IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level

PART 1

United Nations
Educational, Scientific andCultural Organization

International
Hydrological
Programme

A contribution to the United
Nations World Water Assessment
Programme

IWRM

Principles

Guidelines

PART 2-1 The Guidelines for IWRM Coordination

PART 2-3 Invitation to IWRM for Irrigation Practitioners

This set of Guidelines is a ‘Living Document’.
If you have implemented IWRM in your basin, and if you have found a ‘Key for Success’please provide feedback so that your work can be included in future updates.
As IWRM is an evolving process, these guidelines also have to evolve.
UNESCO IHP Secretariat URL http://www.unesco.org/water/>>>>>> PART 2-4 The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability

Part 2-4 The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability

PART 2-2 The Guidelines for Flood ManagementatRiver Basin Level

Part 2-4
The Guidelines forManaging Environmental Sustainability

Introduction
The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability is intended for practitioners involved in IWRM1,
particularly for the management of environmental
sustainability, within the context of IWRM. It canbe used as introductory guidance for those tackling
IWRM for the first time, or as training material forintermediary practitioners and trainers of IWRM.
This booklet is the new addition to the IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level series initially published by
UNESCO in 2009.
Previously, the following Guidelines have been
published:
Part 1 : Principles
Part 2-1: The guidelines for iwrm coordination
Part 2-2: The guidelines for flood management
Part 2-3: Invitation to iwrm for irrigation practitioners
The Guidelines consist of two parts: Part 1 and Part
2. Part 1 deals with the overarching principles of
IWRM at the river basin level. It provides basic principles of IWRM, mainly targeted to policy-makers,
and explains the benefits of IWRM at the river basin
level and the need to promote it at the policy level.
It also proposes a spiral model of IWRM, which illustrates the evolving and dynamic nature of the IWRM
process. Part 2 on the other hand deals with practicalexamples intended for use by practitioners of IWRM
at the river basin level.
This booklet is the fifth volume of the IWRM Guidelinesat River Basin Level focusing on the management of environmental sustainability through the IWRM process at
the river basin level. As ecosystems depend on water
flow, the proper management of the public water area2
ensures the sustainability of both human livelihoods
and the natural ecosystem or environment. In orderto adequately exercise management of environmental

1 Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) is explained by
the Global Water Partnership (GWP) as ’a process which promotes
the coordinated development and the management of water, land
and related resources, in order to maximize the resultant economic
and social welfare in an equitable manner without compromising thesustainablility of vital ecosystems.’

sustainability, it is essential that the balance between
human utilization of the natural environment and environmental conservation/protection is secured so as tomaintain biodiversity as well as ecological functions andservices. Furthermore, the appropriate managementof ecological quality, particularly of water resources
measured as water quality, quantity and variability, isthe primary objective in this volume of the Guidelines,
not least because water is a fundamental componentof the natural environment and the controlling factorof habitat quality in a river basin.
This booklet is primarily targeted to water resource
planners and managers who are responsible for environmental sustainability, though other sectors whose
activities are related to environmental sustainability
in the river basin will also find this booklet useful.
This booklet contains many observations and ideasthat will help practitioners achieve management ofenvironmental sustainability in the most relevant
and appropriate way through the application of the
IWRM process. The contents have been illustrated
and organized in the same way as previously published volumes of the Guidelines. Each section canbe read separately whenever specific information
on a subject is required. The Guidelines have been
designed to enable the user to find the informationneeded without necessarily reading through all thepages.

Important note
While each document is intended as a stand-alone volume, thereader is advised to first read Part 1: Principle of the Guidelines in addition to the relevant volume(s).

2 ‘Public Water Areas’ is the term used to refer to water areas of
public use such as rivers, lakes, ports and harbours, coastal seas andso on and includes such waterways connected thereto as public
waterways, irrigation waterways and other waterways subject topublic use. Due to public dependency on public water areas, thesustainable use of public water areas is essential for the health andwelfare of societies. Moreover, historically, it is the area susceptible
to environmental degradation because of the highly intensive use of
public water.

IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability3

INTRODUCTION

Acknowledgements

The IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level Part 2-4 The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability were jointly
developed and quality assured by Steering Committee members. We acknowledge the essential and gracious
support of the following Steering Committee members from around the world for their contributions andattendance at the meetings.
Co-chairs
Eugene Z. Stakhiv (International Center for Integrated Water Resources Management, ICIWaRM)
Yasuro Nakajo (Japan Water Agency, JWA)
Members
Johannes Cullmann (International Centre on Water Resources and Climate Change)
Kuniyoshi Takeuchi (International Centre for Water Hazard and Risk Management, ICHARM)
Mochammad Amron (Network of Asian River Basin Organizations, NARBO)
Shahbaz Khan (UNESCO IHP)
Shelley McMillan (World Bank)
Simla Yasemin Özkaya (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Turkey)
Victor Pochat (IHP for Latin America and the Caribbean UNESCO Montevideo)
Wouter Lincklaen Arriens (Asian Development Bank, ADB)
Yoshimi Murai (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, MLIT, Japan)
The contributions of several other individuals and their organizations towards the development of the Guidelines are also gratefully acknowledged.
Contributions to various stages of the draft
Reviewer: Maciej Zalewski, (European Regional Centre for Ecohydrology, ERCE)
Research and analysis: CTI Engineering Co., Ltd.
Editor: Cathy Lee
Designer, typography and layout: Oriata Création
Secretariat (UNESCO IHP)
Toshihiro Sonoda
Mao Takeuchi
The Guidelines can be downloaded from the UNESCO Website (http://www.unesco.org/water/)

4 IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability

Table of contents

1 Overview and Structure of
the Guidelines ........................................................ 7
1.1 Overview ..................................................................................... 7
1.2 Structure . .................................................................................... 7
2 Sectoral Perspectives FOR MANAGINGENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY IN IWRM..... 8
2.1 Good understanding of sectoral perspectives andtheir relationships is key for IWRM ............................................. 8
2.2 Environmental sector perspectives ...................................... 8
2.2.1 Interests of the environmental sector ..................................... 8
2.2.2 How other sectors may impact the environment ............... 9
2.2.3 Practices that improve environmental services ....................10
2.2.4 The environmental sector in relation to IWRM andthe advantages of IWRM .....................................................................10
2.3 Water user’s perspectives ........................................................ 11
2.3.1 Agricultural Sector .......................................................................112.3.2 Municipal and Domestic Water
Supply Sector ...........................................................................................13
2.3.3 Sewerage (Sanitation)/Urban
Drainage Sector ......................................................................................142.3.4 Industrial Sector ...........................................................................16
2.3.5 Hydropower Sector .....................................................................18
2.3.6 Inland Navigation/Recreational
Boating/Tourism Sector .........................................................................192.3.7 Commercial/Subsistence Fishing Sector .................................20
2.4 Flood management sector’s perspectives ............................ 21
2.4.1 Interests of the flood management sector........................... 22
2.4.2 How other sectors may impact the flood management
sector................................................................................................. 22
2.4.3 Flood management sector in relation to the
management of environmental sustainability................................ 23
2.4.4 Flood management sector in relation to IWRM andthe advantages of IWRM in improving environmental
sustainability...................................................................................... 24
2.5 Urban landuse and watershed development
perspectives......................................................................................... 24
2.5.1 Interests of the municipalities and developers.................... 24
2.5.2 How other sectors may impact the municipalities
and developers................................................................................. 25
2.5.3 Municipalities and developers in relation to
the management of environmental sustainability......................... 25
2.5.4 Municipalities and developers in relation to
IWRM and the advantages of IWRM............................................ 26
2.6 Overall coordination perspectives ........................................ 26
3. Key for Success to Manage­Environmental Sustainability in IWRM ....27
3.1 Recognizing and identifying ..................................................... 29
3.1.1 Recognition ....................................................................................29
3.1.2 Identification of problems and needs .....................................30

3.1.3 Public awareness and accountability ......................................33
3.1.4 Capacity-building ..........................................................................34
3.2 Conceptualizing . ........................................................................ 36
3.2.1 Assessment ....................................................................................36
3.2.2 Conceptualizing ............................................................................37
3.2.3 Draft planning ..............................................................................39
3.3 Coordination and detailed planning and c­ onsensus
building ................................................................................................ 41
3.3.1 Plan selection ................................................................................41
3.3.2 Building coordination mechanism ...........................................43
3.4 Implementing, monitoring and evaluating ............................. 45
3.4.1 Implementation ............................................................................45
3.4.2 Monitoring and evaluation ........................................................46
3.5 Policies/national strategies, institutional andlegislative frameworks and financing ............................................ 47
3.5.1 Policies and national strategies ................................................47
3.5.2 Institutional and legislative framework ..................................48
4. IWRM Process . ......................................................50
4.1 The ‘IWRM spiral’ conceptual model .................................... 50
4.1.1 The IWRM spiral ........................................................................50
4.1.2 Stages of the IWRM spiral .......................................................50
4.1.3 Recognizing the stage shift .......................................................50
4.1.4 Where do you stand in the spiral? ..........................................51
4.2 Phases, steps and keys for success in the iwrm
process ................................................................................................ 52
4.2.1 Phase 1: Recognizing and identifying .....................................53
4.2.2 Phase 2: Conceptualizing ...........................................................54
4.2.3 Phase 3: Coordinating and detail planning ...........................55
4.2.4 Phase 4: Implementing, monitoring and evaluating ............56
4.2.5 Important aspects of IWRM: Policies/national­strategies, legislative framework, financing ......................................57
5. PRACTICAL EXAMPLES .........................................58
5.1 Werra River (Germany) ........................................................... 60
5.2 Citarum River (Indonesia) ....................................................... 68
5.3 Bermejo River (Argentina) ...................................................... 78
5.4 Murray-Darling (Australia) ...................................................... 90
5.5 Arakawa River (Japan) ............................................................... 98
5.6 Oigawa River (Japan) . .............................................................109
6. USEFUL TOOLS . .....................................................117
6.1 Ecohydrological approach........................................................117
6.2 Environmental status mapping tools.....................................118
6.3 Motion charts for visualizing long-term water quality ....119
6.4 Decision support system.........................................................119
6.5 Guidelines on water release from hydraulic power
plant to secure environmental flow.............................................120

Fig. 1.1 Structure of the Guidelines

IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability

1. Overview and Structure of the Guidelines

1.1 Overview‘The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability’ has been designed for IWRM practitioners whoare involved in the management of environmental
sustainability, with the environmental sector as theprimary target sector. It is intended to be used as
introductory guidance for those tackling IWRM forthe first time, or as training material for intermediary practitioners and trainers of IWRM. For IWRM
experts, it can be used as a reference guide to tackle
the various issues and problems they face in their
IWRM activities.
It is important to realize that the management ofenvironmental sustainability is one of the objectives
within IWRM, which is defined by the Global Water
Partnership (GWP) as ‘a process that promotes
the coordinated development and the managementof water, land and related resources, in order to­maximize the resultant economic and social welfare
in an equitable manner without compromising thesustainability of vital ecosystems.’

1.2 STRUCTURE
The Guidelines consist of five parts: Chapter 2-­Sectoral
Perspectives, Chapter 3-Key for Success, Chapter
4-IWRM Process, Chapter 5-Practical Examples andChapter 6-Useful Tools. These elements are linked byreference indices, which allow you to move from one
to another in the way most convenient to you.
Chapter 2/Sectoral Perspectives for
managing environmental sustainability
in IWRM
This chapter illustrates the principles of actions andinterests of the environmental sector as well as all
sectors related to environmental sustainability in
IWRM. Each sector values water and interacts withwater differently. This chapter provides information
on how individual water-related sectors tend to
think and act, how these sectors typically relate to

the management of environmental sustainability in
IWRM, and what they might want to convey to othersectors.
Chapter 3/Key for Success to manage
environmental sustainability in IWRM
A ‘Key for Success’ is a tool that can be used in practice to help make IWRM successful by learning fromother examples. It is a key to enable breakthroughsin challenging situations, opening the door to better
IWRM. Many of them have already demonstrated
their worth in practice. Some are generic, i.e. they
apply to every successful example of IWRM, others
may apply only to specific situations, and some may
not be in place as yet.
Chapter 4/IWRM Process
The ‘IWRM Process’ chapter describes a typical process for IWRM implementation. It also illustrates
keys for success relevant to each phase or step of
the process. These will help you to orient throughthe process and serve as a map for finding directionsor the correct ‘key’ for enhancing water resourcesmanagement.
Chapter 5/Practical Examples
This chapter includes practical examples of IWRM
at the river basin level in the form of: 1) case stories
illustrating actual IWRM efforts, and 2) ‘Extracted
Key for Success’ highlighting elements of successin enhancing IWRM. Furthermore, they are actionoriented guidelines. Practical examples included in the
Guidelines are collected through actions, by visiting
sites and conducting interviews with local resource
persons.
Chapter 6/Useful Tools‘Useful Tools’ provide useful ideas or materials thatcan be used to explain or understand complex issues
encountered during IWRM implementation. Goodutilization of these tools will enable effective and­efficient implementation of IWRM.

IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability7

2 – Sectoral Perspectives

2. Sectoral Perspectives for managing
environmental sustainability in IWRM
This chapter illustrates some of the typical perspectives of water-related sectors. The perspectives
included here are not complete, however, they covermuch of the information useful for IWRM.
This chapter provides information on how individual
water-related sectors tend to think and act, how thesector relates to water management and IWRM, what
the sector wants to convey to other sectors, and theorganization or person responsible for coordinating
IWRM efforts.
It is important to know the perspectives of othersectors when implementing IWRM. The same 1 m3 ofwater is valued differently depending on the sector
because each sector treats and uses water in theirown different ways. Water is also valued differently
depending on when and where it can be obtained, andat what quality.
Even though the sectoral perspectives illustrated inthis chapter are essentially the same as those explainedin other volumes of the Guidelines, environmental
viewpoints are added in each sector’s perspective.
It is because all sectors in IWRM interact with theenvironment that it is important to understand therelationship between each sector’s activities so as toensure the appropriate and effective management ofenvironmental sustainability.

2.1 GOOD UNDERSTANDING
OF SECTORAL PERSPECTIVESAND THEIR RELATIONSHIPS IS KEY
FOR IWRM
Implementation of IWRM means proposing a plan toindividual sectors – who tend to think of their own
benefit as their first priority – that is close to theirideal plans, and obtain compromises if necessary bymaking proposals that present advantages to them.
It is also important that as many sectors as possible
are satisfied with the plan before a consensus canbe reached. For this to occur, managers in charge of

coordination should not force their restricted management objectives upon the sectors but should takea consultative approach in order to obtain the perspectives of the coordinated sectors, so as to deepen
their level of understanding and trust.
The coordinators must understand the goals of theactivities undertaken by the sectors or stakeholders, and how they relate to water resources and thebasin in order to appropriately implement IWRM.
­Furthermore, good understanding by the coordinators on the benefits of IWRM to the individual sectors
as far as understanding the importance of ecosystem distribution in the catchment, and the functioning and use of ecological resources by ­societies, will
facilitate efficient, appropriate and socially justifiableconsensus-building. Thus, it is important to establish
a good understanding of ‘sectoral perspectives’ in
implementing IWRM.

2.2 ENVIRONMENTAL SECTORPERSPECTIVES- Ensuring ecological diversity and social consensus
Water managers need to take into account the multiple interests of the environmental sector towardachieving ecological diversity and social consensus.
2.2.1 Interests of the environmental­sector(Restoration and maintenance of a sustainable environment to an acceptable ecological state)
The principal interest of the environmental sector
is to ensure a sustainable environment over a longterm perspective. Their role is to prevent excessive,
short-sighted development and call for the restoration and maintenance of basic functions of the natural environment. In other words, the environmental
sector pursues environmental restoration and maintenance to an acceptable ecological state, striving
for the preservation of forests or rivers without the
impact of human influence. From their perspective,
over-extraction of water or drainage from and to

8 IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability

rivers that result in insufficient water for the environment, or dams or weirs that change their flowvariability in rivers and thus impact on fauna andflora, are considered as problems. Consequently,
they demand and display requests to other waterrelated sectors. If these demands are social demands
the coordinator will have to determine if social consensus can be obtained for such demands, including
its cost allocation.

Supporting services• nutrient dispersal and cycling• seed dispersal• primary production function of the ecosystem(Environmental conservation in harmony with humanactivities)
In areas where communities have developed graduallyaround irrigated agriculture, a new ecological state
has evolved. Such an environment is not without
human influence. Some are of the opinion that suchenvironments with some level of human influence
should be managed to an environmentally acceptablestate.

2.2.2 How other sectors may impact
the environment
Environmental sustainability is an important objectiveof IWRM for developing a sustainable society. Environmental perspectives should exist in every sector
and should be coordinated in order to realize IWRM.

