Management issues in the Lake Titicaca and Lake Poopo system: Importance of developing a water budget

Lake Titicaca is the largest freshwater lake in South America and the highest of the world’s large lakes. The Desaguadero River links Lake Titicaca to lakes Urur Uru and Poopo and, in wet years to the Coipasa Salt Marsh. Lake Titicaca is bordered by both Bolivia and Peru. The main international lake management problem for the Lake Titicaca/Desaguadero River/Lake Poopo system involves the use of water resources. The maximum usable flow in the Titicaca basin (only 20–25 m³ s^–1), is dramatically less than the estimated demand. Water transfer and irrigation projects will have to be strictly prioritized on the basis of environmental, social, economic and hydrological criteria. Establishing the overall volume and demand for water in the Titicaca system has been critical to making good management decisions. Agreements for the study and management of Lake Titicaca between Peru and Bolivia date back to 1955 when both countries signed a document declaring ‘the indivisible and exclusive joint ownership of both countries of the waters of the lake’. Over time, the two countries agreed to create a Binational Autonomous Authority that would have full autonomy for Titicaca–Desaguadero/Poopo system decisions related to implementing the master plan that they had developed. Although it is hard to quantify conservation success in large lake regions, water use projects are being prioritized, city wastewater pollution in the Bay of Puno is being reduced and ameliorated and a large biodiversity project through the Global Environment Facility is underway.     

基于系统聚类的鄱阳湖流域水功能区划研究

水功能区划是水环境管理和水污染物总量控制的重要基础。以县级行政区划为最小划分单元,根据选定的社会经济指标,采用系统聚类的方法,将鄱阳湖流域内各县进行分类。结合流域内水质状况、各县的其它社会经济条件和历史的水功能区划成果,确定各县的主导用水功能,生成鄱阳湖流域水功能区划图。结果表明:鄱阳湖流域主要水功能为农业用水,而工业用水区主要分布在江西省北部,渔业用水区主要分布在环鄱阳湖区。该区划结果兼顾了水资源的流域和区域管理的优点,能较好的适应目前水资源区域管理的现状,对水资源的合理开发与有效利用提供科学依据。     

基于水资源核算的太湖流域水环境退化成本分析

为合理制定流域水价,加强流域水资源统一管理,提高水资源节约利用水平,促进水资源可持续利用,对水环境与经济社会产生的关系进行综合考量;在核算太湖流域2010年水资源的基础上,分别利用基于防护费用的评估方法和基于损害的水环境退化估价方法,计算分析2010年太湖流域水环境退化成本。结果表明:对污染物进行源头治理不仅是出于对环境保护的考虑,更是尽可能地降低水环境退化成本、避免经济损失的最佳选择。水环境退化分析为合理制定水价及水资源统一管理提供了重要参考。     

太湖流域洪水识别与洪水资源利用约束分析

随着人口增长和经济的迅速发展,太湖流域出现了洪涝灾害、水资源短缺与水环境恶化三者并存的局面,水资源问题已成为制约区域经济社会可持续发展的主要因素。依托防洪工程体系和河湖水系,完善洪水调控方式,促进洪水与水量、水质调度相结合,对于强化太湖流域水资源综合管理具有重要意义。在分析太湖流域洪水特性的基础上,结合降水和水位等要素,划分了太湖流域“洪水期”,从水量平衡角度识别和解析了太湖流域洪水过程,阐明了太湖流域洪水资源利用的实质,提出了流域洪水资源利用的防洪安全、供水安全及水环境安全约束条件,初步总结了太湖流域洪水资源利用识别体系,为开展太湖流域洪水资源利用评价和改善流域洪水调控模式奠定了基础。     

