Mekong River Commission Information System/ “WUP-FIN Phase III” Concept

1. Mekong River Commission Information System/ “WUP-FIN Phase III” Concept • The information system development is critical activity for maintaining the MRCS role as -regional expert institute for balanced Mekong development -helping in transboundary issues -providing up-to-date information for the riparian needs • The information system development offers an opportunity to strenghten the NMCs’ capacity and information channels between the MRCS and the NMCs.

2. Background • Large number of research institutes, governmental agencies, universities and investment establishments involved in Mekong region research, planning and development • Improved cooperation and information exchange between these actors is mandatory for arriving at balanced development • Long term commitment by Finland in supporting the MRCS and especially its information capacity. The information system development builds upon the expertise, liaison, training, data collection and information tools created in the course of the supported work • The work also directly supports local and regional investment projects, their planning and livelihoods development

3. Broad objectives, goals • to support Mekong Region sustainable development with best available information technology. • to support the capacity building and technology adoption by the riparian experts for sustainable water resources management and investment planning

4. Project components • Strengthening of the linkage between MRCS and the NMCs’ and the NMCs’ role and capacity • Establishment of national and MRCS working teams and conducting practical water resources related projects (trainee contracts…more resources for capacity building) • Establishment of riparian university courses, MS and PhD programs and student exchange • Data collection for critical issues and data gaps; includes sustainable development and maintenance of the MRCS monitoring network • Effective delivery of data products to MRCS, line agencies, authorities and universities • Establishment of web-based interface enabling running of the MRCS modelling and information tools such as the DSF and operational flood models remotely by the riparian countries • Linkage of the information system outputs to socio-economic decision and policy making (integrated approach/assessment)

5. Project components… • MRCS DSF (Decision Support Framework) development • Collection of user experiences and comments on the DSF • Evaluation, checking and possible correction of the DSF including comparison with other models • Harmonization of different modelling tools • Development of the DSF to accommodate more user friendly user interface and more comprehensive physical, chemical, biological, ecological, economic and socio-economic analysis tools; based on user experiences and needs • Establishment of integrated MRCS information system including GIS, databases and modelling tools

6. Project components… • Support for the MRCS programmes • Establishment of a flexible information/user interface umbrella for the MRCS operational flood risk mapping able to accommodate different models and input/output data processing tools (FMMP) • Physical, ecological and socio-economic impact assessment of the Basin Development Scenarios (EP/ Integrated Basin Flow Management), …sediment regime, floodplains • Liaison and coordination between MRCS and other actors in the Mekong region, international cooperation networking, e.g. Challenge Programme • Coordination and support for field surveys and primary data collection • Provision of data • Participation in joint projects • Joint dissemination activities.

7. Practical sub-projects and case studies in support of investments and management of Mekong natural resources • Hydropower development • Sustainable construction and management of large dams (power production, downstream impacts, reservoir sedimentation) • Evaluation of the value of power production versus the losses caused by them • Impact of reservoir sediment trapping on downstream productivity

8. Practical sub-projects… • Natural resources management and maintenance< • Sustainable Nam Songkhram watershed development for agriculture and fisheries under changing main stream flow regimes, erosion, WQ modelling (Thailand, MRCS/WUP-FIN, IUCN/MWBC cooperation ongoing…) • Optimal management of Tonle Sap fisheries resources • Maintenance of Mekong wetlands under development scenarios • Impact of built structures on fisheries (ADB project starting May 2006, World Fish & WUP-FIN) • Flood control and mitigation • Flash flood control in the upper Mekong watersheds • Impact of built structures and flood barriers on upstream and downstream flooding • Improved operational flood forecasting for both upper and lower Mekong

9. Practical… • Erosion control, sedimentation and navigation • Impacts and sustainable maintenance of the Tonle Sap navigational channel • Bank erosion control between Thailand and Lao PDR, incl. bank stability studies for further model development • Bank erosion protection serving urban development in Phnom Penh • Bank erosion protection in the Vietnamese Delta • Maintenance of Mekong deep pools under changing flow and sediment regimes (deep pools are important dry season fish and dolphin refuges)

10. WUP-FIN phasing • WUP-FIN Phase I ; modelling tools, primary data, socio-economic assessment for Tonle Sap (2001-2004) • WUP-FIN Phase II ; improve DSF hydrological, environmental and socio-economic impact assessment capabilities and provide technical support to MRC programmes and the member countries; build capacity for model use and development at the MRCS and the countries (2004-2006) • “WUP-FIN Phase III”…? ; further implementation and taking practical use of the developed tools and established cooperation framework (2007-2009