in the Shu River (46%) and in the canal (61%). The toxicity of the water canal is for ~3 times higher than that of the Shu River. The highest toxicity indicator was found in the water delivered to the agricultural irrigation at the territory of the Kamyshanovskoye deposit. This peculiarity and the obtained data may be of interest to the Ministry of Agriculture of the Kyrgyz Republic. The distribution of chemical elements in water along the irrigation canal and along the Shu River bed was studied. It is established that the canal water do not become contaminated with toxic elements while passing through the deposit lands. It was established in the 3 control points of the Shu River that an increase (by 28 – 130%) in the concentration of Ca, Ni, Li, Sr, U, Mg, Cr, Ba over their concentrations at the control points is higher upstream of this river. The results obtained convincingly indicate the presence of a serious influence of the Kamyshanovskoye deposit territory on the Shu River contamination with these elements. It is unlikely that such significant contamination is caused by the irrigation system discharge waters. One of the possible mechanisms of water contamination in the Shu River in its segment may be the entry of groundwater in contact with the ore body of this deposit.

THE MAIN DIRECTIONS OF ENSURING THE ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY OF WATER BODIES IN TRANSBOUNDARY BASINS

Abstract. The article is devoted to the analysis of priority areas of international cooperation in the field of ensuring environmental safety of transboundary water bodies. The authors of the article indicated such areas of environmental safety as: Water-energy problem of the Central Asian countries; impact of climate change on water; Aral ecological crisis and its consequences for the natural environment of the Central Asian region. The authors of the article made recommendations on eliminating the environmental problems of transboundary water bodies. It is proposed to sign fundamental documents on legal issues of water allocation and protection of transboundary rivers on the basis of international law and bring the problem of transboundary rivers to the level of the SCO and tripartite negotiations (Russia, Kazakhstan, China). The necessity of building joint hydropower facilities on transboundary rivers is substantiated. The authors propose to expand, improve and modernize the control network (gauging stations, etc.) in all river basins of Kazakhstan and China.

Flotsam: Garbage dumping, pollution, and legal tensions in the Detroit River

This paper examines garbage dumping as a transboundary water conflict that brought to the surface issues of federalism as it did territorial sovereignty by examining a garbage trial in the town of Amherstburg, along the Detroit River. In June 1895, the collector of the town of the Canadian town of Amherstburg seized an American scow and tug which were accused of dumping garbage into the Detroit River near Canadian waters. As a transboundary waterbody, both the United States and Canada had access to and interest in the Detroit River; it was an important commercial water as well as fishing ground. The garbage contained all sorts of waste including animal offal, much to the chagrin of Amherstburg’s residents and officials. In the trial that followed, local officials and residents argued that the garbage interfered with fish catches and was a general nuisance. The collector had seized the vessels only after he had first tried to get a directive from the Ministry of Agriculture. His telegram asking for direction received a reply telegram which was merely an acknowledgement of receipt. When he did hear back, from another ministry, he was told it was a local matter as there was no contravention of a federal policy. To the American owners of the tug and scow, the garbage trial (as it came to be known) was not merely a local issue. Local officials and residents testified to their growing annoyance and the overall inconvenience caused by the dumping at the trail. To federal officials, this remained a local matter. By following the garbage trial and its aftermath, this paper shows how garbage became a local, federal, and transboundary issue, all at once thus exposing the interstitial space that garbage occupies. In so doing, expands our understanding of garbage, pollution, and their evolution as binational issues between the United States and Canada before the formation of the International Joint Commission.

PROBLEMS OF LEGAL REGULATION OF THE USE OF TRANSBOUNDARY WATER BODIES IN CENTRAL ASIA

Given article analyses the causes of increasing problems of shared water use by transboundary riversin Central Asia. The existing complex problems of relations between the states of the region reduce theeffectiveness of individual states, the work of industries, the level of life safety, the existence of waterand terrestrial ecosystems. Water use in the region and the ability to control it is turning into a powerfulmechanism of economic and political pressure from some states of the Central Asian region. Accordingto the fact that on a number of issues the governments of Central Asia cannot come to a consensus, itis proposed to use the experience of Europe. It is noted that in spite of the development of contractualinternational water legislation, issues of joint water use are exacerbated in practice and develop intointernational conflicts. In order to avoid conflicts, the author believes that despite the active position ofKazakhstan in international politics and the quantity and quality of agreements concluded by him on theuse of transboundary opening facilities, one should consider options for using own facilities and reducethe consumption of transboundary rivers. It is also proposed to continue the policy of hydro-diplomacybased on economical and environmentally friendly water use.Key words: water law, water security, transboundary water bodies, shared water use, legal regulation.

Conceptual Basics of Standardization of Ecological and Free Flow for Rivers in Kazakhstan

The article presents methodical proposals concerning replacement of the approved norms for calculation of sanitary releases from reservoirs for ecological flow, proposals for the methods of determination of the ecological flow parameters that could be accepted for Kazakhstan for the river flow regulating. We tried to use the developed methodical principles based on ecological safety for determination of scientifically proved quantitative dependencies and norms of the flow permissible withdrawal for the main rivers of Kazakhstan. Within the framework of the performed studies Kazakhstan as the Chairperson of the Convention on Transboundary Water Courses and Water Bodies of the UN EEC intends to present the methods for determination of ecological flow and permissible river flow withdrawal for discussion.

The analysis of zoobenthos quantitative indicators of the Argun River

Argun River basin belongs to the Upper Amur basin. It is a tributary of the first order of the Amur River, and belongs to transboundary water bodies. The paper provides data on the zoobenthos quantitative characteristics of Argun River in June and August 2016. In the zoobenthos Ephemeroptera, Trichoptera, Chironomidae, Oligochaeta, and Simulidae communities dominated. The abundance of zoobenthos varied from 0.025 to 4.942 thousand ind./m2, the biomass varied from 0.032 to 24.105 g/m2.

ГИДРОЛОГИЧЕСКОЕ ОБОСНОВАНИЕ УПРАВЛЕНИЯ ВОДНЫМИ РЕСУРСАМИ В ВЕРХНЕЙ ЧАСТИ БАССЕЙНА ДНЕПРА

The Dnieper river is one of the largest rivers in Europe. It is the fourth largest river in terms of basin area and length after the Volga, Danube and Ural, and the second largest of the rivers that flow into the Black sea, after the Danube. From the point of view of territorial distribution of water resources, the Dnieper basin can be divided into two zones. The first zone includes the Russian and Belarusian parts of the basin, which is a zone of river flow formation. It is characterized by an insufficiently high level of water resources use. The second zone, which is a part of the Ukrainian part of the river basin, is characterized by a small inflow of water from tributaries and a high level of water resources use. Rivers, watercourses of which run through the territory of two or more states, are called as transboundary. Different sections of the same river are used by different states, and the use of water resources and catchment area in the upper reaches of the river will affect the quantitative and qualitative parameters of water downstream. This means that the unified environmental system is divided by a state border and is managed in each individual state at its discretion. This affects the river and surrounding areas. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the problem of transboundary water bodies became very relevant for Russia. Neighboring countries have faced a number of environmental problems in border territories and transboundary river basins, where environmental problems have persisted and often worsened, but the institutional framework for their effective solution has been lost