Assessment of Sustainability in Water Supply-Demand Considering Uncertainties

Water is a vital resource for life on earth; hence its maintenance is very important. Different regions especially in arid and semi-arid areas are facing population growth and subsequent increase in the domestic, industrial and agricultural activities. Planning of water systems in order to be ready for future development conditions needs further studies on the estimation of the sustainable levels of demands based on the sustainable levels of supplies. In this study a threefold approach for estimating sustainability level of supply and demand in Ahachay river basin in northwestern part of Iran as a case study is taken. In the first method, the internal flows and the origins and final uses of the total resources for each subsystem are estimated and planning for sustainability use index is determined by calculating the available water. Second method introduced a simulation model which is utilized to estimate reliability, resiliency, vulnerability and maximum deficit for a river basin to determine a group sustainability index. In the third method, for evaluating the movement toward sustainability, an index is developed. This index includes parameters that are the difference between supply and demand, percentage of the satisfied demand, productivity of water resources and an indicator for evaluating the reduction of aquifer storage. Finally these methods are compared and a hybrid index combining the indices is developed. An uncertainty analysis is also performed to investigate the random nature of variables in estimating water balance and quantifying the water sustainability. This hybrid index can be used for evaluating the planning scenarios and for maintaining and improving the sustainable state of supply-demand for the region.     

基于多种方法的太湖综合水质评价比较

水污染是太湖主要的水环境问题之一,准确合理地评价太湖水质状况对该地区水环境治理具有至关重要的作用。利用单因子水质标志指数法、综合水质标志指数法、改进的综合水质标志指数法及基于污染物权重的灰色关联分析法对2004—2013年典型断面的水质进行评价,水质单项指标评价表明太湖东部及东南部污染较严重且主要污染物为NH3-N,与该地区水体富营养化现状一致,综合水质评价表明近年来太湖水质呈逐年转好的趋势;对比研究结果表明,综合水质标志指数和改进的综合水质标志指数更接近太湖水质的真实情况,其中改进的综合水质标志指数法考虑了最差污染因子对综合水质的影响,克服了单项指标算术平均带来的误差,能真实反映流域的污染状况,为水环境治理工作提供更可靠的依据。     

松辽流域水资源统一管理的目标和任务

为加强流域水资源的统一管理,优化配置水资源,松辽委积极探索水资源流域管理与行政区域管理相结合的模式,以适应全面建设小康社会和振兴东北地区老工业基地等发展战略.今后一个时期水资源统一管理的目标和任务是:做好流域水资源使用权初始分配工作,努力推进节水型社会建设,继续开展涉水事务一体化管理改革,开展流域与区域相结合的水资源管理机制研究和实践.根据水资源承载能力制定区域发展政策,进一步完善水资源管理法规体系,依靠科技进步和经济杠杆,发挥"松辽管理模式"的作用,进一步加强流域水资源统一管理.     

Integrating Stakeholders’ Preferences into Water Resources Management Planning in the Incomati River Basin

Stakeholder participation is a key principle of the integrated water resources management. It is a central issue in planning and decision making processes for the development of suitable water resources management strategies at the river basin level. This study tests a methodology for identifying stakeholders’ preferences regarding water resources management objectives, to incorporate them in the design of water resources management plans at the river basin level. The empirical application of this study focused in Mozambique, on the Incomati river basin. This research applies the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method to evaluate stakeholders’ involvement and participation in the selection of water resources management plans. This research revealed that there are heterogeneities in stakeholders’ individual groups preferences regarding water resources management objectives and the management options of their satisfaction. Furthermore it revealed the potential utility of the AHP methodological framework in facilitating stakeholders’ participation and involvement in planning and decision-making processes for the development of water resources management plans. The application of this approach may improve water governance at the river basin level through higher commitments of stakeholders to the proposed objectives.     

Nutrient management in Lake Erie: Evaluating stakeholder values,attitudes, and policy preferences

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) have impaired Lake Erie’s western basin water quality since the 1960s. Though scientists agree that eutrophication is a key driver of HABs in Lake Erie, the role of nitrogen is still the subject of debate. The problem is twofold: (1) uncertainty in the specific causes of HABs can lead to inappropriate management solutions, and (2) managing a cross-boundary watershed requires collaboration and agreement on apt solutions from multiple stakeholders as well as many U.S. states and Canadian provinces. In our study, we interviewed 29 stakeholders actively involved in western Lake Erie’s watershed. We analyzed the stakeholders’ values, attitudes, and policy preferences to understand their differences, similarities, and their effects on management decisions. We found that stakeholders agree on the urgency of the problem and the necessity for increased nutrient management in Lake Erie’s western basin. Furthermore, we found that stakeholders can be represented as distinct clusters based on their values, and these value-based clusters are associated with different policy preferences. The different opinions and preferences of these value clusters span across stakeholder sectors and may affect efforts toward policy change. Stakeholders often question the feasibility and effectiveness of existing policies and policy plans. The findings shed new light on the relationship between stakeholder type and environmental values, attitudes, and policy preferences. Collaboration on HABs in Lake Erie will require open lines of communication both to improve policy and to cultivate trust among the multiple parties in this diverse watershed.     