For example, shallow riparian waters, tributaries andstreams are providers of ecological habitats for faunaand flora. Man-made water infrastructures and irrigation networks that are developed with due consideration of environmental sustainability, or that are
assimilated into the surrounding environment, canalso provide habitats for species.
(Added value of the environment – ecosystem services)
In recent years focus on the added value of theenvironment has increased through the conceptof ecosystem services. It is in the interest of theenvironmental sector to raise the overall value ofthe environment in a basin-wide manner, together
with ecotourism and recreational oppotunities.
Communities benefit from a multitude of resources andprocesses that are supplied by environmental aquatic
ecosystems. Collectively, these benefits are known
as ecosystem services. The following lists represent
examples of water related ecosystem services:
Provisioning services• food (including seafood and game), crops, wild
foods and spices• water• energy (hydropower, biomass fuels)
Regulating services• carbon sequestration and climate regulation• waste decomposition and detoxification• purification of water and air• sustaining ecological life and maintaining biodiversity

Cultural services• cultural, intellectual and spiritual inspiration• recreational experiences (including ecotourism)• scientific discovery

It is important to recognize that every water use thatchanges water flow in terms of quantity and quality,
as well as seasonal variability, can have a diverse
influence on the environment. In this section, someexamples of the impacts given by the relevant sectors
are illustrated. Understanding environmental impacts
by the various sectors should help clarify ideas
regarding what should or could be done to improve
environmental sustainability as well as understand its
importance.
(Impacts by water-use sectors)• The abstraction of water from rivers impacts theenvironment downstream of the intake location.
Excessive water abstraction, for example for ricecultivation, will prevent the river downstream fromreceiving adequate amounts of water flow, which
may cause the river to dry up or a worsening ofwater quality, leading to a deterioration of theaquatic environment. Discharge of wastewater orused water into rivers will increase flow quantity
but may deteriorate river water quality. Also, it isimportant to recognize that groundwater may be
an important factor in the overall water budget andin terms of environmental sustainability.
• Over-abstraction of groundwater by water-use sectors will lead to ground subsidence, groundwatersalination or changes in groundwater quality or the
drying up of wetlands causing loss of groundwater
dependent ecosystems.
• Structures placed in rivers for water-use purposes may impact the environment, for example,
by directly disrupting the surrounding environment, by preventing fish passages, or by reducing the river flow downstream. The constructionof large-scale structures such as dams or intake
weirs in particular, will alter the seasonality of

IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability

92 – Sectoral Perspectives

flows and thus significantly affect the naturalenvironment. The environmental sector demands
that all water-use sectors minimize their impacts
to the environment or implement alternative
measures. For example, the installation of an
intake weir for water usage will prevent fish species from moving upstream or downstream. The
environmental sector will demand the installation of fish ladders, or ensure that the passage offish is adequately secured and thus provide forenvironmental flows.
• Overuse or improper use of pesticides and fertiliz­
ers in agricultural practices may negatively impact
on water quality and/or ecological habitats.
• Inland navigation and recreational boating/tourism may impact on the environment, for example,
activities such as the construction of harbours andwharfs, and dredging of river channels can directly
modify habitats of both aquatic and riparian species.
Also, oil leaks from engines and other mechanicalship parts can degrade environments making themless suitable for habitat use.
• Both commercial and recreational fishing can also
cause environmental impacts including those similar to inland navigation/recreational boating since,
in many cases, fishing calls for the use of ships andboats. In addition to those impacts, commercial andrecreational fishing may lead to a reduction of the
fish population, which can result in the degradationof biodiversity and the extinction of some species.
(Impacts by flood management sector)• Structures placed in rivers for flood management
purposes may impact the environment, for example,
by directly disrupting the surrounding environment,
preventing fish passages, or altering the river flow
downstream. The construction of large-scale structures such as dams or river improvement works
including dykes, river excavation and the straightening of river channels in particular, may cause the natural environment to be altered. The environmental
sector demands that the flood management sector
minimizes the impacts to the environment or implement alternative measures. For example, the installation of a dam will prevent fish species from moving
upstream or downstream.The environmental sector
will demand the installation of fish ladders, or ensurethat the passage of fish is adequately secured.
• The improvement of flood control measures results
in a decrease in the frequency of flood events as wellas its severity, which may have an impact on the environment. In the riparian environment, the occurrenceof floods can be an essential means to maintain thenative ecosystem. Reduction of floods for example,

can cause environmental changes such as enhancing
the invasion of tree species into river channels andcompositional changes of riverbed material, which
may affect the quality of habitats for aquatic species.
2.2.3 Practices that improve environ­mental services
In order to properly manage environmental sustainability, it is desirable that each sector carefully
evaluates whether its practices are environmentally
sustainable and whether or not they cause negativeenvironmental impacts. In order to make sure yourpractices are environmentally sustainable, the relationship between your practices and such water characteristics as water quality and quantity and seasonalvariability need to be considered. Practices that maintain or improve the effect of water characteristics at
an ecologically acceptable level are considered to be
desirable and are recommended. Some examples ofsuch practices are shown below:• Careful site selection during the planning stage ofa construction project that is based on adequate
environmental assessment to reduce unnecessary
environmental effects and impacts.
• The installation of water treatment facilities forwater quality management can improve downstream environmental quality.
• Installation of fish ladders at dams can resolveinterference with species migration.
• Adaptation of environmental flow with respect
to the water resource management scheme helps
improve the quality of the aquatic environment.
2.2.4 The environmental sector in relation
to IWRM and the advantages of IWRM
• IWRM cannot be achieved without the introduction of environmental perspectives, thus the implementation of IWRM is a definite advantage for theenvironmental sector. For efficient as well as adequate management of environmental sustainability,
the environmental sector often needs to negotiate
and coordinate with other sectors.
• The management of environmental sustainability
contributes to meeting overall IWRM objectives in
the river basin by preventing over-utilization of environmental resources and help maintain environmental quality in the basin, which also enhances the socialand economic welfare of the river basin. Moreover, it
improves the resilience and robustness of river basin
ecosystems in the face of global changes.
• Environmental degradation caused by improper
management of environmental sustainability will

10 IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability

have disadvantageous impacts on all sectors’ activities and such negative impacts may continue foryears, sometimes even several generations. Therefore, positioning the management of environmental sustainability as part of the IWRM objectives
ensures that the efforts and costs to mitigate undesirable impacts are reduced.

2.3 WATER USER’S PERSPECTIVES
2.3.1 Agricultural Sector- Primary concern is food production. Water is justan instrument.
Historically, the agricultural sector is one of the firstwater users with a long history of evolution as it
adapted its practices to the environment in order toimprove efficiency and productivity. Today, irrigatedagriculture is widely implemented with both positive
and negative impacts on the environment.At the sametime, there are various applicable ways to improve andenhance environmental sustainability.
2.3.1.1. Interests of the agricultural sector(Water for agricultural production)
Water, together with land, is only an instrument for
agricultural production. The production outputs arefood and ultimately revenues for the farmers. For
farmers, water is a means of ensuring their livelihoods
from their land. In arid/semi arid regions in mostcountries, the agricultural sector is by far the biggest
water user and thus this sector has great potential forenvironmental improvement.
(Sense of historical entitlement as a precedenceuser)
The agricultural sector has a history of investing andacquiring water, often at a subsidized cost. Thus, there
is a strong sense of entitlement to the exclusive use of
the water for their own purposes. As a consequence,
environmental conditions are generally preserved.
(From nearby water sources to distant water
sources)
Irrigation infrastructure is a complex system of reservoirs, channels and drainage systems that has evolved
over centuries in the search for water and, as a consequence, has modified a large part of the environment
including groundwater and salinization.
In the monsoon regions of Asia, the amount of rainfall
varies greatly during the wet season.Thus, people utilize
groundwater, reservoirs or nearby rivers, and should

they need more water, they build dams upstream of
the river. In arid and semi-arid regions, there is always
a need for additional water, but the search invariably
begins with nearby water sources before seeking
water further away as demand increases.
Thus, nearby water sources are utilized in most developing countries but as development proceeds in thebasin, larger infrastructures such as wide-area watertransfers become necessary in order to obtain adequate water for agricultural needs.
(Agriculture as the fundamental industry of the country)
The agricultural sector contributes to national security through food production. The agricultural managers of the country and the region consider the provision of a stable supply of food as the most important
objective for the region. In developing countries,
some consider that agriculture should be promoted
in order to secure jobs and revenues in rural regions
and prevent population concentration in urban cities.
This cannot be realized without securing the water
necessary for agriculture. The agricultural sector isalso strongly influenced by national policies. Thus, it
must be kept in mind that local coordination is sometimes inadequate.
The agricultural sector has adapted to climate variability including drought and increased agricultural production by building suitable infrastructuresand groundwater reservoirs. As food security has
increased, environmental protection has decreased.
2.3.1.2. How other sectors may affect theagricultural sector(Impacts by other water users)• There is the possibility that irrigation users may
be unable to obtain sufficient water if other water
users draw water upstream. If a structure, suchas an intake weir, is to be constructed by anotherwater user upstream, the upstream user will benefit from the advantageous position in drawing
water, resulting in the opposition of the irrigation
user downstream of such action.
• Hydropower generation uses water discharged
from dams according to electricity demands. Thus,
it may cause large fluctuations in river flow downstream of the dam that can alter the ecosystem.
It can also impact on the stable intake or water
quality of irrigation water.Also, water quality downstream may be degraded by water discharge; forexample by water temperature changes as a resultof cooler or warmer discharge water known as

IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability

11

2 – Sectoral Perspectives‘thermo-shock’, by a lack of dissolved oxygen or bya contamination of organisms to toxic metals.
(Impacts by flood management)• When there is a risk of flooding due to an increasein river discharge, drainage from agricultural land
may be regulated, and prolonged inundation of the
fields may cause damage to the crops. The scale ofanticipated damage is dependent on the durationof inundation, landuse and the type of crops. The
coordination of operational drainage measures thattake into account such factors will be necessary.
• When floodwater is temporarily stored in a reservoir to lower the flood discharge level, the turbidity of water may persist even after the flood has
subsided, depending on the nature of upstream
sediment. If river water is used as irrigation water
immediately after a flood event it may impact water
use.
(Demands by the environmental sector)• The environmental sector demands that the agricultural sector minimizes the impacts of agricultural
production activity on the environment or requests
alternative measures. For example, concrete channels for irrigation are conventionally designed inways that are efficient from the economic standpoint. However, the environmental sector demands
that channels use more natural materials such as
soil, rocks and wood. Considering environmental
conservation may increase costs or maintenanceneeds.
2.3.1.3. Agricultural sector in relation to the
management of environmental sustainability
Irrigated agriculture induces various changes in a given
environment, including water flow regime, throughactivities such as opening/clearing land, planting exotic
species, use of chemicals (i.e. fertilizers, pesticide, herbicides). Therefore, irrigated agriculture has various
environmental impacts such as reduction/loss of habitat, decrease of population in certain species, changes
in biodiversity and so on.
• The activities carried out by the agricultural sector
cause various environmental changes due to thealteration of land, water intake and discharge, theuse of chemicals and fertilizers and the introduction of non-native species including crops themselves. Loss of habitat, the quality and quantity ofriver water and changes in species compositionand population will reduce biodiversity, eventuallyleading to the degradation of environmental sustainability.

• Agricultural activities such as pesticide and herbicide use and the introduction of alien or nonnative species to increase food production canaffect biodiversity or cause compositional changesof species through the removal of native species.
Use of genetically-modified species can have a longlasting influence on the native ecosystem in termsof genetic diversity through cross-breeding withnative species.
• Fertilizer use contaminates water discharge, which
also affects water quality downstream and may
eventually lead to eutrophication in rivers and lakes– a consequence of water pollution, often associated with a reduction of dissolved oxygen.
2.3.1.4. Harmonizing environmental
sustainability for the agricultural sector
through IWRM.
The agricultural sector is generally efficient in wateruse. An irrigation system, in particular, improves water
use efficient and, as a result, contributes towards environmental sustainability.
However, the agricultural sector can improve environmental sustainability with the IWRM process throughboth structural and non-structural improvement­measures as listed below:• Structural measures: irrigation, rehabilitation of thenatural environment, cleaning up canals, land levelling, aligning channels for less infiltration and soon.
• Non-structural measures: adaptation of water feesor charges, enforcement mechanism for water use
efficiency and so on.
• If the agricultural sector wishes to continue withlarge infrastructure development, there is thepossibility of significant cost reduction, as well as
minimizing environmental changes if the venture
is jointly implemented with other sectors. Furthermore, the agricultural sector may gain formsof compensation if it reaches compromise withother sectors with respect to securing water
resources.
• By uniting specific organizations or individuals in
the agriculture sector, the sector can represent asignificant amount of water resources. It can, therefore, facilitate the consensus-building process forenvironmental improvements by implementing
IWRM measures and thus enhance the benefits
achieved by the entire agricultural sector.

12 IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability

2.3.2 Municipal and Domestic Water­Supply Sector- Water quality requirements in addition to water
quantity

costs according to the area or utility. Thus, the watersupply sector regards the water price differential as anormal condition. However, for most water users thisissue is of primary concern.

The municipal and domestic water supply sector has
been the one of the most innovative sectors in introducing water conservation techniques to serve theever-increasing demand. However, at the same time,
this sector has associated environmental impacts,
especially in large cities. For example, uncontrolledwater abstraction can sometimes cause the subsidence of the groundwater level. Use of insufficiently
treated water may lead to sanitary problems as wellas water pollution in rivers and lakes in urban areas.

The privatization of water utilities is often to enhance
profits, cost recovery and improvements in services.
There have been cases where privatization has notworked as effectively as expected.

2.3.2.1. Interests of the municipal and­domestic water supply sector(Sanitation and domestic water supply)
The municipal and domestic water supply sector provides a steady supply of clean water to people and ishighly public in its nature. The provision of safe drinking water may be the norm in developed countries
or cities but it is still a fundamental requirement insustaining the lives of people in developing counties
and rural areas. One billion people still have no accessto clean drinking water around the world. Furthermore, a stable water supply in these areas will lead to
improvements in the social environment, such as lesstime fetching water and so on.
Modern water supply in cities was developed primarily to prevent water-related diseases. However, inmost rural areas of the world, there are still many
water quality problems related to domestic watersupplies from village wells and rivers. Worms such as
Guinea worms that cause water-borne diseases suchas Dengue is one such example.
(No alternative for domestic water supply utility)
The current domestic water supply in cities does notprovide an opportunity for users to choose their service. People have to use the available water supply
in their vicinity. However, there is a great potential
for improving environmental quality through demand
management and by securing an alternative water supplier. The municipal and domestic water supply sector
has been one of the most innovative sectors in serving ever-increasing demands.
(Privatization and water supply)
Water prices are calculated to collect initial investment and are based on operation and maintenance(Water treatment technology and water source/water quality)
Before water treatment technology was developed
to its current level, an important consideration in theuse of domestic water sources was not only ‘quantity’but ‘quality’. Thus, groundwater was often utilized as
it was considered to be a safer supply of water. River
water was used when groundwater alone could notmeet the demand. Before treatment technology wasdeveloped to its current level, the sector sought better quality water upstream of rivers. This often led toconflicts with existing water users downstream, but
for the municipal and domestic water supply sector it
was important that good quality water was obtainedin order to maintain a steady source of water.
In recent years, however, with advances in treatment
technologies, water quality is no longer a major issue;
recycling has been used more extensively and it is
now possible to produce drinking water from treatedwastewater.
[New technologies and domestic water supply]With the advancement of water treatment technologies such as membranes, the cost of water
treatment has decreased. With advanced andaffordable technologies becoming newly available, water supply systems in developing countries
today have the possibility of taking completely different approaches compared to developed countries where water resources have typically been
secured through the construction, for example, ofwater storage reservoirs in upstream regions.
2.3.2.2. How other sectors may impact themunicipal and domestic water supply sector(Impacts by other water users)• There is the possibility that a domestic water supplier may not be able to obtain sufficient water ifother water users draw water upstream. If a structure, such as an intake weir, is to be constructedby another water user upstream, that user will
benefit from the advantageous position in drawing

