Environmental flows in water Resources policies, plans and projects: g lobal lessons

1. Environmental flows in water Resources policies, plans and projects: global lessons Dr.RafikHirji World Bank

2. Background

3. Fundamental Water Issue On the one hand, infrastructure for: • Reliable, adequate, safe water supply • Provision of water for development But also protection of environment • Provision of ecosystem services • Meeting international obligations

4. IWRM and Environment • IWRM is being introduced in policy but not in practice • At best, individual elements of IWRM are introduced opportunistically • Recognition and provision of water for the environment is one of the least implemented aspects of IWRM practice

5. This Presentation will….. • Summarize some global successes of environmental flows • Describe a recent World Bank study of e-flows at policy, plan and project levels • Present lessons learned • Implications for India and Ganges basin

6. Environmental Flows and Decision Making • Originally e-flows for new infrastructure; now rehabilitation and catchment/basin planning • Deciding on e-flows is a social choice, not a technical decision – science and social input is essential • Throws focus on ecosystem services – esp. for downstream communities • E-flows provided through releases of e-reserves, and through restrictions on abstractions (or improved water use)

7. The Record Shows….. Infrastructure development has not always been planned, designed or operated to share benefits equitably or to protect the environment and the people dependent on environmental services, especially those downstream of dams

8. Expanding Awareness in Dam Development 1940 Engineers 1950 + Economists 1960 + Environment 1970 1980 + Sociologists 1990 + Displaced People 2000 2010 + Downstream Impacts

9. Putting the Pieces Together Time to develop comprehensive approach, from policy to project, for ensuring e-flows in development assistance

10. Study Objective Help advance the understanding and integration in operational terms of environmental water allocation into integrated water resources management

11. Policy Legislation Strategy Plans Programs Project Linking policy to laws, strategy, plans, programs to projects

12. Policy Legislation Strategy Plans Programs Project Entry Points for E-Flows • Water and environmental policy reform • Basin/catchment planning • New infrastructure • Rehabilitation and re-operation

13. E-Flow Case Study Analysis

14. Geographic Diversity                 Policy – Australia, EU, South Africa, Tanzania, Florida Plans – Kruger, Mekong, Pangani, Pioneer   Projects – Aral Sea, Berg River, Bridge River, Chilika, Lesotho, Kihansi, Senegal River, Tarim

15. Example – New InfrastructureKihansi Gorge, Tanzania • Limited downstream EA • Rare spray dependent ecosystem discovered • Bank supported remedial measures • Final water right • Lessons • Lack of policy guidance • Lack of assessment capacity • Early thorough EA would have prevented problem

16. Example – RehabilitationAral Sea, Central Asia • Excessive upstream water extraction • Desiccation → loss of livelihoods and health • Total restoration too costly • Dyke & irrigation rehabilitation restore Northern Aral Sea • Lessons • Ignoring downstream can be costly • Transboundary coordination essential • Engineering part of solution

17. Example – RehabilitationTarim Basin, China • Irrigation diversions dried lower Tarim River; desert encroachment; lakes dried out • Rehabilitation led to improved operating practices, relined canals, improved cropping • Greenbelt restored; irrigation efficiency improved • Lessons • Not regarded as e-flow • Sometimes win-win • Engineering and improved mgmt both needed

18. Lessons - Policy • Policy backing very important • Gives legitimacy to e-flows in plans and projects • Establish priority for e-flows • Provides participation requirements • Include whole water cycle in policy, esp. groundwater • Value-laden terms must be operationally defined • Independent oversight authority valuable

19. Challenges - Policy BUT • Needs political support to implement policy • Alignment with other sectoral policies is difficult • Need to establish clear public benefits from e-water

20. Lessons - Plans • Environmental benefits must be demonstrable • E-flow terminology can be misleading • Whole water cycle in plans e.g. interception • Participation important, but tailor to capacity • Range of EFA methods required • Monitor environmental outcomes • Procedural drivers important for water plans

21. Challenges - Plans BUT • Little information on costs of EFA in planning – perception of delays and costs • Difficult to bring sectoral agencies into planning decisions • Be cautious in water allocation – very difficult to recover from over-allocation • Need to build expertise in developing countries

22. Lessons – Projects • Restoration projects often require both engineering and flow management • Environmental outcomes need to be linked to socio-economic outcomes • EFAs should cover all ecosystem components • EFA is a small component of project costs • Need understandable presentation of e-flow outcomes • Economic studies can help the case for e-flows • E-flows readily accepted when benefits obvious

23. Challenges - Projects BUT • Water resources staff can be better advocates than environmental agency staff, BUT engineers can find e-flow concepts indeterminate • EFAs are yet to be mainstreamed into EA

24. Implications for India • A clear policy on E flows • Technical guideline that defines the range and appropriateness of different E flow methods and approaches maybe useful • An operational guideline for systematically undertaking EFAs or for integrating it into the planning process • E flow training modules

25. Implications for the Ganga • Govt has committed to Ganga rejuvenation • Rejuvenation is a water quality (point & NPS pollution) and quantity (e flows) issue • Ganga basin rejuvenation is basin wide challenge • E flows not only a hydropower issue but also a domestic, industry and agriculture water use issue, and IWRM issue • Strategic basin planning maybe a useful tool to address this challenge

26. The World Bank and E-Flows • Bank both informed by and contributes to evolving e-flow knowledge and practice • The Bank contribution mainly through • Lesotho Highland Water Project, • Restoration of the Tarim River, • Restoration of the Northern Aral Sea • Infrastructure in Lower Kihansi River • Infrastructure in the Senegal River basin • Technical documents

28. Email: Rhirji@worldbank.org Thank you