Evaluation of the Bankruptcy Approach for Water Resources Allocation Conflict Resolution at Basin Scale,Iran’s Lake Urmia Experience

Water conflicts appear when there are insufficient and less available water resources than water demands claimed by different agents. In this study, a new bankruptcy approach is investigated to resolve water conflicts in the Zarrinehroud River Basin, the largest and most important sub-basin of Lake Urmia’s Basin in the northwest of Iran. The new bankruptcy method is compared with the proportional rule (PRO) and another alternative based on the cessation of irrigated agriculture in the region proposed to supply and save environmentally in danger Lake Urmia. Four scenarios consisting of the current situation, optimistic, average and pessimistic scenarios regarding the future of water resources of the basin and agricultural developments were considered. According to the results, both bankruptcy rules helped Lake Urmia to receive more water, but neither could utterly overcome the water shortage of the Lake, so can be used as supplementary actions alongside other solutions. The cessation of irrigated agriculture throughout the basin overcame the average annual shortage of Lake Urmia in the first and second scenarios equal to 137 and 148 million cubic meters respectively. It showed disability to fully supply the lake in the third and fourth scenarios. These three methods must be combined with a social-economic policy like the purchase of decreased water allocations to farmers to be socially acceptable.     

The use of modelling and reuse techniques in the development of water management systems in basins with limited water resources.

Drawing on experiences in New South Wales from 1950 to 1980 in modeling and re-use techniques in the development of desalination technology and its application in fresh water production for potable use, the paper describes how Australia realized its responsibilities in developing participative and sustainable approaches to land use and water resources management. An analysis of the lessons from the operation of the Bayswater zero-discharge power station significantly contributed to the debate on sustainable approaches, highlighting that no management policy of a water basin can be implemented without a model based on reliable data from all sectors (including the environment), and no management model can be implemented without the participation of all stakeholders. These ideals were reflected in the conception and establishment of the Murray-Darling Basin Commission. The Commission succeeded in bringing together all major stakeholders in this huge basin, though it took more than 15 years to do so. While widely recognized as one of the most advanced and successful experiences in integrated management of a drainage basin, it has still not achieved the reversal of many unsustainable agricultural practices, giving a clear indication of the difficulties and time required for producing sustainable solutions.     

Multi-Objective Surface Water Resource Management Considering Conflict Resolution and Utility Function Optimization

In the present research, a multi-objective model is developed for surface water resource management in the river basin area which is connected to the lake. This model considers different components of sustainable water resource management including economic, social and environmental aspects, and simultaneously tries to resolve conflicts between different stakeholders by means of non-symmetric Nash bargaining, which is linked to the multi-objective optimization method. This study proposes a new methodology to improve Nash Conflict Resolution through finding the optimum degree of the utility function. The proposed model is examined in the Zarrineh River basin in Iran. The results show that the amount of available resources or volume of reservoirs play a significant role in determining the optimal degree of the utility function and efficiency of the proposed method in such a way that the higher amount of resources or the larger reservoirs will result in the higher optimal degree of the utility function. In the proposed multi-objective model, two different amounts of surface water inflow are considered. The first assumed amount is the long-term average flow rate and the second one is equal to 80% of the first mode, which is reduced based on the estimated impacts of climate changes. This multi-objective allocation model could supply 100 and 97.5% of the environmental demand of Lake Urmia in the first and second situations, respectively.     