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2 – Sectoral Perspectives

water, and thus the domestic water supplier will
be opposed to such action. Rural water supply systems are especially susceptible to contamination.
(Impacts by flood management)• When floodwater is temporarily stored in a reservoir
to lower the flood discharge level, depending on thenature of upstream sediment, the turbidity of water
may persist even after the flood has subsided. If riverwater is used for the domestic water supply immediately after a flood event it may impact on water quality making it unsuitable for domestic purpose. The
groundwater and associated ecosystem will becomecontaminated for a long period of time following
extreme flooding especially in a rural water supply.
(Impacts by the sewerage and drainage sector)• A domestic water supplier will be affected if adrainage channel is connected or if effluent from awastewater treatment plant is discharged close to
the intake location.
• Discharged water is often contaminated, thus thedomestic water supplier/sector would demandthat any such discharge facility used for drainage ora wastewater treatment plant be situated downstream of the intake location.
• Treated wastewater could in some cases be recycled and utilized for the domestic water supply.
(Demands by the environmental sector)• The environmental sector demands that thedomestic water sector minimizes the impacts of
the water-intake facilities and water-intake to theenvironment or requests alternative measures. For
example, site selection in the installation of a newdam should be investigated with respect to advantages and disadvantages not only from an economic
standpoint but also from an environmental standpoint. In addition, mitigation measures such as theinstallation of a fish ladder may be requested.
• Furthermore, the sufficient flow for maintaining thenative ecosystem, or environmental flow, should beconsidered when deciding the amount of water
intake. Reducing river flow – whether temporal orcontinuous – may impede or even halt river flow
and cause habitat segmentation, interference with
migration and the breeding activity of fauna.
2.3.2.3. Domestic water supply sector in relation to the management of environmental
sustainability• When demands for water supply increases dueto the population growth of existing cities or achange in social situation, the domestic water supply sector will have to identify new water sourcesor reduce water demand and be faced with mitigating environmental impacts from landuse changesuch as the construction of new water purification plants. In addition, the domestic water supply
sector should consider maintaining an adequate
environmental flow to the native ecosystem when
deciding the amount of water taken. Minimizing
land changes and ensuring sufficient environmental
flow is directly related to environmental sustainability in a basin.
2.3.2.4. Domestic water supply sector in relation to IWRM and the advantages of IWRM
• When introducing IWRM, conformity with plansby other municipalities or water use sectors canbe ensured by accounting for upstream and downstream, right and left banks, and by coordinating
among municipalities or water utilities. Furthermore, infrastructure such as dams, intake weirs andtreatment plants can be jointly developed and a
joint management framework can be established.
These can present substantial advantages to thedomestic water supply sector as well as environmental sustainability.
• If there is shortage of water due to population
growth or rapid urbanization, water transfersfrom other uses, particularly the agriculture sector, can be an option, together with the development of new water resources infrastructure suchas dams.
2.3.3 Sewerage (Sanitation)/Urban­Drainage Sector- How to collect wastewater efficiently and where todischarge it
Up until recently the urban environment – from thepoint of view of environmental sciences – was considered as a highly condensed anthropogenic systemorganized to provide efficient matter, energy andinformation flow so as to improve productivity andservices and satisfy humankind’s materialistic and spiritual aspirations and demands.
In the post-industrial era, as the level of education
in society has increased, together with environmental
consciousness, there is a growing demand to improve
the quality of life within society. Consequently, in addition to basic services and the elimination of infectious disease, safe drinking water and pollution-free
air is expected, as are access to aesthetic high value

14 IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability

city landscapes and recreation areas, which directly
depend on the area and distribution of ‘green areas’
and freshwater ecosystems.
The proper management of wastewater by the sewerage (sanitation)/urban drainage sector is essential
for environmental sustainability. One of the main
environmental issues associated with wastewater iswater quality. In many urban areas, wastewater is theprimary cause of water pollution in urban rivers andlakes because it is often inadequately treated and thus
low in quality. In the case of floods, the environmental
impact of untreated wastewater may be even moreacute because its impact extends not only downstream but also on the irrigation system.
2.3.3.1. Interests of the sewerage/drainage
sector(Maintaining a sanitary environment and risk management)
Providing access to sanitation is as important as a safe
water supply when maintaining public hygiene andproviding for a sanitary environment. For example,
the sewerage system must account for stormwaterotherwise urban areas can be flooded because of theshortage of stormwater discharge capacity, which canlead to the backflow of sewage or wastewater causing
extremely unsanitary conditions and potentially causing the spread of water borne disease.
If wastewater is discharged upstream of a river – dueto an underdeveloped sewerage system – the downstream river is rendered unsuitable as a water source
for the domestic water supply. In many regions of theworld, large cities are often situated downstream oflarge rivers. Wastewater disposal can bring about an
ecological crisis situation in large cities if wastewater
is not adequately treated.
(Recycling of wastewater)
Wastewater, if treated to an adequate level, can beeffectively reused for water-use purposes. For example, primary treated wastewater can be used in theirrigation of public spaces and environmental flows.
Secondary treated wastewater can be utilized forrecharging groundwater, and tertiary treated wastewater can be substrates for industrial use. A seweragesystem is thus very important in the recycling of wastewater and should be utilized as a water resource.
(Urban drainage)
Drainage facilities in urban cities are sometimes notdeveloped fast enough and heavy rains can cause inundations in the lowlands of cities resulting in severe

damage to underground spaces. Garbage disposed indrainage channels often prevents drainage and intensifies the economic and ecological damage caused byinundations.
(Public nature)
Sewerage and drainage systems are highly public innature. The efficient collection of wastewater, treatedto the level requested by society, then discharged
downstream as quickly as possible are of paramountimportance.
2.3.3.2. How other sectors may impact thesewerage/drainage sector(Impacts by other water users)• National and regional managers in the sewerage ordrainage sector have to decide upon the discharge
location by negotiating with other water-use sectors and the environmental sector. If the discharge
location is set immediately upstream of the water
intake location of a water-use sector, a conflict may
arise. From the economic perspective, to be able
to discharge at the closest location possible is ideal,
but from the water users’ perspectives it is necessary to discharge downstream or in another river.
The bypassing of water using a wide-area sewerage
network also raises questions.
(Demands by environmental sector)• Water quality is also an important issue for consideration. It is technically possible to treat wastewater to an appropriately acceptable level. It is
important to establish discharge criteria and permits, especially for low flow conditions, and regulate and enforce those permits. This also presents
the advantage of reusing water for other purposes.
On the other hand, it costs more as the treatment
level is raised . The issue of who covers this cost isof great interest to this sector.
(Impacts by flood management)• Rapid drainage of stormwater into rivers willcause an increase of river flow and will intensify
flood risks downstream. Flood managers will thus
demand that the implementation of drainage operations and river flood control be coordinated.
2.3.3.3. Sewerage and drainage sector in relation to the management of environmental
sustainability• Water quality relates not only to available water
resources for human activities but also to living
conditions, especially for aquatic ecosystems. Sew-

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2 – Sectoral Perspectives

erage/drainage systems can regulate water quality
by maintaining the sanitary environment and treating wastewater. Thus, it is beneficial to implement
a sewerage/drainage system for both managementof environmental sustainability and biological diversity.
• Activities of the sewerage and drainage sector
reflect both the water quality and quantity of theriver, which closely relates to the quality of thehabitat of native fauna and flora. Furthermore, thedevelopment of the drainage/sewerage system may
result in land modification, which is associated withenvironmental change. Such environmental changes,
including those found in water flow, can have a significant influence on environmental sustainability.
• It can be ameliorated by providing separate sewerage and drainage systems, which contributeto increasing flood control capacity but at great
expense.
2.3.3.4. Sewerage and drainage sector in relation to IWRM and the advantages of IWRM
• The drainage location and drainage water quality
are important aspects that need coordination andconsensus-building with other sectors. Furthermore, participating in IWRM from the position of
securing water quantity will enhance interaction
with stakeholders. By improving the quality of drainage water, it may be possible to set a closer location for drainage.This can lead to overall economic
benefits such as ensuring adequate river flow andthe recycling of wastewater.
• Uncontrolled discharge onto local wetlands andlakes has ecological consequences including humanhealth impacts.
2.3.4 Industrial Sector- Primary deciding factor is the cost of supply anddischarge subject to environmental regulation.
Various types of industries exist in the industrial sector and each one presents a number of differences interms of environmental impacts. Among those, waterpollution resulting from inadequately treated wastewater from the industrial sector often becomes animportant issue, especially when it concerns heavy
metal contamination in industrial wastewater as it cancause serious environmental as well as health problems. For industries that consume large volumes ofwater such as the pulp and paper industry, the abstraction of water for industrial use can have a major environmental impact.

2.3.4.1. Interests of the industrial sector(Low-cost water and industrial water)
The primary concern of the industrial sector is how
to obtain and provide low-cost water and discharge
wastewater in the least expensive way. This is especially true for high water-consumption industries suchas the pulp and paper industry and power generation
plants that require vast amounts of water for cooling.
Cost is the primary deciding factor, subject to environmental regulation.
Compared to the domestic water supply sector,
which does not provide alternative options for users,
the industrial sector is considerably more attentive
to the demand for cost-effectiveness. The industries
themselves are greatly influenced by aspects otherthan water (logistics, employment, environment, andso on), thus it is difficult to develop long-term demand
projections compared to the domestic water supply.
All water users in a system are assigned to various
suppliers by a permit system. Competition for water
becomes critical during drought periods while municipal and industrial water users generally have priority
over other users.
(Groundwater utilization and industrial water)Industrial water in the past was abstracted mostly
from groundwater. This was because groundwater
was a cheap and stable water source yet high in water
quality. Drawing water from rivers requires water use
rights, infrastructure development and water quality
adjustment (treatment) thus the use of river water
for industrial use was typically cost ineffective.
Excessive abstraction of groundwater in alluvial plains
may induce ground subsidence or groundwater salination resulting in the deterioration of groundwater
quality and the groundwater dependent ecosystem.
Users of industrial water are mostly private entities
such that these problems are likely to occur if there isno adequate environmental regulation. Conversely, inthe mining industry, groundwater may be undesirable,or an impediment in their operations in some cases.
Consequently, the over-abstraction of groundwater, inan effort to lower the groundwater level, may purposely take place to improve mining efficiency.
(Water quantity, water quality and industrial water)Industries that use large amounts of water suchas steel, oil, chemical or paper industries selectlocations within easy access to water. Industrial
water, unlike domestic water, demands varying
levels of water quantity or quality depending on theusage. For example, microchip companies requiring

16 IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainabilitysuper pure water have their own water purification
systems and thus the industrial water supplier
may only need to provide raw water. The disposalof untreated industrial water into the domestic
sewerage system poses a serious pollution threat
in the municipal water treatment system withassociated environmental consequences.
Discharging used industrial water directly into theriver may cause severe contamination downstream.
Industrial water users understand this but generally only consider it necessary to meet the regulatory standards for industrial water discharge. Water
contamination, especially of toxic substances such as
heavy metals by the mining industry, is an importantenvironmental impact issue such that the water usedin the process of extracting target substances suchas heavy metals requires adequate wastewater treatment which, for the sake of public health and the environment, is mandatory.
2.3.4.2. How other sectors may impact
the industrial sector(Impacts by other water users)• There is the possibility that an industrial water
user/supplier may not be able to obtain sufficientwater if other water users draw water upstream.
If a structure, such as an intake weir, is to be constructed by another water user upstream, thatuser will benefit from the advantageous position in
drawing water, and thus the industrial water user/
supplier will be opposed to such action as it will
adversely affect the domestic water supply.
(Demands by the environmental sector)• Environmental regulation requires environmental
impact assessment, monitoring and reporting ofwater use and discharge before granting a license.
• The environmental sector demands that the industrial sector minimizes the impacts of water-­intake
facilities and water-intake to the environment orrequests alternative measures. For example, site
selection in the installation of a new dam should
be investigated with respect to advantages and disadvantages not only from the economic standpoint
but also from the environmental standpoint. In
addition, mitigation measures such as the installation of a fish ladder may be requested.
• The environmental sector also demands the recycling of industrial water to reduce total water
consumption and in order to maintain sufficientwater flow in a river. A reduction of water consumption will be advantageous not only for theindustrial sector, by providing economic incen-

tives through lowering water cost, but also to theenvironmental sector, by reducing environmental
impacts.
• Furthermore, the sufficient flow for maintaining
the native ecosystem or environmental flow, needs
to be considered when deciding on the amountof water intake. Reducing river flow – whether
temporal or continuous – may impede or evenhalt river flow and can result in a loss of biodiversity segmentation, interference with migrationand the breeding activity of fauna. A reduction in
the groundwater flow, as well as subsidence of thegroundwater level, can have various environmental
impacts including salinization.
• The quality of discharged water is another important focus of the environmental sector. Contamination by toxic substances such as chemicals andheavy metals will invariably cause environmental
hazards in the downstream region due to disproportional ecological impacts. The issue of toxic
wastewater discharge is particularly important forthe mining industry. In addition, temperature differentials between the discharged water and the river
flow in a given location may cause direct environmental changes affecting both fauna and flora in thesurrounding area.
• Enforcement and monitoring through appropriate
regulatory regimes such as tariffs and fines are prerequisites in the attainment of IWRM goals.
2.3.4.3. Industrial sector in relation to the
management of environmental sustainability• The industrial sector imposes various impacts onenvironmental sustainability by abstraction anddischarge of water. For example, the lack of adequate treatement in the discharge of wastewater
will transform the native environment into one
that is artificial, which may result in changes to the
local biodiversity. Also, such facilities sometimes
interfere with the migratory movements of somespecies resulting in habitat fragmentation. Furthermore, abstraction of water from rivers impacts
the environment downstream of the intake location; for example, overuse of water will prevent theriver downstream from receiving adequate quantities of water flow, which may affect water quality.
The quality of discharged water will directly impact
on both the water quality downstream and ecological sustainability.
• Therefore, improving efficiency in industrial water
use will help reduce environmental impacts andmaintain the environmental sustainability in thebasin.

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2 – Sectoral Perspectives

2.3.4.4. Industrial sector in relation to IWRM
and the advantages of IWRM
• If the industrial sector wishes to conduct a large
infrastructure development there could be a possibility of significant cost reduction if it is jointly
implemented with other sectors.
2.3.5 Hydropower Sector- How to generate the maximum revenue from energy
in water
Even though hydropower generation is known to berelatively ‘clean’ on the environment scale when compared with other forms of power generation, it nonetheless has various environmental impacts caused by
the construction of related facilities as well as thefluctuation of flow regime, such as flow volume andseasonal variability, of the river flow.
2.3.5.1. Interests of the hydropower sector
Electricity is indispensable for the development of
the region and the country with both the private­sector and governments promoting power generation­projects. Power development is generally implemented
over a wide area and provides high added value tothe country though with many environmental costs.
It contributes to industrial development and creates
employment, and thus often forms a primary focus fordeveloping countries as the foundation for regional
industrial activities and local livelihoods.
(Characteristics of electricity)• Electricity cannot be stored, thus facility capacity
generally exceeds peak demand, which alters thenatural hydrographs and associated ecosystem.
Upstream environmental impacts include the transformation of stream to lake habitats.
• The same can be said for instant supply and demand,and the lack of flexibility in supply often leads toinefficient operation.
• There is often no alternative service for power
supply and thus the price of power has a public
utility cost.
• Infrastructure investment and cost collection plans
are long-term.
• It can be distributed over a wider area, compared
to water (and it is possible to transmit over long
distances).
• Operational impacts include thermal shock, biological migratory paths and dissolved oxygen level.

In its early stages, hydropower generation was typically used to provide power for local consumption
such as factories. Although typically instigated in theform of private projects, it soon expanded to general
implementation in combination with other electricity
sources to provide an economic and efficient electricity supply nationwide. In many countries, hydropower
development began before the development of irrigation water.
Hydropower generation often has lower running costs
than thermal power generation.Thus generating more
electricity through hydropower and less through thermal power is an ideal solution to energy generation.
Hydropower generation does not consume water ascompared to other water-use sectors. Furthermore,hydropower generation upstream of a river harnesses
the potential energy of water to its maximum extent.
The hydropower sector plans to exploit this potential
energy by utilizing as much water as possible by building multiple power-generation facilities. Its priority isefficient power generation; if that causes rivers to run
dry, then this is considered an inevitable cost.
Hydropower generation uses dams to generate power
based on demand, and thus the discharged water
quantity fluctuates in a way that is unfavorable toother needs. This also influences water temperaturesuch that other sectors and the environment would
be affected, which should be taken into consideration.
The hydropower sector may take measures to reduce
its influence downstream by controlling discharges,
but the sector is not proactive in this regard without
public investment.
Thus, the hydropower sector considers investment
and the efficiency of power generation among its priorities, and river flow and the environment are only
considered when it is required to do so, i.e. becauseof environmental impact assessments.
2.3.5.2. How other sectors may impact thehydropower sector(Impacts by other water users)• If other water users increase their water intake
upstream of a hydropower plant, the water available for hydropower generation will be reduced.
This will also reduce the power generation capacity of the plant. Power generation is directly linked
to the revenue of the hydropower sector, thus thesector will oppose any newly permitted forms ofabstraction by new water users or otherwise may
seek compensation.

