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FLOWING FOREVER

FLOWING FOREVER. WWF-INDIA June 8, 2012 suresh@wwfindia.net. Right to flow. Rivers have the right to flow un-interuppted First preference shall be to protect all rivers from any abuse including diversion and abstraction Environmental flows are important from water planning perspective

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FLOWING FOREVER

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  1. FLOWING FOREVER WWF-INDIA June 8, 2012 suresh@wwfindia.net

  2. Right to flow • Rivers have the right to flow un-interuppted • First preference shall be to protect all rivers from any abuse including diversion and abstraction • Environmental flows are important from water planning perspective • Assumes that there is some ‘spare’ water in rivers that can be used without unacceptably impacting on the ecosystem and societal services that the river provides

  3. WHY DO WE NEED FLOWS?

  4. Goods and Services of River Ecosystems Flow variability is important

  5. Flows decide the geomorphology

  6. Click to edit Master text styles • Second level • Third level • Fourth level • Fifth level

  7. E-Flows " Environmental Flows are the flows required for the maintenance of the ecological integrity of rivers, their associated ecosystems and the goods and services provided by them. "

  8. WWF’s work on E-flows • WWF’s LGP aimed to develop a “holistic” approach to addressing issues at a river basin level • Global partners increasingly focusing on E-flows which was a key issue for UG • Understanding on E-flows (both internally and externally) needed to be enhanced • Practical methodologies for calculating e-flows for Indian rivers were not available • Capacity to design and develop E-Flow approaches for Indian rivers could be developed

  9. Key challenges: 1. Technical: Over 200 methodologies. Which suits the best? How to capture the complex issues of cultural/religious flow requirements? How to deal with a situation with limited access to flow data? 2. Capacity: Who will carry out the assessment? Who will validate?

  10. Originally Evolution • Ecology • Hydrology Source: Prof Jay O’ Keffee, Rhodes University

  11. Then Social aspects Human well-being • Hydrology • Ecology • Hydraulics • Geomorphology • Water quality Source: Prof Jay O’ Keffee, Rhodes University

  12. Now IWRM • Social aspects • Human well-being • Stakeholder participation • Economic analysis • Hydrology • Ecology • Hydraulics • Geomorphology • Water quality Source: Prof Jay O’ Keffee, Rhodes University

  13. Environmental Flows Assessment • Who: Social and a scientific process • No one correct E-flows regime for rivers • Depends on what people want from a river

  14. Where do we begin? • Ask what we want our river to be? • Defining current state and future desired state are important • A free flowing river or a tiny rivulet or a dry stretch of land

  15. Water for ecology • Getting the priorities right-national and state water policies. Need to work towards this South African National Water Law Part 3: The Reserve: The basic human needs reserve provides for the essential needs of individuals. The ecological reserve relates to the water required to protect the aquatic ecosystems of the water resource. Australlia Entitlements for environment

  16. Environmental Flows Assessment • E-Flows are not just about establishing a ‘minimum’ flow level for rivers • E-flows are multi dimensional. • Socio-cultural-religious angle • Livelihood angle • Hyrology, hydraulic, fluvial geomorphology • Biodiversity and conservation • Has to be driven by principles of participation and stakeholder engagement. Cannot be driven by hydrologists or engineers or technocrats. • E-Flows should be an adaptive process, in which flows may be successively modified. Defining 10% or 15% lean season flows are adhoc and needs to be revisited.

  17. Environmental Flows Assessment • Several methodologies exist. BBM is one of them. • Need to understand how to adapt BBM to different riverine ecosystems. Blanket approach may not work. Need to be cautious about misuse of BBM. • Need for each one of us to take a tributary which is impacted and do a quick assessment of ecological requirements. Data will be a challenge • Important, what is the cost of not allowing the rivers to flow.

  18. Environmental Flows Assessment • Not a one time flow; Regime of flows • Assess E-flows using a holistic approach: hydrology, hydraulics, fluvial geomorphology, water quality, socio-cultural-spiritual, biodiversity and livelihood • Need to be an integral part of the EIA & CIA • Bottoms up-project, sub-basin to basin level; • Existing projects • Trade-off analysis • Need to place it in the context of river basin management plan

  19. Environmental Flows Assessment • Implementation & monitoring • Joint monitoring • Whether required releases are being made • Impacts • Adaptive process needed in E-flows assessment and implementation • The EF process should be embedded in a framework of inclusive stakeholder understanding and participation, and preferably within a broader context of IWRM

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