A Microeconomic Perspective on Water Resources Management: Analyzing the Effects on Optimal Land Rents Along a River Basin

Water scarcity is becoming an increasingly relevant issue in many regions of the world as demand for water continues to grow. As a result, the need for finding measures that efficiently allocate increasingly scarce water resources has become a primary topic on the agendas of many water resource management authorities. This paper presents an innovative approach that provides further insight into the connection between hydrological, environmental, and economic aspects along a river basin. In short, it analyzes how land rents along a river basin are affected by managing water pollution along a river basin, given certain hydrological characteristics of the river basin. Results show that, without the implementation of a water management system to control water quality, the negative external effects of upstream water discharges on downstream locations can be internalized through a decrease in downstream land rents. However, the analysis presented in this paper also reveals that it is not only the absence or the presence of a water management system that has a significant impact on the real estate market along the river basin. Moreover, the market outcome also varies with the type of water resources management system implemented.     

汉江流域用水总量控制指标实施方法研究

汉江流域为我国实行最严格水资源管理体制的试点流域,对其水资源供需状况进行研究,探讨用水总量控制的实施方法,有着十分重大的指导意义。以汉江流域水资源公报为依据,首先建立了汉江流域用水总量控制评价指标体系,然后,通过对流域各地区水资源供需形势、用水效率、与发达国家节水水平的比较,明确了汉江流域目前的用水水平、各地区节约用水的差距、与世界先进国家相比的节水潜力、需要加强水资源管理的地区与行业。分析结果认为,为保证汉江流域经济社会的可持续发展和用水安全,应从开源和节流两个方面制定水资源管理措施,节水重点应放在水资源利用效率较差的行业和地区。     

Water resources management and Integrated Water Resources Management implementation in Malawi: Status and implications for lake basin management

Many countries, including Malawi, are implementing integrated approaches for the development, management and use of water and other natural resources. Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) is, arguably, one approach considered helpful in addressing water issues effectively and sustainably. This study assesses the implementation of IWRM in Malawi to the present time, in relation to the five priority areas the country's Integrated Water Resources Management/Water Efficiency (IWRM/WE) Plan (2008–2012) sought to address, as well as the potential benefits of infusing Integrated Lake Basin Management (ILBM) in this approach. Document reviews, key informant interviews, questionnaire surveys and site visits were the employed methods in this analysis. Considering the significant importance of lakes in the country, this study, through application of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats framework, provides insight on how lake basin management issues can best be incorporated within the existing IWRM‐based framework to promote the management and utilization of lakes for sustainable use. While acknowledging the relevance of a holistic approach, the study highlights the importance for the country to ensure that its development agenda is not negatively affected in the course of implementing IWRM.     

Evaluation of regional water resources carrying capacity based on binary index method and reduction index method

Based on the regional water resources carrying capacity(WRCC) evaluation principles and evaluation index system in the National Technical Outline of Water Resources Carrying Capacity Monitoring and Early Warning(hereafter referred to as the Technical Outline),this paper elaborates on the collection and sorting of the basic data of water resources conditions,water resources development and utilization status,social and economic development in basins,analysis and examination of integrity,consistency,normativeness,and rationality of the basic data,and the necessity of WRCC evaluation.This paper also describes the technique of evaluating the WRCC in prefecture-level cities and city-level administrative divisions in the District of the Taihu Lake Basin,which is composed of the Taihu Lake Basin and the Southeastern River Basin.The evaluation process combines the binary index evaluation method and reduction index evaluation method.The former,recommended by the Technical Outline,uses the total water use and the amount of exploited groundwater as evaluation indices,showing stronger operability,while the latter is developed by simplifying and optimizing the comprehensive index system with greater systematicness and completeness.The mutual validation and adjustment of the results of the above-mentioned two evaluation methods indicate that the WRCC of the District of the Taihu Lake Basin is overloaded in general because some prefecture-level cities and city-level administrative divisions in the Taihu Lake Basin and the Southeastern River Basin are in a severely overloaded state.In order to explain this conclusion,this paper analyzes the causes of WRCC overloading from the aspects of basin water environment,water resources development and utilization,water resources regulation and control ability,water resources utilization efficiency,and water resources management.     