18 IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability

(Demands by the environmental sector)• The environmental sector demands that the hydropower sector minimize impacts to the environment
by developing hydropower facilities such as dams,
or requests alternative measures. For example, site
selection in the installation of a new dam should
be investigated with respect to efficiency not only
from an economic standpoint but also from anenvironmental standpoint.
• In addition, mitigation measures such as the installation of a fish ladder may be desirable, althoughsuch ecological measures tend to be less efficientin the case of large-sided dams.
• Furthermore, the sufficient quantity and seasonality of flow for maintaining the native ecosystem or
environmental flow needs to be considered when
deciding on the quantity of water intake and discharge. Reducing river flow – whether temporalor continuous – will impede or even halt the riverflow, which can have adverse effects on biodiversity.
2.3.5.3. Hydropower sector in relation to the
management of environmental sustainability• The hydropower sector imposes various impacts onenvironmental sustainability through its activities byaltering the flow downstream of the dams in termsof seasonality and temperature. For example, theconstruction of hydropower plants will transformthe native environment into one that is artificial,which may result in changes to the local biodiversity.
Also, such facilities sometimes interfere with the
migratory movements of some species resulting
in habitat fragmentation. Furthermore, abstractionof water from rivers impacts the environment
downstream of the intake location; for example,
insufficient water flow volume at the section
between the water intake and discharge facilities
may affect water quality.
• Therefore, environmentally-sound actions by thehydropower sector will help reduce environmental
impacts and maintain environmental sustainability
in the basin.
• Environmentally friendly technologies include multiple level intakes, fish ladders, eco-friendly turbinesand demand management.
2.3.5.4. Hydropower sector in relation to
IWRM and the advantages of IWRM
There are many advantages to IWRM coordinationsuch as the efficient development of facilities as wellas energy efficiency, and in order to minimize unnec-

essary environmental impacts and improve environmental sustainability in activities related to the hydropower sector the following are considered:• The construction of new hydroelectric facilities
should be subject to environmental regulation.
• It is more difficult to plan new hydropower projects without overall coordination. However, incountries where public awareness of environmental conservation is high, and if the hydropower sector actively participates in IWRM and facilitatesconsensus-building with relevant stakeholders witha special focus on environmental conservation, thiswill facilitate project planning and implementation,
and will become an advantage for the sector.
• Environmental regulations demand detailed environmental impact assessment, monitoring andreporting as part of project feasibility studies.
• Improving energy efficiency among various sectors
in a river basin through IWRM coordination could
help reduce the demand for electricity as well as
the need for additional hydropower plants.
2.3.6 Inland Navigation/Recreational
Boating/Tourism Sector- How to maintain an efficient and safe service
The inland navigation/recreational boating/tourism
sector share common characteristics in that theyneither extract nor consume river water in the way
other sectors do. This sector simply uses rivers as achannel for the movement of ships and boats. Nonetheless, negative environmental impacts are still associated with the common activities employed by thislargely recreational sector.
2.3.6.1. Interests of the inland navigation/
recreational boating/tourism sector(Secure route for efficient navigation)
The inland navigation sector often uses relatively large
vessels with a cargo capacity. The efficient navigationof such vessels requires that the ship lanes have anadequate depth and width to accomodate its size.
As river channels are constantly altered by the natural processes of occasional floods and turbulences,dredging ship lanes have relatively high costs in rivers
with a high occurrence of floods.
(Secure public safety)
In the recreational boating/tourism sector, securing
public safety from both accidents and natural disasters is an important issue.The sector is very attentive
to such potential ‘risks’ as weather, dangerous animals,

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2 – Sectoral Perspectives

disease and floods and therefore keeps well-informedof the evolving situation.
2.3.6.2. How other sectors may impact
the inland navigation/recreational boating/tourism sector(Impact by water users)• The reduction of river flow volume may directly
affect navigation at river channels. If the depth andwidth of a river channel used as a ship lane is significantly reduced by water users, the inland navigation
sector would need to dredge river channels or prepare canals in order to support the displacement ofvessels.
• Facility installation such as the construction of dams
may interfere with the navigation of ships and boats
from upstream to downstream or vice versa.
(Impact by flood management)• The reduction of flood events as a result of effective
flood management may sometimes cause sedimentaccumulation on river channels and an invasionof vegetation in riparian areas. Such changes may
interfere with the vessel’s navigation and require
additional maintenance of shipping lanes.
(Demands by the environmental sector)• The environmental sector demands that inland navigation/recreational boating/tourism sectors minimize the impacts of their activities. For example,
the construction of a harbour and other facilities
as well as dredging for maintaining shipping lanes
should be carefully implemented and based on
observations by environmental assessment.
• The frequency and volume of the activities in ariver may be limited in a environmentally importantarea such as the habitat of endangered species. In
order to reduce human impacts, it is desirable tominimize the presence of human activities such as
boating.
2.3.6.3. Inland navigation/recreational boating/tourism sector in relation to the managementof environmental sustainability• In the case of facility installation such as the construction of a harbour and/or dredging a shipping
lane, it is important to minimize the environmental
impact. Environmental impact assessments can provide useful measurements that prevent or reduce
negative impacts in these cases.
• The presence of recreational ships and boats on
a river may not have a significant environmental
impact when their presence is not highly inten-

sive. However, environmental impacts may become
apparent as the intensity of activities increases.
Thus, it is a good idea to conduct regulatory environmental monitoring to ensure and maintain environmental sustainability.
2.3.6.4. Inland navigation/recreational boating/tourism sector in relation to IWRM and theadvantages of IWRM
• As the navigational use of river channels by theinland navigation/recreational boating/tourism
sector may interfere with those of other sectors,
IWRM coordination may be helpful in harmonizing
the various needs and requirements.
• If the inland navigation/recreational boating/tourism wishes to conduct a large infrastructure development or river works such as dredging, it could
potentially enjoy a significant cost reduction if it is
jointly implemented with other sectors.
2.3.7 Commercial/Subsistence Fishing­Sector- Maximize fishing efficiency while avoiding the reduction of fish abundance
Both commercial and subsistence fishing sectors set
their primary focus on catching fish while reducing theircosts associated with fishing activities, even thoughintensity of fishing varies between them. Because of thenature of fishing, which depends on a favorable naturalenvironment, the sense of environmental sustainability
is often naturally established among commercial/subsistence fishers. However, some typical practices may
still have environmental impacts.
2.3.7.1. Interests of the commercial/subsistence fishing sector(Harvest of nature)
The primary objective of commercial/subsistence fishing sector is to catch fish and other valuable aquatic
species, such as crabs. In most cases, their fishing activities depend on harvesting fish from rivers and lakes.
The volume as well as types of fish harvested reflects
the aquatic biodiversity of the local river or lake.
(Maximize economic benefit in commercial fishing)
Unlike subsistence fishing, the commercial fishingsector relies on catching as much fish as possible
to increase its revenues. As a result, more profitablefish species, with higher market values, tend to be
extracted more than commercially less valuable fish.
For the same reason, non-native species, which have a

20 IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability

considerable impact on aquatic biodiversity, are occasionally introduced.
(Sense of environmental conservation for maintaining
sufficient catch)
The fish catch directly reflects the condition of thenatural river habitat. If the ecological quality of thenatural habitat becomes degraded, the population of acertain species may consequently decrease to a levelthat affects fishing productivity. Therefore, the commercial/subsistence fishing sector is receptive to conserving the environmental conditions at an ecologicalsustainable level.
Considering fisheries and biodiversity from a basin
perspective, it is worth identify, ‘hot spots’ for fishbiodiversity and reproduction, keeping in mind thatfish are to a great extent migratory.
2.3.7.2. How other sectors may impact thecommercial/subsistence fishing sector(Impact by water users)• Environmental changes associated with aquatic
habitats such as a reduction of river flow, degradation of water quality, a change in seasonal variabilityof the river flow and a reduction in flood events,
may affect the habitats of fish and other valuablespecies.
• Facility installations such as the construction ofdams also has various impacts. It may disturb natural habitats as well as lower the quality of the habitat making it unsuitable for fish. Also, the migratory
movement of fish and other aquatic species may beinterrupted.
(Impact by flood management)• Alteration of the river flow regime or the seasonalvariability of river flow may affect habitat quality
downstream. However, occasional disturbance ofrivers is a natural process that helps maintain theaquatic habitat through the process of ecologicalsuccession by refreshing river bed material andremoving vegetation. Furthermore, some species
have adaptated their migratory and breeding activity to seasonal flow variability.
(Demands by the environmental sector)• The environmental sector demands that the commercial/subsistence fishing sector minimize theimpacts of fishing activity by requesting a suitable
control over the amount of fish caught as overextraction may lead to local extinction of the fish
population.
• In addition, the environmental sector may requestthat the commercial/subsistence fishing sector

implement some environmental measures such as
promoting the release of premature fish in orderto sustain fish reproduction and fish farming for
future stocks.
2.3.7.3. Commercial/subsistence fishingsector in relation to the management of­environmental sustainability• Despite the fact that the commercial/subsistence
fishing sector is typically attentive to environmental
conservation, the activities carried out by the sector does impact on the environment, for example
in the case of over-extraction or fish harvesting.
The introduction of non-native species for commercial fishing purposes also has a considerable
impact on aquatic biodiversity.
2.3.7.4. Commercial/subsistence fishing­sector in relation to IWRM and the­advantages of IWRM
• Management of environmental sustainability by
IWRM coordination is helpful to the commercial/subsistence fishing sector because the quality of
the aquatic habitat is directly affected by fishingproductivity. Reducing environmental impacts byother sectors in a river basin brings the promise of
improved aquatic environments.

2.4 FLOOD MANAGEMENT­SECTOR’S PERSPECTIVES- Protecting the lives and properties of residents livingin the river basin
The main objective of flood management is to minimize
the damage to human lives and properties by floods.
This objective is achieved mainly through reducing
both the intensity and frequency of floods. Nevertheless, a flood is an important phenomenon or ‘event’
within a natural process and aquatic and riparian ecosystems, including those established within floodplains,
have evolved by adapting to floods. For instance, occasional disturbances induced by floods help to refreshthe habitats of aquatic species by removing litter andhelping to relocate river bed materials. Environmental
change as a result of floods, such as the removal ofvegetation including trees and a modification of rivermorphology, have been integrated into ecological successions in a given area and helps keep ecological balances within the ecosystem.

IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability21

2 – Sectoral Perspectives

2.4.1 Interests of the flood management
sector(Minimizing flood damage)The primary dual concern for flood managers is toprotect people and their properties in the river basinfrom floods and to minimize damage in a basin-wide
manner. Promptly realizing the benefits of flood control measures is the priority of flood managers. In thisregard, flood managers consider it necessary to collaborate closely with managers responsible for IWRM
in order to ensure complete coordination such as
warnings, evacuations and so on during flood events,
with other sectors and stakeholders in a way that is
as efficient as possible.
2.4.2 How other sectors may impact
the flood management sector(Impacts by water use sectors)• In abstracting water from rivers, water-use sectors
expect that their water-intake facilities and locations allow for efficient water diversion.
 Water intake structures may impede floodwater flow so fewer and smaller structures
are desired.
• When developing multi-purpose water storage
facilities such as dams, water-use sectors want tosecure as much capacity as possible for water utilization.
 Due to the limitations of dam capacity, thismay interfere with flood-control capacity andtherefore efficient flood control operations.
• During flood events, the agricultural sector tries
to drain stormwater from their agricultural land
as quickly as possible in order to avoid prolonged
flooding of crops and the resultant negative impacts
to agricultural production.
 The timing and quantity of drainage needs tobe controlled so that it takes into accountriver water levels.
• When a structure crossing a river channel (suchas a distribution line for domestic, industrial or
agricultural water) is being planned or designed
by a water-use sector, they would try, as a rule, tofind a location, direction or structural design for
their structure (bridge, siphon or tunnel) that can
distribute water in the most economical way, andwhich does not diminish the hydraulic capacity of
the river to pass flood flows.
 In order to prevent such structures fromrestricting flood flow or negatively impact-

ing flood control facilities such as levees,
the water-use sector’s plan – regarding thelocation/direction of the structure – would
need to be changed to account for levels of
impacts such as flood flow interference or
impacts on flood control facilities and so on.
It should also account for river improvement/
construction plans such as for levees, facilities
and watercourses.
(Impacts by the drainage and sewerage sector)• Drainage and sewerage sectors want their drainage
facilities and locations to enable fast and efficientstormwater drainage into rivers via urban or sewerdrainage systems in order to prevent inland flooding.
 In areas where drainage facilities for inland
flood control are extensively developed, but
the river channel does not have adequate
flood control measures implemented, drainage activities or the construction of further
drainage facilities could cause the flood discharge capacity of the river to be exceeded.
Prohibiting or restricting drainage operations/activities during flood events should be discussed with flood managers. It is essential thatdrainage locations are set in a manner thatminimizes flood risk to the basin by accounting for areas that need to be protected or are
vulnerable to flooding.
(Impacts by inland navigation/recreational boating/tourism)• Navigation sectors or those who transport goods
and people using boats may try to construct docks
or mooring facilities in a convenient location inorder to ensure efficient transport. They may also
dredge channels in order to ensure adequate navigable space when identifying the preferred routefor navigation.
 Such activities may interfere with flood flow.
The facility locations and their size have tobe accounted for and there must be coordination with their representative in order toprevent such impacts. Dredging may increase
the discharge capacity of the channel but
over-dredging or dredging close to structures
could cause river flow to scour river facilities
and cause negative impacts.
(Impacts by commercial/recreational fishing)• Fisheries are dependent on the improved quality ofrivers. Also, the connectivity of aquatic habitats for
migratory species is vital in order to maintain the

22 IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability

fish population. The commercial, recreational andfishing sector require minimum infra­structure.

to maintain flood plains in their natural state need
to be undertaken.

(Demands by the environmental sector)• The environmental sector is concerned about theenvironmental impacts of constructing or improving flood control infrastructure.

(Impacts by other sectors)• When a structure crossing a river channel (such as
roads, railways and lifeline infrastructure) is being
planned or designed by other sectors, they would,
as a rule, try to find a location, direction or structural design for their structure that is the most efficient and economical, and which does not diminish the hydraulic capacity of the river to pass flood
flows.
 In order to prevent such structures from
impeding flood flow or negatively impacting
flood control facilities such as levees, coordination is necessary with other sectors
regarding the location/direction of the structure and levels of impacts such as flood-flow
interference or impacts on flood control
facilities and so on. It should also account forriver improvement/construction plans suchas for levees, facilities and watercourses.

• The environmental sector considers it desirable that
habitats for fauna and flora be maintained in theirnatural condition to the furthest extent possible.
They consider that native vegetation species, including trees in river channels, should be conserved.
• The environmental sector also considers that occasional flood’s or hydrological variability is necessary
to maintain existing habitats for fauna and flora.
They consider that the riparian ecosystem is established on the balance controlled by natural events
such as floods.
 Flood control will change the natural flow ofrivers resulting in a reduction of both flood
frequency and discharge downstream. In
the natural riparian environment, occasional
floods are considered to be the key phenomena or factor for controlling ecological succession and maintaining a certain balance inthe ecosystem.
(Impacts by municipalities and developers)• Urban development generally infringes on natural
flood plains. Such developments can increase flood
risks and will interfere with ecosystems.
• Increased urban development will reduce infiltration and water retention capacities of the basin
areas resulting in higher peak discharges and ahigher risk of flooding.
• Local municipalities and developers may wish toutilize the waterfront area of rivers and lakes, andpromote the use of facilities situated in such areas forrecreational purposes such as sports facilities, parks
and promenades. They may wish to promote greateruse of the river and water recreational spaces.
 More use of waterfront areas of rivers andlakes during flood events increases flood risks
in the area. Locating facilities along the waterfront will also increase flood risk and affectriparian habitats.
(Relevance to society as a whole)• Public awareness on the beneficial use of natural
flood plains needs to be promoted and all means• People living in poverty may be living or cultivatingon the flood plain of a river.
 This increases flood risks and risks to public
safety. Coordination with other policy measures needs to be considered in order toprevent the proliferation of new settlements
in areas of flood risk, and to facilitate thesmooth relocation of existing inhabitants.
2.4.3 Flood management sector in relation
to the management of environmental
sustainability• The focus of the flood management sector is toeffectively reduce the peak water discharge during
severe precipitation conditions. However, reducing flood discharge as well as frequency may affectthe ecological balance in the riparian environment
downstream because natural disturbances, as aresult of occasional flooding, are important phenomena that help in protecting ecological succession in riparian environments. For example, floods
help riparian vegetation to stabilize by regulating
the invasion of tree species in river channels. Temporal turbidity of river flow refreshes riverbed
materials and maintains algae as well as fish andbenthos habitats.
• Flood management sectors install various typesof flood-controlling infrastructure such as dams,
levees, groins and dredging, depending on the specific purpose and site characteristics. Installation

IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability23

2 – Sectoral Perspectivesof such infrastructure may bring environmental
changes even though the induced changes differ
with respect to the affected area, duration andforms of impacts and so on. Therefore, efficient
infrastructure developments, through coordination
with other sectors, can be beneficial in managing
environmental sustainability. In addition, environmental conservation measures such as nature-oriented river works3 demonstrate significant benefits
for environmental sustainability.
• Integrated floodplain management requires a regulatory licensing process to coordinate floodplain
activities, and enforced regulations emphasize nonstructured flood plain management mechanisms
among which include relocation from flood plain,
restoration of the ecological habitat, improvementof riparian areas and so on.
2.4.4 Flood management sector in relation
to IWRM and the advantages of IWRM in
improving environmental sustainability.
Flood managements mainly focus on social and economic benefits in a river basin by protecting human
lives and properties. However, it is important torecognize that flood management actually modifies
the natural processes in a river basin and can havea negative impact on the environment. Therefore,
adequately balanced, flood management schemes, interms of social, economic and environmental benefits,
are desirable for environmental sustainability. IWRM
coordination among various relevant sectors, including the flood management sector and the environmental sector, will be helpful to achieve such balanced
flood management.

basin stakeholders can also be utilized for overall
IWRM coordination, allowing for efficient stakeholder participation and coordination.
• Flood control not only mitigates flood disasters but
also provides benefits for water-use sectors. Temporarily stored floodwater in facilities/reservoirs
can be allocated for later water use. This can leadto cost effective multi-sector collaboration, where
flood managers as well as water-use sectors can all
benefit from working together.
• The roles of flood managers include the following:– prepare flood forecasting and warning systems.
– firmly positioning flood risk management as partof IWRM objectives ensures that the prevention
and preparedness capacities of the basin against
future flood risks is enhanced.
– consider that floods are known to be essential
for maintaining ecological functions and services
at riparian areas and flood plains, such as providing soil moisture, recharging groundwater, transporting fertile soils and so on. In some rural areas,such as the communities in the lower Mekong
river basin, local communities have adapted their
daily activities, including agriculture and fishery,to occasional flooding.
• In terms of environmental sustainability, occasional
low intensity floods that adequately avoid severesocial and economic impacts may even be recommended. In the decision-making process of flood
management planning, it is important to maintaina proper balance between social and economic
benefits and environmental costs. Coordinationof IWRM will be significantly effective in thisrespect.

