International river basin organizations: variation,options and insights

Permanent international river basin organizations (IRBOs) come in many shapes and sizes, ranging from those which are mainly facilitative in nature to those empowered to act on their own. Although differences in IRBO types may have important impacts on transboundary water resources management, systematic analysis of variation in their structure and responsibilities is scant. This paper synthesizes and applies a typology to determine the structural composition, abundance, spatial distribution, scale and in-basin configurations of the different forms of IRBOs. The results provide a set of options for future IRBOs, and serve to ground-truth and nuance theoretical divisions between different types of organizations in transboundary basins.     

A SWAT evaluation of the effect of climate change on the hydrology of the Volta River basin

The SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) was used to evaluate the impacts of a climate scenario based on IPCC A1B emissions on flows in the Volta River basin in West Africa for 2021–2050 and 2071–2100, using 1983–2012 as the reference period. Overall, the simulation indicates increased variability and a decrease of up to 40% in river flow as a consequence of decreasing rainfall and increasing temperature. In particular, the analysis shows smaller absolute but greater relative changes in the hydrology of the northern (upper) part of the basin, particularly at the end of the century.     

Drivers of change in agricultural water productivity and its improvement at basin scale in developing economies

We approach the issue of water productivity in agriculture by identifying five sets of drivers of change. We find that irrigation efficiencies at the field level can result in real water savings under certain conditions, but that small farmers in most of South Asia and Africa have little incentive to adopt the appropriate measures. Although water productivity improvement and water savings at the regional level are possible through a shift to economically efficient crops, such changes may be constrained by concerns with respect to domestic and regional food security, rural employment, and farming system resilience.     

Groundwater quality monitoring overview

A study was made to develop an approach to designing a groundwater-quality network for implementation by Mexico's Comisión Nacional del Agua (CNA) under support funding from The World Bank's (1996) PROMMA program. The network-design conceptualization and guidelines were based in part upon review of CNA's past and existing monitoring programs in measurement of water levels as well as measurements and analyses of groundwater quality. The principal focus used for this network-design framework rather was derived from identification of specific monitoring-program information needs. Also, a detailed review has been made of available reports and technical materials describing the nature, extent, and management of Mexico's groundwater resources and groundwater-quality impacts. This physical-based approach complemented a socioeconomic-based methodology being developed concurrently. Specific selection criteria and recommendations were made regarding network design components, in terms of monitoring locations, scheduling, and variables (parameters). Understandably, this preliminary design methodology, when implemented, should take into consideration somewhat realistic levels of effort that are judged to be fiscally sustainable by CNA over the near term. Moreover, some guidance also is provided in the case of fiscal or capacity-building limits of monitoring-program efforts.     

Flood Management in Japan—From Rivers to Basins

Abstract

The River Commission of the Ministry of Construction in Japan recommended a basin response to floods in its December 2000 Interim Report to Minister of Construction. This is practically an official declaration of the policy accepting inundation in habited areas. By this policy shift, it is anticipated that more basin response measures and non-structural measures against floods will be promoted to complement structural measures such as continuous levees and dams. Such a policy is not new in the world but is a significant governmental move in Japan, a densely populated, highly developed, and highly flood hazardous country. Although living with floods is a universal coping strategy, the implementation of measures should be different from region to region reflecting region's nature and socio-economic conditions. This paper reviews the flood fighting history of Japan and her statutory evolution against floods and shows the process by which the ever-increasing flood damage potential and the recent increase of flood damages necessitated the official move in flood control management from rivers to basins.     

Transforming River Basin Management in South Africa

Abstract

This paper analyzes the transformation of river basin management in South Africa by focusing on the political processes involved in the creation of new water management bodies and irrigation infrastructure in the Lower Komati sub-basin. Institutional reform is described and analyzed in terms of the collaboration theory of Gray (1985). Attention is paid to the absence of mutual collaboration in the water domain through the analysis of three phases that are characteristic of collaborative management: problem setting, direction setting, and structuring. The perceptions and strategies of stakeholders in the change process are informed by the skewed access to land and water, the protracted struggle for redress of historical inequities, the quest for autonomy in water management by commercial farmers, and large political power differentials. This has resulted in differential access to decision making and political influence and in the materialization of these skewed relations in water control technology. The reluctance of stakeholders to explicitly recognize their interdependence and the role of the state as the convener of the change process has hampered the emergence of a shared appreciation of the problems in the water domain. Despite efforts by government to move towards equitable and inclusive water management, little redress of past inequities has taken place, and the majority of small farmers are uninformed and excluded from the change process. This suggests that the proposed Catchment Management Agency will not be representative nor attain equitable water management unless a well-conceived redistribution of water entitlements and land rights is carried out as part of an encompassing program to strengthen political democracy.     

River basin water resources management in China: a legal and institutional assessment

China's rivers face major challenges arising from social and economic development, particularly associated with pollution and over-abstraction. Although these issues vary significantly across the country, China has adopted a national, unified approach to manage water resources in a river basin context. This paper assesses the legal and institutional arrangements for river basin management in terms of decentralization and centralization. It considers the appropriate roles for the different levels of government, including providing for participation and integration across these levels. It proposes strengthening institutional development and capacity building in the future.     

考虑水平隐蔽度影响的卵石周围水流结构分析

基于二维数值水槽,在高雷诺数Re=5×104~20×104条件下,从卵石在床面不同排列方式下单颗粒到多颗粒圆状卵石的位置及受力情况的角度出发,综合考虑水平与竖直两个方向定义的隐蔽度,颗粒起动采用滚动模式,结合水流结构,进一步探讨其起动规律,亦对沙卵石河床冲刷和粗化的研究提供基础。通过比较9种情况下阻力与升力的数值结果分析表明,水平隐蔽度对水动力因素亦有较大影响,阻力系数随着相对水平隐蔽度的增大先减小后增大,经综合考虑其更符合真实情况,最后对附近作用区域涡量分布的影响进行了讨论。     

水电站消力池导墙抗疲劳破坏问题研究

为研究水电站消力池导墙抗疲劳破坏问题,对某大型水利枢纽消力池导墙流激振动疲劳破坏问题进行了系统研究。通过枢纽整体水力学模型试验,测量与分析导墙两侧面的水流脉动压力,进行导墙的自振特性计算与水力共振校核;进行导墙静应力和流激振动响应计算与强度校核;对不满足强度要求的墙段,进行配筋计算与防裂验算,用2种方法对配筋后的导墙进行抗疲劳破坏计算研究,根据抗疲劳要求增加导墙的配筋量,使其满足安全要求。