Model-Supported Impact Assessment for the Water Sector in Central Germany Under Climate Change—A Case Study

Climate change challenges water managers and researchers to find sustainable management solutions, in order to avoid undesirable impacts on water resources, environment and water-dependent sectors. Needed are projections into the future for the main driving forces, the resulting pressures on water resources, and quantification of the impacts. Modeling studies can play an important role in investigating, quantifying, and communicating possible impacts of climate change, with account of uncertainty of the results. However, climate change related impacts and a need for adaptation still play a minor role in current river basin management plans that have to comply e.g. with the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD). One important reason is that climate impact assessment is generally done in research institutes, while management plans are designed by practitioners working in national and regional environmental agencies and water supply companies. Knowledge transfer from science to practice and visa versa is often missing. In the present study, we propose a methodology and a case study for model-supported decision making in the water sector applicable to a participatory water resources planning process. The methodology is applied in a case study investigating climate change impacts on water resources. The case study area is the German State of Saxony-Anhalt, where the task was to develop a climate change impact assessment including possible adaptation measures as basis for a federal adaptation directive.     

Temporal and Spatial Assessment of Supply and Demand of the Water-yield Ecosystem Service for Water Scarcity Management in Arid to Semi-arid Ecosystems

Water scarcity is one of the problems affecting people’s livelihoods in arid and semi-arid areas, requiring a sustainable balance between water demands and water resources. This study was carried out to assess temporal and spatial distribution of water supply and demand in order to help managers to overcome water scarcity in Jiroft basin, southeastern Iran. Spatial supply and demand of water were mapped and standardized rainfall index (SPI) was used to assess drought for a 20 years period (1994–2014). Supply and demand of water were matched in 23% of the basin area, mostly concentrated in the cold zones. Water supply was reduced up to 80% during dry years, declining water supply-demand matching to 5% of the basin area. Shrub-grass rangelands and deciduous woodlands were the most valuable land covers for conservation with $ 1,100 and $ 936 per hectare water prices respectively. Water value dropped more than 72% in mismanaged ecosystems (p?<?0.01). Our finding showed that water supply-demand ratio can be used as a proxy of ecosystem health and water-yield, which can provide a good information for water resources managers to reduce the threats of water scarcity in arid and semi-arid regions.

     

Reservoir Management in the Duero Basin (Spain): Impact on River Regimes and the Response to Environmental Change

The climatic conditions of the Iberian Peninsula result in an imbalance between water availability and demand, which is largely managed through the many dams that were built during the 20th century. However, dam operations modify the natural functioning of rivers and related subsystems. In this study we investigated the effect of reservoirs on river regimes in the Duero basin, which is one of the largest river basins in Spain. This involved calculation of a modified impoundment ratio index, and assessment of the correlations between monthly inflows and outflows. Water resources in the basin have decreased markedly during the last five decades, so we also studied how patterns of management have adapted to less water availability in the region. A significant correlation was found between the level of impoundment and the alteration of river regimes by dams. The degree of regulation was highly dependent on annual inflows into the reservoir, and consequently alterations to river regimes were more intense during dry years. The basic pattern of flow regulation involved the storage of water during winter and spring in preparation for high water demand in summer, when natural flows are low. A combination of trend and cluster analyses revealed three responses of reservoir managers to decreasing inflows during the study period: (i) for several reservoirs the level of storage was reduced; (ii) for many reservoirs, particularly those for hydropower production, the storages were increased; and (iii) for the remainder the storage levels were maintained by adjusting the outflows to the decreasing inflows. The results suggest the absence of a common approach to reservoir management, and the dominance of other interests over environmental concerns, particularly in the context of hydrological change in the basin.     

长江片水功能区划分方法与实践

Water function classification is to divide the waters in a basin or a region into different water function regions according to the natural features such as water resources condition, physical geographical location, environmental condition, etc. and social features such as the status quo of development and utilization, the requirement of social and economic development on water quantity and quality etc. Water function division has not ever been carried out in China and no ready-made theory and method can be complied with, in the meantime, it is a fundamental work with strong practical function. Therefore, the basic concept and theory foundation and research method are put forward on the base of summary of water resources management and developed and will be perfected in practice process of water function division. The Yangtze function zone covers the Yangtze river basin, the Lancang river basin and the rivers in the western area of the Lancang river in Southwest China. According to the technical outline of national water function division and combined with division practice of the Yangtze function zone, this paper presents the scope determination, procedure and method of water function division.