• The management of flood risks needs to be planned
through the involvement of various basin stakeholders, including development sectors, municipalities as well as residents.
• Flood managers are generally found on the coordination end of IWRM, with the relevant stakeholders and managers responsible for overall IWRM
coordination.
• Flood risk management contributes to meetingoverall IWRM objectives in the basin by preventing disastrous damage caused by floods, and hence
enhancing the social and economic welfare of thebasin. Its existing framework for negotiating with

2.5 URBAN LANDUSE AND­WATERSHED DEVELOPMENT­PERSPECTIVES

3 ’Nature-oriented river works’ refers to the implementation of a riverproject that gives due consideration to good habitats provided bya natural river and conserves or creates a scenic natural environment. Natural materials such as boulders and logs are often used in
improvement works in substitution for artificial materials.

2.5.1 Interests of the municipalities anddevelopers(Maximizing public conveniences and industry)
Local governments generally control development in- How to use available lands and water resource forsustainable development
Developments are typically associated with majoralterations in landuse in a given area. In many cases,
such landuse change results in environmental degradation through the transformation of natural lands to
man-made lands.

24 IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability

their jurisdiction. Local governments may consider
developing housing and industries in the basin withpublic amenities and industry as their priorities. Suchdevelopments could increase the risk of flooding andcould interfere with river improvement projects; theyalso may compete with environmental conservation
efforts.
(Effective use of available land)
They may seek to make effective use of available landby promoting the development of natural and unused
land. This will reduce the infiltration and water retention capacities of the basin areas resulting in higher
basin runoff and a higher risk of flooding.
(Increase usage of waterfront areas)
Local municipalities and developers may wish to utilize
and develop land in the basin to optimize the use ofland resources. Increased usage of waterfront areas
will increase the ecological degradation of riparian
environments.
 Local municipalities and developers may wish
to utilize the waterfront area of rivers andlakes and promote the use of facilities situated in areas for recreational purposes suchas sports facilities, parks and promenades.
They may wish to promote greater uses of
the river and water recreational spaces.
2.5.2 How other sectors may impact themunicipalities and developers(Needs of the environmental sector)• The environmental sector requires that the municipalities and developers minimize the impacts ofdeveloping available lands or requests alternative
measures. Watershed developments will increase
the risk of contamination of the aquatic environment and would therefore need to be consideredas part of IWRM.
• The quality of discharged water is another important focus of the environmental sector. Contamination of toxic compounds such as chemicals andheavy metals is always a source of environmental
hazard in the downstream region.Therefore, during
the construction phase, the environmental sector
may request relevant measurements of the water
quality discharged as well as monitoring, which
ensures the effectiveness of such measurements.
(Impacts by water-use sectors)• Cumulative effects of other watershed activities
on streams and aquatic environments include, forexample, resource extraction activities such as for-estry, while sub-urbanization adds to the ecologicaldegradation of the aquatic environment.
• Over-abstraction of groundwater by water-use
sectors will lead to ground subsidence, which may
result in unstable housing. Lowered ground levels
will increase flooding risks and thus it is necessary
to strengthen those facilities, i.e. with levees.
(Impacts by the flood management sector)• Flood management sectors may consider requesting that development planners pay due attention to
the risks of flooding so as to minimize flood damage. Developing housing and industries in the basinwith public amenities and industry may increase
flood risks and could interfere with river improvement projects.
• Coordination with the flood management sector
may be required in developing waterfront areas
because it could increase the risk of flooding. It
may also interfere with river channel improvement.
Development in the basin reduces stormwater
permeability and the storage capacities of the basin
as flood runoff increases and heightens flood risks
in the area.
2.5.3 Municipalities and developers
in relation to the management ofenvironmental sustainability• Available lands for new developments by municipalities and developers are often areas that are
maintained in a natural condition or relatively
undisturbed. In other words, available lands for the
public and industrial sectors are, in reality, alreadyused and occupied by native species and the ecosystem.
• Flood plains, including riparian areas, and unused
land near developed areas tend to be vulnerable
to development. Even though these flood plain
environments have unique ecological functions andsupport the existence of diverse wildlife resulting
in the establishment of local biodiversity, cost-performance is often considered more important thanthe conservation of biodiversity.
• Landuse management that controls non–point
source pollution is a necessary component of
IWRM and should thus be considered in futureplanning.
• There is a need to ensure that runoff from thedeveloped landscape does not harm the ecological
function of the receiving water bodies.

IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability25

2 – Sectoral Perspectives

2.5.4 Municipalities and developers
in relation to IWRM and the advantagesof IWRM• Developments implemented by municipalities anddevelopers may have significant impacts on ecosystem conservation and environmental sustainability.
Such impacts may be reduced by adequate landuse
planning and by carrying out conservation measures through IWRM coordination involving relevant sectors, including the environmental sector.

2.6 OVERALL COORDINATIONPERSPECTIVES- Are stakeholders engaged? Is the action socially justifiable and environmentally sustainable?
Together with managers responsible for overall IWRM
coordination, the environmental sector generally
coordinates with the relevant stakeholders. The
principle of IWRM coordination requires maximum
participation of stakeholders – a process that cantake a long time. Close collaboration and a goodunderstanding of the need for better management ofenvironmental sustainability by IWRM coordinators isnecessary to ensure that adequate priority is given
to managing environmental sustainability within theoverall water resources management objectives, andthat the benefits of environmental sustainability canbe achieved in a timely manner.
The last part of this chapter describes how managers
in charge of coordinating IWRM in the basin (suchas in a river basin organization) think and act withrespect to environmental aspects.
IWRM is a process that (1) promotes the coordinatedmanagement of water resources among all stakeholders, (2) integrates management of water and land
resources, and (3) facilitates information-sharing andparticipation among the people involved.
Managers coordinating the IWRM effort understandthe necessity for IWRM and seek to make progress.
However, this requires a firm understanding of theinterests and concerns of other water-user sectors,
particularly needs for management of environmental
sustainability.

The water resources manager leading the coordination may not be aware of the history of water use or
flood control efforts in the basin, or may set unrealistic goals from the beginning, or rush to reach a consensus without sufficient assessment or consultations.
It is important that the views of each sector are wellunderstood by those leading the coordination process in order to ensure that it proceeds smoothly andefficiently.
Water resource managers need to identify all opportunities for environmental improvements within every
water use sector considered under IWRM.
Coordinators can sometimes be influenced by the supporting organization or opinions of political decisionmakers, but unjust coordination will cause problems
later on. For example, if a stakeholder thinks that he/
she has been disadvantaged during coordination whendeveloping an infrastructure, it will become extremely
difficult to obtain his/her approval when seeking consensus as the infrastructure ages and needs to berehabilitated or improved.
It is also important that the coordinator is sociallytrusted, and that the content of the IWRM coordination is justifiable to all relevant stakeholders and society. Thus, ensuring transparency through proactive
information dissemination is one of the coordinator’s
most important responsibilities.
Moreover, collaboration with sectors other than thoserelated to water could enhance IWRM coordination.
Landuse management is a good example. For example, land and water resources can be utilized more
efficiently by ensuring consistency in river improvement through urban or agricultural landuse planning,and developing roads or agricultural infrastructure
simultaneously. By establishing the possibility of coordination with sectors other than water sectors, thecoordinator will be able to gain the trust of otherwater users.
Effective collaboration with IWRM coordinators canlead to smoother implementation of IWRM management of environmental sustainability and can also contribute to other water-related sectors leading to costeffective multi-sector collaboration.

26 IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability

3. Key for Success to Manage
Environmental Sustainability in IWRM

A ‘Key for Success’ (KFS) in terms of managing environmental sustainability is an idea/information thatcan be used in practice to help make IWRM succeed.
They are keys for establishing breakthroughs in challenging situations, or to opens door to better IWRM.
They provide tips and clues for making progress in
the IWRM process (see Fig. 3.1).
Many of the keys for success have been proven inpractice and are linked to Practical Examples in
Chapter 5. Some are generic, in other words, apply
to every successful example of IWRM; others may
apply only to specific situations, and some may not
be in place as yet. You do not have to apply themall. Work with them to see how they can assist you
to move ahead with IWRM implementation in yourbasin.
Each ‘Key for Success’ is explained using the following
format:• Key: The essence of the ‘Key for Success’ isindicated in bold in the box.
• Why: The reason why the ‘Key for Success’ isimportant or useful is indicated in the box.
• How: The ways of implementing the ‘Key for­Success’ are indicated outside the box.
You will also find links to Useful Tools and Practical
Examples for easy reference.

To achieve success in managing environmental sustainability, it is critically important to pay attention to therelevant data in order to recognize the environmental condition.Thus, it is important to identify available
data as well as additional required data, which will be
explained in more detail in section 3.2.1.3.
Also, IWRM can be smoothly implemented by applying the idea of ‘Ecohydrology’ which focuses on ecological processes occurring within the hydrologicalcycle and strives to utilize such processes for enhancing environmental sustainability.
Ecohydrological approach can expand the understanding of ecological and hydrological process in abasin and their interactions and vice versa. Ecohydrological approach is also related to human activities in
its way of managing environmental sustainability suchas regulating flood control and improving water quality as well as enhancing ecological carrying capacity(e.g. biodiversity, ecosystem services).
Thus, Ecohydrology can become a component of
IWRM, and the idea of the ecohydrological approachis important in order to implement the majority of
KFSs explained in the following paragraphs.
For further information on the ecohydrologicalapproach, please refer to Chapter 6.1, ‘Ecohydro­
logical approach’.

IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability27

3 – key for successFig. 3.1 IWRM Process

28 IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability

3.1 RECOGNIZING AND­IDENTIFYING
The important part of this phase is to ‘recognize’
the need for IWRM and to grasp the overall pictureof existing issues in the basin. Things to note in thisphase are:
• Do you understand the needs and problems? Are
you in need of IWRM?
• Are you aware of past evaluation results and thecurrent situation?
• Are you thinking into the future?

Recognizing the need for IWRM through theidentification of needs and problems in the basin
becomes the catalyst for improving water resourcesmanagement in the basin. It is important to proactively‘recognize’ the needs, and your understanding of thesituation can be measured by how well you can makeothers understand. You can identify existing basin-wideissues by exploring the needs for improving existing
approaches or schemes based on existing or pastevaluation results, and by being alert to newly-arisen
problems or issues as a result of socio-economic andenvironmental changes.

3.1.1 Recognition
3.1.1.1 Status recognition
Recognize the environmental status of the river basin, including environmental problems thatneed to be solved.
• In order to recognize problems to the environment and countermeasures to them, make use of available
information and existing data to discover the current environmental status of the entire river basin.
• The first step towards achieving environmental
sustainability through IWRM is to understand thecurrent environmental conditions in the river basin
and to identify problems associated with environmental sustainability.
• It is important to identify and prioritize the information necessary for evaluation or decision-making.
To implement this, it is advised to collect/organize
the following information.
o Gather information regarding locations andareas of ecological importance (e.g. habitats
of endangered species, or the main corridorof the ecological network).
o Establish which information is significant: beaware of the sites, observe the basin and listen to people’s opinion.
o Verify the objectivity of the gathered information.

• According to the level of information gathered,attention should be paid to the following points:
o Use information published by official organizations such as United Nations, World Bankand governmental organizations.
o Acquire latest information so as to precisely
recognize the current environmental statusof the river basin.
• It is important to disseminate and share the collected information and assessment results withstakeholders and residents of the basin.
Useful Tools>> Motion charts for visualizing long-term water
quality, p. 119

3.1.1.2 Effort recognition
Recognize efforts to conserve the environment in the river basin.
• It is important to recognize the efforts of environmental conservation in the river basin as much as possible.The public sector as well as the private sector and NGOs may play important roles in environmental conservation.
• Find practitioners’ as well as organizations’ specific environmental interests and concerns. Communicate
with stakeholders.

IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability29

3 – key for success• Managing environmental sustainability has a close
relationship with environmental/ecological conservation. The key idea of environmental sustainability
is to maintain the environment’s physical and biological features in such a way that ecological functions and services will be provided in a sustainable
manner. In other words, keeping environmental or
ecological change at the level at which environmental degradation will not ensue.
• Due to the increase in awareness of environmental/ecological conservation in recent years, activities or efforts towards environmental conservation
have taken place in many regions. Furthermore, insome areas, the effort of environmental restoration
to its original natural condition is implemented.
• Consideration of these those efforts and activities
should be taken into account when implementing
the management of environmental sustainability in
IWRM.
• The following information should provide useful ideas
in achieving appropriately adequate management ofenvironmental sustainability in the river basin:o Search environmental/ecological conservation practitioners or organizations. Understand their objectives and content of activities. Also, see if their efforts are successful
and demonstrate tangible benefits. Furthermore, it is useful to know about the problems
they face and their approaches in resolving
those problems.
o Even if efforts towards environmental conservation are not found, there is a possib­
ility that daily acts by local residents may­contribute towards environmental sustainability. Knowing such acts may give a clue tomanaging ­environmental sustainability in theriver basin.
• Environmental sustainability as well as environmental conservation and restoration require continuous
efforts for a long period of time. Thus, it is a goodidea to understand the existing efforts to be able toincorporate them into the management of environmental sustainability schemes in the river basin. Experiences and knowledge obtained from such efforts
are always useful in planning any future action.

3.1.2 Identification of problems and needs
3.1.2.1 Identification of actual and future priority area
Identify actual and future priority areas (critical locations and key issues) as well as objectives
for sound management of environmental sustainability within the context of IWRM in a river
basin.
• Important locations or key issues need to be addressed first in order to achieve effective implementationof IWRM leading to the management of environmental sustainability.
• Such priority areas can be identified through an assessment of the current status of water resources aswell as water use in the basin. Pressing issues including water pollution, environmental degradation andnatural disasters are such examples.
• Explore and identify issues and problems currently
occurring in the basin as well as potential futureissues.
• It is important in the first instance to roughly estimate the available amount of water in the river
basin and the extent of water use. If the basin’s
water resources are used extensively, it is desirable
to study in detail the natural and original capacityof the basin. Determining the water budget in thebasin will be useful in understanding the current
status of the basin’s water resources.
• It is desirable to identify priority areas (critical locations and key issues) before coordinating the inter-

ests of sectors. An example of a critical location
can be where there exists an overlap of interests
due to a rapid increase in water demands or severe
pollution loads, or areas of ecological significancesuch as a place where protection of endangered
species is a critical concern.
• Potential priority areas for managing environmental
sustainability include:o Habitats for endangered species.
o Habitats that support ‘keystone’ species and/or high biodiversity.
o Habitats that are relatively rare in the river
basin.

30 IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability• It is helpful to have an understanding of the historical background of water usage as well as environmental aspects in the basin, and how they havechanged compared to the past. Look throughdocuments and historical records or communicate directly with local elders. Hearing form local
people helps understand their viewpoints, and theinformation obtained becomes a persuasive tool
for later coordination and negotiation.
o Effort must also be made to address not only
the current issues but also prospective needs
and challenges in the future, for example,
looking for opportunities to restore thedegraded habitat and flood plains.

Practical Examples>> Extracted Key for Success from Citarum river(Indonesia) (3), ‘Area pollution sources management’,p. 76>> Extracted Key for Success from Arakawa river(Japan) (2),‘Formation of Consensus through Participation of stakeholders’, p. 108
Useful Tools>> Environmental status mapping tools, p. 118>> Motion charts for visualizing long-term water
quality, p. 119

3.1.2.2 Assessing the long-term environmental changes in the river basin
Identify the effects on the river, lake and estuary ecology associated with various changes in
the river basin.
Changes in the basin, such as urbanization, agriculture and industry, the natural hydrological cycle, water
quality, erosion and sedimentation, may affect the environment of the river basin throughout the water
cycle.Therefore, it is necessary to research the effects of change in the river basin and assess the long-term
environmental changes.
• Early detection of environmental change and theimplementation of necessary measurements areimportant for the efficient management of environmental sustainability. If adequate treatment isdelayed, the cost for such treatment might increase,
while the possibility of recovering the original condition is reduced.
• However, since the environment involves a wide
range of aspects, and many environmental changes
are not sudden but very gradual and continuous,
such changes might be undetected if they are notcarefully and properly monitored.
• Environmental change somewhere in the river basin
often shows up in changes or effects in river andlakes. Such changes tend to be apparent in estuary ecology in the riparian environment. Therefore,monitoring and assessing long-term environmental
change in the riparian environment can be effectivein the early detection of environmental change affecting environmental sustainability in the river basin.
Practical Examples>> Extracted Key for Success from Citarum river(Indonesia) (4), ‘Rehabilitation of Degraded Watersheds’, p. 77
Useful Tools>> Ecohydrological approach, p. 117>> Motion charts for visualizing long-term water
quality, p. 119

3.1.2.3 Hydrological variability in terms of water quality and quantity
Identify the causes and effects of current water management practice on water quality,
quantity and variability in the basin on ecosystem functions and services.
Identify options for improving water quality, quantity and variability on ecosystem services
for both water and land management.
• Hydrological variability (water quality, water quantity) affect the ecosystems and human life.
• The extent affected will depend on the nature of each river basin. Therefore, it is necessary to determine
the effect of water quality in the river basin.

IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability31

3 – key for success• It is important to recognize that maintaining hydrological variability in river flows and lakes is crucial
to the effective management of environmental sustainability in the river basin because water is one of
the fundamental constituents of habitats and ecosystems.
• From the environmental standpoint, three basic
characteristics of water are considered: water quality, quantity and variability.
o Water quality includes pH, temperature, COD
and BOD, DO, SS, as well as toxic chemicals
and heavy metals. All species have a tolerance
level or a range within which they need tosurvive.
o Water quantity is often important in termsof river flow. If the amount of river flow isseverely reduced, some species, for example
fish and hygrophytes with low tolerance levels, may eventually disappear resulting in the
degradation of both the aquatic and riparian
ecosystem. Therefore, the minimum amountof river flow that can satisfy environmental
needs is called the ‘environmental flow’, andgreat attention should be focused on thismeasurement in order to maintain an adequate environmental flow for environmental
sustainability.

o The variability of water, or river flow, isanother important aspect of environmental sustainability. The natural environment
in a riparian area is based upon the balance
between stability and disturbance inducedby various factors, including natural events.
Under natural conditions, the river flow is
one of the main factors causing disturbance.
Seasonal changes in river flow and occasional
floods are known to change instream morphology and affect ecological succession.
• Environmental responses caused by hydrologicalvariability differ among river basins. It is important
to identify how the environment and ecosystem inyour river basin will be affected and transformed bysuch changes in river flow. One possible approachis to investigate environmental changes in relation
to reconstructed river flow in the past.
Practical Examples>> Extracted Key for Success from Arakawa river(Japan) (1),‘Preservation of Ecosystem’, p. 106
Useful Tools>> Ecohydrological approach, p. 117>> Environmental status mapping tools, p. 118>> Motion charts for visualizing long-term water
quality, p. 119

3.1.2.4 Instream morphology and floodplain connectivity
Identify the importance of instream morphology and flood plain connectivity on ecosystem
function. Research the effects of physical hydraulic alterations and its effect on environment
and ecosystem functions• Physical effects of river flow may affect ecosystems and may cause water quality degradation, therefore itis necessary to maintain appropriate water quantity levels.
• Sediment processes are important features for maintaining and restoring flood plain ecosystem structureand functions.
• Aquatic habitat connectivity is the cornerstone of successful management of environmental sustainability.
• Physical hydraulic alternation is one of the main factors controlling the riparian environment. A change
in the amount of river flow induces both a qualitative and quantitative alteration of habitats, which
eventually leads to changes in population size andthe composition of existing species. As a result, ecosystem functions and services in a particular location in a river basin may be reduced. It is importantto recognize that drastic changes of water quantity
can cause severe environmental damage.

• The ‘water quantity necessary for the ecosystem’
is known to be the ‘environmental flow’. There are
numerous documents or guidelines in this respect.
Defining adequate environmental flow in a river is
a complex process due to the fact that there aremany contributing factors to be included in decision-making. However, maintaining environmental
flow in a river is required in order to achieve environmental sustainability.

32 IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability• Sediment process and flood plain ecosystems arehighly interrelated and therefore it is important to
identify how the sediment process has occurredand managed in the river basin.
• Aquatic habitat connectivity from rivers to riparian
forests is crucial especially for some species thatneed both environments for their lifecycle. Also
the connection of aquatic habitats provides variable environments such as spawning sites for fishes.

Thus, the flood plain connectivity should be considered in terms of managing biological diversity byconserving or restoring in the process of environmental management and planning.
Useful Tools>> Ecohydrological approach, p. 117>> Environmental status mapping tools, p. 118

3.1.3 Public awareness and accountability
3.1.3.1Public awareness, transparency and accountability
Share information on the status of the environment in the river basin with other sectors andstake­holders.
• Stakeholder participation is a crucial element in IWRM implementation. Public awareness, transparency
and accountability are indispensable for facilitating coordination and negotiation among stakeholders inorder to reach agreement on a plan.
• Public awareness, transparency and accountability
are fundamental activities in IWRM because stakeholder participation is a crucial element in IWRM
in the smooth coordination and negotiation among
stakeholders in order to reach agreement on aplan. In addition, the environmental condition in ariver basin always transforms one state to anotherin a complex manner under the influence of interactions between physical, biological and social elements in a river basin. Therefore, for a common
understanding of the current environmental situation, shared information needs to be ‘alive’ or upto-date.
• It is also important that information-sharing beachieved so that it contributes towards coordination and negotiation among stakeholders byproviding transparency and accountability. The
selection of information to be shared is necessary
because environmentally-related data can often be
too large to be delivered. However, it is importantthat shared information, which may have significant
consequences affecting decision-making and public awareness, be included. Disclosure of information including inconvenient data for you or specificgroups, such as negative information on the action
or plan implemented, is important if you wish to
avoid misunderstanding as well as deter future
problems and conflict.

• Information related to the current environmental
conditions is collected in various sectors operating in a river basin. Therefore, every sector andstakeholder should recognize that they can makea significant contribution to the process of public awareness, transparency and accountability.
Information gathered from different stakeholders
enhances understanding not only from the viewpoint of environmental status but also on the environmental problems and issues in the river basin.
This understanding should help promote publicawareness in environmental sustainability.
Practical Examples>> Extracted Key for Success from Bermejo river(Argentina) (2),‘Identify key needs in potential priority areas (critical locations and key issues) for IWRM
implementation in the basin. Identify the ecosystemmanagement objectives’, p. 84>> Extracted Key for Success from Bermejo river(Argentina) (3),‘Develop alternative environment
management plans’, p. 85
Useful Tools>> Motion charts for visualizing long-term water
quality, p. 119>> Decision support system, p. 119

IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability33

3 – key for success3.1.3.2 Environmental education
Promote educational activities on environmental sustainability in the river basin.
• A river basin is an appropriate unit for learning about the importance, complexity as well as the difficultyof sustainable developments. All activities or events taking place within a basin, including agriculture,industry and water-related disasters, have consequences on environmental sustainability.
• Therefore, environmental education relative to the river basin, together with other features (e.g. water
utilization and water-related disasters) is recommended. Target groups should include both policy- anddecision-makers. It is also recommended to have an opportunity to learn about environmental sustainability through formal and non-formal education.
• Awareness among the general public including children and women is important in terms of environmental sustainability. Environmental education canbe included in the school curriculum, or workshops
on environmental sustainability can be organizedtargeting the general public. The awareness built
through such programmes can then extend to theirfamilies and, through everyday activities, can spreadthroughout communities. Examples of awarenessraising activities include:o Incorporating environmental education, especially on the sustainable use of the environment, into school curricula in areas where
there are schools.
o Holding contests related to environmental
conservation activities in the local basin aspart of school education.
o Holding workshops or field excursions topromote understanding of the local environment and ecology.

• Local activities are an essential part of environmental sustainability because maintaining the environment in a sustainable manner requires continuous
activity on a daily basis. Such activities are hardly
possible if the importance of environmental sustainability is not understood.
• Non-formal education, for example provided byenvironmental NGOs, also plays an important rolein environmental education as formal education
is often limited with neither the spare time norenough trained staff to teach environmental sustainability to every stakeholder involved in IWRM.
In addition, non-formal education activities by local
public entities and NGOs often fully reflect the
local situation and are therefore highly effective incooperative efforts.
Practical Examples>> Extracted Key for Success from Bermejo river(Argentina) (7), ‘Promote education of river basin
environment’, p. 89

3.1.4 Capacity-building
3.1.4.1 Promotion and development of necessary knowledge and capability
Promote capacity-building by developing the capacity of leaders and managers who canrecognize problems, find necessary solutions and implement them.
• Coordination with the many stakeholders requires leadership. Leading a coordination effort requires agood understanding of the positions and opinions of individual stakeholder groups, while keeping sight ofthe overall picture. An important ability of such a leader is the skill to recognize problems and find solutions to implement IWRM and management of environmental sustainability.
• An appropriate understanding of the problems and an extensive knowledge and understanding of thebasin is required in order to develop knowledge among indigenous people, which can be achieved byusing capacity-building as one of the tools.

34 IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability• To promote capacity in terms of ­environmental­sustainability, it is crucial to develop capacity­building for institutions. It is important to support
water managers who are able to understand therelationships between such water issues as thewater environment, water use and water-related
disasters.

• IWRM coordination requires an appropriate
understanding of the problems faced by each sector,
and an extensive knowledge and understanding of
the basin as well as ample experience, the ability tounderstand diverse perspectives, and the willingness
to learn and gain wisdom backed by knowledge andexperience.

• Conduct regular seminars for water managers topromote recognition and the implementation necessary to achieve adequate management of environmental sustainability.

Practical Examples>> Extracted Key for Success from Bermejo river(Argentina) (5), ‘Recognize status of environment of
the river basin. What needs fixing?’ p. 87• Not only the capacities of the person leading thecoordination, but also the capacities of the representatives of individual sectors need to be developed.

3.1.4.2 Technology transfer and development
Transfer and adaption of best management of environmental sustainability practice that reflect
local conditions.
• Adapting technology from other basins or countries that has demonstrated proof of effective technological development or effective application of the technology.
• Technologies concerning conservation and restoration of the river environment may be developed for
unique circumstances.
• In order to tackle the local situation, it is necessary
to undertake technological development/application proven to be effective, and building uponregional experience.
• In areas where funding for environmental conservation measures is insufficient, it is particularly
important to adopt comparable technologies utilizing affordable and locally accessible materials. In
many cases, less costly technologies or low costmeasurements can effectively solve problems.
o Research traditional local techniques appliedin order to improve natural environments
and habitats.
o Establish/revise technological standards, andso on.
o Develop technologies for the efficient collection/distribution of information from various
sources.

• Many local resources are usually developed underlocal circumstances and thus can be applied to produce adequate results.

Practical Examples>> Extracted Key for Success from Werra river (Germany) (3), ‘Cost-benefit analysis’, p. 67>> Extracted Key for Success from Bermejo river(Argentina) (5), ‘Recognize status of environment of
the river basin. What needs fixing?’, p. 87>> Extracted Key for Success from Murray-Darling(Australia) (2), ‘Innovative methods of application ofenvironmental flows’, p. 96

IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability35

3 – key for success

3.2 CONCEPTUALIZINGThe point of this phase is to understand the overall structure of the problem and conceptualize future
actions. Things to note in this phase are:
• Is it in line with social demands?
• Is it well balanced?
• Do you understand the constraints, and are you
exploring ‘what you can do?’By viewing the structure of the problem from a
broader perspective, you will be able to find clues,

or a place to start to find a solution. Furthermore,
you will have to consider the course of action andthe relevant stakeholders and their relationships inorder to tackle the problem. You can conceptualize
possible solutions by laying out various alternatives
that meet the basin-wide balance between economic,
social and environmental needs, as well as the balance
between supply and demand, and the balance among
stakeholders, then narrow down the list on the basisof the given constraints.You will have to reject certain
aspects of your ideal plan in order to make implementation a reality.

3.2.1 Assessment
3.2.1.1 Defining Goals
Conceptualize the environmental requirement within IWRM, and set the goals for managing
of environmental sustainability.
• To conceptualize future actions needed to solve identified environmental problems, it is important thatthe goal you want to achieve through IWRM is set within an appropriate time schedule.
• To reach consensus of IWRM for the river environment, the goals set should be feasible.
• As the leader of managing environmental sustainability in IWRM, the environmental sector is
responsible for conceptualizing the environmental
requirements and options (or methodologies) toachieve its goals. Make sure that the goals are not
only environmentally sound but are also acceptableto other sectors. Highly conservative goals focusing
on thorough environmental conservation or preservation may be unacceptable by other sectors andso reaching public agreement may not be achievable. Hence the importance of setting realistic targets.

• At the same time, it is advised that the environmental sector makes its position clear from the outset
when starting the coordination process. However,the position needs to be fair and feasible withrespect to environmental, social and economical
standpoints.
• You should observe carefully whether or not thecoordination mechanism is favourable to the environmental sector’s interests while remaining satisfying to the sector when coordination is left toother persons/organizations.

3.2.1.2 Defining Stakeholders
Identify key stakeholder groups, including those who are impacted or socially vulnerable, andidentify key persons within them.
• Knowing key stakeholder groups or individuals and getting them involved at an early stage will facilitate
coordination when managing environmental sustainability. The involvement of key persons who have influence over decisions within their sectors/stakeholder groups is important for later consensus-­building.
• Identify at an early stage the key stakeholder groups
and key persons or individuals within them who
can provide useful input and/or facilitate coordination when managing environmental sustainability.
o Begin by first visiting each individual group.
Ask and obtain information about their cir-

cumstances and opinions as regards the
management of environmental sustainability
through informal interviews and meetings.
Bear in mind that planning has already begun.
o When the appropriate representative of asector is not clearly obvious, it may be useful36 IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability

to begin by talking with elders or those who
are familiar with the area’s species and its natural history as well as fishery and forestry.
o Approaching impacted stakeholders can beparticularly difficult. However, disregarding
their involvement can often lead to major

impediments later on. It may be difficult toapproach them at the very beginning, but it
is necessary to identify key people early on
and work towards an appropriate timing toencourage their participation.

3.2.1.3 Identifying available information and additional required data
Identify available information and make good use of existing information.
• It is important to maintain a broad view and be aware of the history, trends and issues in the basin. Information such as the opinions of the local elders, general public interest and political discussions in local
and national governments may provide good ideas. If the IWRM process is well underway, the utilizationof monitoring and evaluation results is effective in identifying areas for improvements.
• When prioritizing data collection, it is necessary to consider the time, efforts and costs required. Do notcollect data in an exhaustive way. First collect and examine existing or readily available data.
• When introducing an IWRM approach for the firsttime, monitoring or evaluation results from the past
may not be adequate or entirely available. However,
it is not necessary to conduct a new extensive andexhaustive survey to obtain new information as thismay delay the entire process. What is importantin this phase is to utilize the existing information,
understand the changes occurring in the naturaland socio-economic environment, and recognize
the necessity for an IWRM approach.
• In cases where monitoring and evaluation of past
IWRM activities exist, it is possible to re-evaluate

past efforts based on the monitoring and evaluation results and identify existing challenges.
• When the necessary data is unavailable, it may bepossible to deduce the required information fromother data. For example, river flow can be estimated from rainfall data. The possibility of utilizing the data to extrapolate other necessary data
should be thoroughly evaluated.
>> Extracted Key for Success from Citarum river(Indonesia) (3), ‘Area pollution sources management’,
p. 76

3.2.2 Conceptualizing
3.2.2.1 Identifying options
Identify a range of options available to achieve goals for managing environmental sustainability.
• Since there is always uncertainty in the effect of options on environmental response, an option may notnecessarily achieve the expected result. It is advisable to have multiple options from the outset.
• When preparing options, it is necessary to have‘variety’ among them. If two options show many
similarities, they should not be considered as multiple options. Multiple options need to present differences in approach, effectiveness, costs and benefits, and so on.Therefore, it is important to prepare
options having dissimilarities in their advantages
and disadvantages.

• In addition, it is also recommended to evaluate thelevel of uncertainty in each option. As regards environmental measurements, the uncertainty can be
the main factor for consideration in the decisionmaking process.
• If the uncertainty is large and key to making a decision, it is important to institute a monitoring programme and re-evaluate with the acquired datafrom monitoring.

IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability37

3 – key for success3.2.2.2 Harmonizing the related plan
Harmonize related plans including those from outside the water sector.
• Harmonizing related plans can help prevent conflicts at a later stage. Other sectors would include
landuse, regional development, disaster prevention, environmental conservation, forestry, agriculturaldevelopment, and so on.
• In addition to water-related sectors such as watersupply for domestic or agricultural uses, protection of water quality and the aquatic environment,
and flood management, other sectors not directly
involved – but often related – include health/sanitation, urban planning or private sector development.
It is important to be aware of plans made by all
related sectors and share those plans among them.
This helps to avoid duplication, and also leads toplanning among sectors for win-win situations.
• To understand other related plans, it is important
to be aware of the relevant background and intentions.This information can be obtained directly fromthe person involved in planning. Refer to ‘2. Sectoral
Perspectives in IWRM’ in this document for information on sectoral perspectives in IWRM. Understanding the intentions of the individuals in charge of
their respective sectors can help facilitate coordination when managing environmental sustainability.

• Depending on the maturity of the plan and thestage of the planning process, options for developing multi-purpose infrastructure and ways of managing environmental sustainability should be considered• The appropriate balance at one time may become
inappropriate later as social changes or economic
developments progress. Be ready to revise the plan
when necessary. It will be necessary to evaluate
the plan even if it is already at the implementation
stage.
Practical Examples>> Extracted Key for Success from Werra river (Germany) (2),‘Balance of material’, p. 66
Useful Tools>> Ecohydrological approach, p. 117

3.2.2.3 Harmonize multiple objectives for water management
Harmonize multiple objectives taking into account the appropriate balance among waterrelated sectors in the whole basin.
• Water resources management plans should take into account the balance within the whole basin, including long-term changes such as socio-economic changes. It is difficult to achieve consensus on a biased
plan and such plans can lead to future conflict.
• Harmonizing multiple objectives among waterrelated sectors means assigning benefits throughwater among areas or sectors for maintaining social
fairness within the basin.
• In this case, ‘harmonized’ does not imply thateverything is fair and equal. An appropriate balance among water-using sectors and the environment, and among upstream and downstream, must
be based on appropriate development standards(capacities against floods and droughts, and so on)
for the entire basin area, accounting for social, economic, and environmental needs, and the demands
and requests of various sectors and future forecasts.

• There is no prescribed method for determining
the appropriate harmonization. Consider where
you stand in the IWRM spiral and identify priority issues and possibilities for trade-offs. Refer toother cases and see how they have determined
their appropriateness.
• ‘Harmonizing’ may provide you with some insights.
Refer to Chapter 4 for a further description of the
IWRM spiral.
• Prepare future scenarios by combining various
options based on the expected future sector’s
needs, costs and timings of implementation. Simulating such future scenarios could facilitate the harmonized management of environmental sustainability.

38 IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability• Plans prepared by individual sectors must be consistent in order to realize a ‘harmonized’plan. Checkfor inconsistencies, discrepancies, or overlaps. It is agood idea to make information ‘visible’ by displaying
it through figures or graphs with quantitative indicators. Doing so makes it possible for stakeholders
to share a common understanding of the present
situation and thus facilitate consensus-building.
• When conducting simulations with combinations ofvarious options and planning based on their results,
it is important to verify the gap between the simulated results and actual situations in the field. Being
consistently aware of the actual field situation will
help identify such gaps.

water shortages such as drought in order to securea sufficient quantity of water in the river flow.
• In the case of water shortage – depending on how
severe the situation is – the importance of securing a sufficient quantity of water in the river flow
should be considered.
Practical Examples>> Extracted Key for Success from Werra river (Germany) (3), ‘Cost-benefit analysis’, p. 67
Useful Tools>> Ecohydrological approach, p. 117>> Decision support system, p. 119• Moreover, it is desirable to regulate water use, notonly under normal circumstances but at times of

3.2.3 Draft planning
3.2.3.1 Alternative plans
Develop alternative environmental management plans that balances with water resourcesmanagement objectives and environmental objectives.
• An improvement plan related to the river environment and implemented by respective stakeholders, aswell as setting targets in the public water area are useful since effective results are usually derived fromhaving a complete perspective of the issues in a basin.
• It is essential to consider a water management plan since alternative environmental management plans
cannot be independent from it.
• The purpose of preparing multiple plans in environmental management is to accommodate thestrengths and weaknesses of each element of theplan so as to improve the chances of reaching agreement among the relevant sectors, and which allow
for flexibility in cases of uncertainty. Therefore, it isdeemed necessary to arrange a set of alternativeplans so as to have clear differences in the natureof each plan. To be more precise, each plan should
be unique in terms of expected costs and benefits.
• It is also recommended that a set of alternative plansinclude a difference in the level of environmental
consideration – from high to low. For example, oneof the plans should set its target at the maximum
level of environmental conservation while one planshould place more emphasis on economic or social
consequences with the minimum level of environmental conservation but still sufficient to maintainenvironmental sustainability.

• Because the impact of the environmental management plan covers the various activities of the many
sectors in a river basin, commensurate coordination and negotiation is imperative for successfulplanning.
• Water has many stakeholders, and individual sectors can be implementing measures in accordancesolely with their own relevant plans, which puts thesustainability of water management in the basin atrisk. Thus managing water and implementing waterrelated projects requires sector cooperation andcoordination.
Practical Examples>> Extracted Key for Success from Werra river (Germany) (3), ‘Cost-benefit analysis’, p. 67
Useful Tools>> Ecohydrological approach, p. 117

IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability39

3 – key for success3.2.3.2 Environmental Assessment
Conduct environmental impact analysis for assessing environmental impact on the draft plans
and environmental benefit analysis to evaluate social and economic impacts.
• In the process of formulating a plan, it is recommended to prepare data or facts that support the credibility of the plan based on investigation using knowledge, experience and available techniques. For example,
environmental impact analysis including modeling, forecasting and evaluation based on applied scientificand engineering techniques will provide some clues on the plan’s suitability with respect to ecological andenvironmental aspects.
• Also, environmental benefit analysis that evaluates the benefits and costs of the plan based on social
impacts will help measure the validity of the plan within the social and economic context.
• Environmental assessment covers a wide range of
topics from environmental (ecological) to social(economical). Therefore, the process of such ananalysis can be fairly costly and complex requiring along lead-time, depending on the type of analysis tobe conducted. In order to implement environmental impact analysis, the following considerations
should be noted:
o Choose the topics or elements included in
the analysis. Understand the nature and characteristics of the target plan and outline thesubjects for such analysis. If there are available examples similar to the target plan, utilize the information and experience of such
examples. Also, try to incorporate stakeholders’ opinion in the process of outlining theenvironmental assessment for better coordination and negotiation among the relevant
sectors.
o Incorporate reliable experts in the processof analysis. The analysis often becomes highly
specialized and thus it is advisable to use theknowledge and experience of the experts forsatisfactory results in terms of reliability.

o Maintain the transparency and accountability of analysis by disclosing the positive andnegative results as well as clarifying uncertainty in the resultant analysis. The result ofenvironmental assessment becomes the basisof decision-making in the coordination andnegotiation process.
• A wide variety of technologies and methodologies
are available for environmental impact analysis suchas GIS, statistical modeling and various investigation
techniques developed by the scientific field of environmental accounting. Experts should be at handto provide such techniques.
Practical Examples>> Extracted Key for Success from Oigawa river(Japan) (1), ‘Formation of Consensus through Participation of Stakeholders’, p. 114>> Extracted Key for Success from Citarum river(Indonesia) (2), ‘Basin-wide Water Quality Management’, p. 75
Useful Tools>> Environmental status mapping tools, p. 118

3.2.3.3 Feasibility Study
Consider the feasibility of the draft plans with social and industrial aspects.
• Goals for managing environmental sustainability in the draft plans may compete with other plans such as
the industrial development of the area thereby occasionsally making it difficult to realize a project.
• A feasibility study can provide insights as to whether a plan can be realized in terms of other sectors’
perspectives.

40 IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability• It is important to clarify the feasibility of the draft
plans. In many cases, goals for managing environmental sustainability tend to set limitations on
development and landuse, which may suggest an
inconvenient or negative force working against
development and landuse. Thus, by investigating thefeasibility of goals with social and industrial sectors,
agreements from other sectors is likely to be more
effectively obtainable.

o Ensure that stable and continuous investment
is agreed at the national level, and achieve
national consensus.
o Clarify costs and benefits, and monitor theeffectiveness of the investment.
o Coordinate with other water users, suchas water supply or irrigation sectors, andexplore cost-reduction strategies by making
projects multi-purpose.

• Lay out the technical, economic, ecological andinstitutional feasibility of each environmental solution. The feasibility of realizing such a framework
can be enhanced through the following schemes:• When introducing new technologies to replace a
conventional method currently used, it is necessary
to examine the benefit and cost of applying suchtechnologies including their future feasibility.

3.3 COORDINATION AND­DETAILED PLANNING ANDCONSENSUS BUILDINGThis phase finalizes the concepts formulated in Phase
2 into a detailed plan, and coordinates with stakeholders toward reaching an agreement.
• Is transparency secured (does it satisfy reason)?
• Are stakeholders convinced?
• Is it socially fair (does it satisfy the law)?

The coordination involved in reaching agreement
on a draft plan means revising the plan based on theopinions of the relevant stakeholders. A transparent
process and public awareness are both prerequisites
for ensuring effective stakeholder participation. They
also ensure social fairness of the process. Striving to
improve the situation of all stakeholders will help
reach an agreement.

3.3.1 Plan selection
3.3.1.1 Roles and responsibilities
Identify the roles and responsibilities of each relevant sector and stakeholders in each proposed
plan, and obtain agreements from the sectors.
• For effective and coordinated implementation with the various sectors, it is advised that the roles andresponsibilities of each sector are clearly stated from the outset thereby preventing any misunderstandings.
• Establishing agreements from each relevant sector is also necessary to make sure the performances by eachsector are as expected.
• When assigning roles and responsibilities, it is important to secure equity or balance among the related
sectors. If the assignment is poorly balanced, there
is a possibility that the collaborative work achieved
thus far among the various sectors may fail such thatthe mutual monitoring functions are lost resulting ininappropriate execution of the plan. For example, aparticular sector might push forward a plan that isgreatly advantageous to the sector.
• Be careful not to force roles and responsibilities onparticipating sectors but try to accept them voluntarily through coordination. It is likely that a role

and/or responsibility made compulsory may not
be properly executed if a law, regulation or penalty
does not exist to compel action.
Practical Examples>> Extracted Key for Success from Werra river (Germany) (2), ‘Balance of material’, p. 66>> Extracted Key for Success from Arakawa river(Japan) (2), ‘Formation of Consensus through Participation of Stakeholders’, p. 108

IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability41

3 – key for success3.3.1.2 Public evaluation of plans
Evaluate different planned options through public consultation, and refine/revise alternative plans.
• Each option presents advantages and disadvantages in terms of environmental, social and economic
aspects and thus the consequences of implementing each option may vary among sectors. Therefore,
when planning, it is important to include public consultation in the evaluation process of the options thatreflect valid opinions.
• Public involvement in the planning stage is crucial
for the successful management of environmental
sustainability because a long-lasting effort at the
local level is a requisite.
• Consider adequate methodology of public consultation such as timings, locations and content for

consultation, especially social equity and accountability, which are important in public consultation.
Also, important data and facts should be disclosed
in a proper manner and should include all information, even if it is negative or inconvenient.

3.3.1.3 Social equity and transparency
Secure social equity and transparency.
• A lack of social equity and transparency in a plan or in a planning process will raise dissatisfaction
among stakeholders even after having established the agreement, and will prevent the fulfillment of public
accountability.
• Securing social equity requires not only an agreement among stakeholders but also that the resultof coordination during the planning or implementation phase is acceptable to the public and society as
a whole.
• Ensuring transparency and accountability is indispensable for avoiding scepticism regarding the plansor decision-making process and for the smooth
implementation of the agreed plan.

Useful Tools>> Decision support system, p. 119

3.3.1.4 Future prospects
Take into account future prospects for social and environmental change when spatial planning
is applied in the basin.
• The condition of the environment is continuously interacting with each component, of which it comprises, and therefore the existing environmental condition is formed based on a temporarily establishedbalance.This is particularly the case with global climate change as it is the principal factor driving continuous environmental change. It is important to examine the suitability of a given plan based on the present
circumstances as well as expected future change.
• A balance between development and environmental conservation in terms of environmental sustainability should be considered. Appropriate utilization of environmental resources that accommodate bothsocial and environmental needs is always an objective in spatial planning.

42 IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability• In the planning stage, it is recommended that possible changes in the basic or prerequisite conditions of the plan, such as population increases andclimate change, be considered. If such changes are
not reflected in the plan, some adjustments to theplan may need to be made.

• For successful spatial planning, the planning process
should be implemented in an adaptive manner. As
soon as unexpected changes are detected, collect relevant information and estimate successivechanges. If the successive changes are significant,modify the spatial plan accordingly.

• Apply the best knowledge and experience to estimate future change so as to ensure the suitabilityof the plan. Consultation with experts and relevant
sectors should provide useful information on projecting future change.

Useful Tools>> Ecohydrological approach, p. 117

3.3.2 Building coordination mechanism
3.3.2.1 Stakeholder participation
Prepare a framework for stakeholder participation to build consensus among stakeholders.
• A framework for stakeholder participation is necessary in order to facilitate smooth coordination andconsensus-building. Considerable time and resources may be required if such a framework does notexist.
• An organizational structure for coordination cantake many forms such as informal meetings for
information-sharing with committees – provided
with a level of authority – or specialized institutions, even though a formal structure is preferable.
• It is important to consider existing coordination
processes or changing needs within the basin, andbuild step-by-step an appropriate process or organization to realize the overall objectives.
Practical Examples>> Extracted Key for Success from Citarum river(Indonesia) (2), ‘Basin-wide Water Quality management’, p. 75>> Extracted Key for Success from Bermejo river(Argentina) (2), ‘Identify key needs in potential priority areas (critical locations and key issues) for IWRM
implementation in the basin. Identify the ecosystemmanagement objectives’, p. 84>> Extracted Key for Success from Bermejo river(Argentina) (3), ‘Develop alternative environment
management plans’, p. 85>> Extracted Key for Success from Murray-Darling(Australia) (3), ‘Managers involvement in deciding
environmental flow releases’, p. 97>> Extracted Key for Success from Oigawa river(Japan) (1), ‘Formation of Consensus through Participation of Stakeholders’, p. 114

3.3.2.2 Incentives
Introduce water conservation incentives appropriate for local conditions.
• The introduction of incentives such as water charges, and so on can promote water-use efficiency andenhance sustainability and flexibility of water use.
• Incentive is different from regulation because the former intends to promote desirable activities while
the latter prohibits undesirable activities. Both incentive and regulation measures may have a common
goal; incentives may be easier to introduce and be accepted by the public.

IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability43

3 – key for success• The purpose of incentives is to make benefits more
visible and easily felt. Ideally, incentives are simple
and understandable. This is especially true in areas
where the public understanding of environmental
sustainability has yet to be promoted. When applying incentives to promote positive activities forenvironmental sustainability, try to introduce incentives in daily activities, for example managing water
use and consumption.

• When introducing an incentive system for the firsttime, it may not be effective to introduce the same
systems employed by other regions. Analyse theregional characteristics and apply the incentives
that local people would willingly accept.
• Incentive is different from regulation. The purposeof regulation is to prohibit human activities that
may cause undesirable environmental conditions.
For more information, refer to 3.5.2.1.

3.3.2.3 Formal coordinating body
Prepare a formal coordinating body and clearly indicate roles and responsibilities in the river
basin (e.g. a river basin committee)• It is recommended to establish a formal coordinating body (e.g. a river basin committee) where municipalities, citizens and experts work together as a decision-making body on important matters affecting abasin, and to formulate policies/regulations and action programmes for water management.
• Organizational structure for coordination can takemany forms, such as informal meetings for information-sharing with committees – provided with alevel of authority – or specialized institutions, eventhough a formal structure is preferable.
• It is important to consider existing coordination
processes or changing needs within the basin, andbuild step-by-step an appropriate process or organization to realize the overall objectives.

Practical Examples>> Extracted Key for Success from Werra river­(Germany) (1),‘The European Water Framework­Directive (EU-WFD)’, p. 65>> Extracted Key for Success from Citarum river(Indonesia) (2),‘Basin-wide Water Quality management’,p. 75>> Extracted Key for Success from Bermejo river(Argentina) (1), ‘Establish formal coordinating body inthe river basin (e.g. river basin committee)’, p. 83>> Extracted Key for Success from Bermejo river­(Argentina) (6),‘Identify the effects of changes in the basin
as the effects of river, lake and estuary ecology’, p. 88

3.3.2.4 Representative
Acting as the representative for the environmental sector and/or organizing an environmental
technical working group.
• According to the definition of IWRM, the sustainability of the vital ecosystem must not be impaired. It
is important to recognize the environment as a stakeholder. If there is no definitive sector representing
environmental conservation, it is necessary for the coordinating organization to act as a spokespersonfor environmental conservation activities during the coordination process.
• When developing infrastructure, the coordination
process must pay due consideration to impacts on
the natural environment and ecosystem.
o Organizations and sectors in the basin thatcan speak on behalf of the environment must
participate in the planning process. If suchorganizations or sectors do not exist, then thecoordinator should take into account environmental conservation when coordinating withother sectors. Also, it is desirable to establish
the environmental technical group in a river
basin and involve it in coordination as a mem-ber of the technical group. Be sure that there
is merit when involving such working groups
in trying to improve the environmental performance of your sector. Take ideas and experiences from other sectors obtained throughcommunication within the group. It should bepossible to develop new options and makebetter decisions for environmental sustainability in the implementation of your projects.
o A coordinator must have good knowledge ofthe basin environment in order to be a spokesperson for environmental conservation.

44 IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability

o Data collection for addressing problems inthe basin should also include available dataand information on the basin ecosystem. It is
recommended that environmental concerns
or problems facing your sector – with hopes
for resolution – be provided. The environment related information collected by yoursector will be valuable in better managing theenvironment.

3.4 IMPLEMENTING, MONITORINGAND EVALUATINGThe aim of this phase is to implement, develop, manage and operate the agreed scheme or framework(including infrastructure development or the establishment of legislation or institutional framework).
Things to note in this phase are:
• Is the implementation programme executed
promptly?
• Is the system adapted and functioning?
• Are there any new problems with the new approach/scheme?

• Environmental sustainability in a river basin affects
any activities and processes having a relationshipor interaction with the environment. Thus, environmental degradation and the subsequent effectof reducing sustainability will interfere with yoursector’s performance in some point in the future.
Think of yourself as the representative of the environmental sector and act in a way such that environmental sustainability is one of your primaryobjectives.

is important for the IWRM process. However, things
do not always turn out as planned. There are times
when the established approach or scheme does not
function in the way expected. Thus, monitoring is an
important aspect of an IWRM process. Furthermore,
it is necessary to retain a broad view and be attentive to new problems such as those caused by socialchanges.
It is also important to evaluate the impacts of issues
not addressed in the current plan and see if such
issues need further attention in the future. This leads
to the ‘recognizing and identifying’ phase in the nextstage of the IWRM spiral.

Prompt execution of the implementation programmeand early realization of its impacts and effectiveness3.4.1 Implementation
3.4.1.1 Coordination scheme
Confirm the coordination scheme established for planning, and share information among
stakeholders.
• Even if a plan is agreed upon by stakeholders additional challenges may occur at the implementation
phase. Maintain the participatory scheme established during the planning stage. Continuous informationsharing allows additional issues to be addressed in an appropriate and participatory manner.
• The coordination scheme established for planningcan be used later on as a mechanism for coordination, during droughts for example.
o A permanent framework for informationsharing will facilitate understanding among
stakeholders on the status of water resources
and its uses, and will facilitate coordination
among stakeholders. Organized regular annual
meetings and similar gatherings are effective.
o Such schemes can also serve the function ofmutually monitoring stakeholders to ensurecompliance with the agreement.

Practical Examples>> Extracted Key for Success from Bermejo river(Argentina) (4), ‘Implement basin management plansin an integrated manner’, p. 86

IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability45

3 – key for success3.4.1.2 Overall guidelines of implementing agreed plan
Implement all elements of the agreed plan to achieve designated goals.
• Once planning and coordination have been completed, make sure that all elements included in the agreed
plan will be implemented by responsible sectors as planned.
• When problems associated with the planned actions occur in an unexpected situation, the responsible
sector needs to inform and consult about the situation to all the relevant sectors. Depending on thenature of the problem identified, it may be requested that a procedure is followed.
• In the implementation stage, it is important toexecute all actions in the manner planned. Each
responsible sector should always keep its role andresponsibility firmly on its mind, and efforts toobtain designated objectives, as noted in the implemented plan, are expected.

• On many occasions, a situation may arise whereby
the actions originally planned cannot be executed.
In such a situation, the responsible sector should
immediately consult relevant experts and othersectors in order to decide on subsequent actions.

3.4.2 Monitoring and evaluation
3.4.2.1 Monitoring/evaluating programme
Develop monitoring and evaluation programmes in consultation with technical groups andplan for elements that have uncertain outputs.
• Proper implementation of the agreed plan can be achieved based on continuous monitoring and evaluation. Monitoring helps to collect necessary information while evaluation gives an idea as to whether the
proposed plan needs to be revised or not.
• Because environmental monitoring can be highly specialized in terms of contexts, it is often advised that acourse of monitoring and evaluation programmes be prepared in advance, in cooperation with appropriate specialized technical groups, to plan for elements that have uncertain outputs.
• The preparation of a monitoring and evaluation
programme in planning, or a coordination stageprior to implementation of the plan, is desirable forthe following reasons:o In the process of environmental impact
assessment, environmental changes or negative impacts are sometimes projected. Also,
when uncertainty of the future environmental change is identified, it can be the subject ofenvironmental monitoring in the implementation stage. Therefore, it is often possible tospecify the object of monitoring in advance.
o Environmental monitoring requires time andmoney and thus selecting the element orobjective of monitoring in advance will help
improve efficiency and reduce the total costs
associated with monitoring.
• When preparing the monitoring and evaluation
programme, it is advisable to make assumptions

or possible scenarios of environmental responses.
Such assumptions should include several scenariosthat are like to occur. Also, it is necessary to set theevaluation algorithms and standards in advance so
as to increase the efficiency of the whole monitoring and evaluation process.
• Continuously monitor at regular intervals. Consecutive and integrated monitoring requires basic environmental information of the river basin, including
those for environmental sustainability in the futureespecially of the public water area.
• It needs to be stressed that recording and storing data over the long-term requires financial andhuman resources to be instituted in a continuous manner. Policy-makers need to recognize theimportance of continuous data collection. Furthermore, managers responsible for data management
need to thoroughly consider the necessity and sus-

46 IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability

tainability of continuous data collection, select thetype of data to be stored and utilized, and decideon the data management strategy.
• A database is useful but not versatile. Developing a
database requires thorough consideration of how

the system to be developed will be utilized, maintained and updated in a sustainable manner in the
future.
Useful Tools>> Ecohydrological approach, p. 117

3.5 POLICIES/NATIONALSTRATEGIES, INSTITUTIONAL AND
LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORKS AND
FINANCING
The section includes ‘keys for success’, which are useful for readers concerned with policies/national strategies, legislative frameworks and financing, but arealso important throughout the entire IWRM process.
Things to note in this phase are:
• Can you move ahead with just the consensus

built among stakeholders or do you need a formal
framework?
• Are you working bottom-up to influence thenational or higher level organizations?
• Do you have the financial resources to achieve yourenvironmental objectives?

3.5.1 Policies and national strategies
3.5.1.1 National principles for environmental sustainability
Contribute to the development and revision of national principles, policies and strategies for
managing environmental sustainability.
• Sustainable development requires a well-balanced approach between development and environmental
conservation/protection. The establishment of national principles for environmental sustainability always
helps achieve balanced developments by both advocating the importance of environmental sustainability
at the basin level and promoting coordination among all sectors.
• It is advisable to first position environmental sustainability within a national development strategy.
• It is advisable to include in the strategy short,medium and long-term goals and achievements
expected in each phase, as well as the required
financial resources so that the strategy can be further reviewed and strengthened.
• As management of environmental sustainability ofthe public water area by legislation and regulationis the effective approach, try to establish meansof enforcing adequate management of water quality and quantity by legislative frameworks if suchframeworks do not exist.

Practical Examples>> Extracted Key for Success from Werra river (Germany) (1), ‘The European Water Framework Directive(EU-WFD)’, p. 65>> Extracted Key for Success from Citarum river(Indonesia) (3), ‘Area pollution sources management’,p. 76>> Extracted Key for Success from Murray-Darling(Australia) (1), ‘Targeted Government Action with
Limited Water and Funding’, p. 95>> Extracted Key for Success from Arakawa river(Japan) (1), ‘Preservation of the Ecosystem’, p. 106>> Extracted Key for Success from Oigawa river(Japan) (2), ‘Securing River Maintenance Flow’, p. 116
Useful Tools>> Guidelines on Water Release from HydraulicPower Plant to Secure Environmental Flow, p. 120

IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability47

3 – key for success3.5.2 Institutional and legislative framework
3.5.2.1 Revising institutional frameworks
Revise the corresponding institutional guidelines and design procedures, which are consistent
with national policies and strategies for sustainable development.
• Some of the existing institutional frameworks such as guidelines and design procedures may have a relationship with environmental sustainability. Revising those guidelines by incorporating the principles thatemphasize environmental sustainability will improve the overall performance of environmental sustainability.
• Identify the institutional guidelines and design procedures, which relate to environmental sustainability. Typical examples are guildelines associated withwater use and discharge, landuse and modification such as infrastructure developments. As many
institutional frameworks regulate human activities,
there should be numerous opportunities for management of environmental sustainability principles
and schemes to be incorporated within the frameworks.
• There are also international treaties concerning
management of environmental sustainability. Manynations develop legislative management schemeson the utilization of public water area such as
the ‘Convention on the Protection of the Rhine’and ‘The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreementof 1978’. Such legislation and regulation typicallyenforces water quality standards as well as water
quantity in terms of use and discharge.

• It is recommended that by incorporating the concepts in the institutional frameworks, managementof environmental sustainability in a river basin will
be improved and meet with international standards.
Practical Examples>> Extracted Key for Success from Citarum river(Indonesia) (1),‘Remediation Measures, Ground water
management’, p. 74>> Extracted Key for Success from Bermejo river(Argentina) (6), ‘Identify the effects of changes in thebasin as the effects of river, lake and estuary ecology’,p. 88
Useful Tools>> Guidelines on Water Release from HydraulicPower Plant to Secure Environmental Flow, p. 120

3.5.2.2 Defining roles and responsibility
Define roles and responsibilities of river basin management entities for the management ofenvironmental sustainability.
• For realizing integrated management in the river basin, including environment conservation, water use
and water-related disaster management, it is recommended to define clear roles and responsibilities of
the river basin management entities among other stakeholders.
• Secure and adequate financing for executing the defined role is needed for IWRM to be successful.
• Uncoordinated actions by individuals or organizations can be problematic as environmental conservation/ restoration efforts often involve various
sectors that require continuous and cooperative
action over a long period of time. Therefore, it isessential to specify in legislation that the management of environmental sustainability is the responsibility of national governments, municipalities andresidents, and their respective roles must be clarified. In addition, clarifying the financial responsibilities of national government and municipalities isfavourable to ensuring effectiveness.

• Environmental sustainability broadly affects the basin
and its stakeholders, therefore it is advisable to clarify the roles of the relevant sectors with regard to
the management of environmental sustainability.
o Clarify the roles of agencies related to the
management of environmental sustainability in the basin, especially with regard to thecoordination and implementation of their
responsibilities, including residents.
o Define stakeholder (related agencies) participation in the basin during the planning, implementation and review phases.

48 IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability

o Conduct environmental impact assessments
to minimize negative impacts on the environment when infrastructures are developed.
o Evaluate results of existing programmes.
• It is necessary to establish a financing frameworkthat allows for stable and continuous investmentin the management of environmental sustainability
with a long-term perspective, regardless of socialand economic changes. The feasibility of realizing
such a framework can be enhanced through the following schemes:
o Ensure that stable and continuous investment
is agreed at the national level, and achieve
national consensus.

o Clarify benefits and costs, and monitor theeffectiveness of the investment.
o Coordinate with other sectors, and explore
cost-reduction strategies by making projects
multi-purpose.
Practical Examples>> Extracted Key for Success from Werra river (Germany) (3),‘Cost-benefit analysis’, p. 67>> Extracted Key for Success from Murray-Darling(Australia) (1), ‘Targeted Government Action with
Limited Water and Funding’, p. 95

IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability49

3 – key for success

4. IWRM Process
4.1 THE ‘IWRM SPIRAL’
CONCEPTUAL MODEL4.1.1 The IWRM spiralThe ‘IWRM spiral’ demonstrates how the dynamic
and evolving process of IWRM in a river basin progressively achieves better and more sustainable water
resources management.
The model provides the following advantages:• It helps users to understand both their current situation and where to head next in the IWRM process
by integrating a timeframe.
• It enables users to seek better solutions that canadapt to changes.
• It facilitates reaching agreements and increasing
ownership at each ‘turn of the spiral.’• It provides a framework for looking ahead andplanning for the next ‘turn of the spiral.’
IWRM at the river basin level seeks better water
resources management through such means as progressively developing water resources in the basin,building a more integrated institutional framework,
and improving environmental sustainability. This goal
must always be kept in mind wherever you are positioned in the IWRM spiral. However, it should be
noted that the process cannot proceed at once in ashort period of time; IWRM is an evolving, step-bystep process.
One turn of the spiral includes such phases as:(1) recognizing/identifying pressing issues or needs,(2) conceptualizing the problem itself and locating possible solutions, (3) coordinating and planning
among stakeholders to reach an agreement, and (4)implementing/monitoring/evaluating the plan and its
outcome. This creates a new IWRM framework or
scheme in the basin, which also forms the beginning of
the next stage of the spiral. One turn of the spiral may
take a long time. In the case of a large water resources
development project, such as the construction of adam, it may take more than ten years to complete
one turn. Creating a new institution or organization

would also require several years. Each of the practicalexamples cited in Chapter 5 includes a diagram illustrating their spiral IWRM progression. This can provide ideas on how actual IWRM practices progress ina spiral manner.
4.1.2 Stages of the IWRM spiral
The IWRM spiral begins by recognizing the necessity
for IWRM. First, you need to possess an overall picture of the basin. Start with the information alreadyavailable. This will help you understand the issues andproblems existing in the basin, leading to recognition/
identification of the need for introducing an IWRM
approach. You will then assess the current circumstances and conceptualize possible solutions. Preparea plan and finalize it through coordination with relevant stakeholders, then implement the plan to create
a new IWRM scheme or approach in the basin. This is
the first stage of the spiral.
The stages to follow begin with recognizing either thenecessity for improving the current IWRM approach/framework or for a new IWRM system. Recognitionof needs may be triggered by the intensification ofproblems left over from the previous stage, such as
rapid increase in demands.
4.1.3 Recognizing the stage shift
The stage changes when you recognize the needfor change. Moving up the spiral is a time-consuming process, and requires reaching agreements withstakeholders and building consensus. It is importantthat water resources managers recognize changes
or needs and take early action while ensuring public
understanding and support.
Significant changes in the basin, such as economic
development, changes in social values and demands,
and unexpected crisis situations can become theoccasion to realize the need for improving or revising water resources management. Such changes canbecome the driving force for better water resourcesmanagement, and should be considered as a chance toimprove IWRM in your basin.

50 IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability

4.1.4 Where do you stand in the spiral?
Where do you stand in this spiral? Where is yourbasin situated in the spiral? What phase are you in?
Are you in the phase of ‘recognizing’ changes or ‘conceptualizing’? How many stages have you already been
through in the IWRM spiral? Take a moment and think
about it. It is useful to approximately situate yourself
in the spiral when reading these Guidelines in order
to find the information you need.

If you cannot find a solution appropriate for you,change your position in the spiral. Looking at different
phases or steps in the IWRM process by flipping backand forth through the Guidelines may help you.Thinking about your positioning allows you to check if you
have missed any steps in the past, as well as helping
you to visualize actions that may be necessary in the
future.

Fig. 4.1 Spiral evolution of IWRM

IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability51

4 – IWRM Process

4.2 PHASES, STEPS AND KEYS FOR
SUCCESS IN THE IWRM PROCESSIn the Guidelines, an IWRM process at a given stage is
described in terms of four phases.The elements of theprocess that are related to all phases, such as policies,
legal frameworks and financing, are indicated outsideof the process flow. Each phase is further explained
through the steps it involves.

The IWRM process and its respective steps are eachlinked to a relevant ‘Key for Success’ and ‘Practical
Examples’ included respectively in chapters 3 and 5 ofthese Guidelines.

Phase

Steps

Key for success

Conceptualizing

Assessment[3.2.1.1] Conceptualize the environmental requirement within IWRM, and set the goals
for managing of environmental sustainability.

Links topractical examples[3.2.1.2] Identify key stakeholder groups, including those who are impacted or sociallyvulnerable, and identify key persons within them.
[3.2.1.3] Identify available information and making good use of existing information.
[3.2.2.1] Identify a range of options available to achieve goals for managing environmental sustainability.
Conceptualization

Draft planning[3.2.2.2] Harmonize related plans including those from outside the water sector.

Werra river (Germany) (2)[3.2.2.3] Harmonize multiple objectives taking into account the appropriate balanceamong water-related sectors in the whole basin.

Werra river (Germany) (3)[3.2.3.1] Develop alternative environmental management plans that balances withwater resources management objectives and environmental objectives.

Werra river (Germany) (3)[3.2.3.2] Conduct environmental impact analysis for assessing environmental
impact on the draft plans and environmental benefit analysis to evaluatesocial and economic impacts.

Citarum river (Indonesia) (3)Oigawa river (Japan) (1)[3.2.3.3] Consider feasibility of the draft plans with social and industrial aspects.
From
Preliminary
agreement

Citarum river (Indonesia) (3)To conceptualizing

Fig. 4.2 IWRM Process (Phase 2)

52 IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability

4 – IWRM PROCESS� is it in line with social
demands?
Is it well balanced?
� Are you thinking into the
future?
� Do you understand theconstraints and are you
exploring what you can do?

4.2.2 Phase 2: Conceptualizing

Fig. 4.4 Phase 2: Conceptualizing

54 IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability

IWRM process

StepsKey for success

Reconizing &identifying

Recognizing[3.1.1.1] Recognize the environmental status of the river basin, including
environ-mental problems that need to be solved.

� Do you understandthe needs andproblems? Are you inneed of IWRM?
� Are you aware of pastevaluation results andthe current situation?
� Are you thinking into
the future?

[3.1.1.2] Recognize efforts to conserve the environment in the river basin.

Identification ofproblems and needs

Public awareness& accountability

Capacity building
From
Implementing,monitoring& evaluating

To conceptualizing

Links topractical examples[3.1.2.1] Identify actual and future priority areas (critical locations and key issues)
as well as objectives for sound management of environmental sustainability within
the context of IWRM in a river basin.

Citarum river (Indonesia) (3)Arakawa river (Japan) (2)[3.1.2.2] Identify the effects on the river, lake and estuary ecology associated withvarious changes in the river basin.

Citarum river (Indonesia) (4)[3.1.2.3] Identify the causes and effects of current water management practice on water
quality, quantity and variability in the basin on ecosystem functions and services.
Identify options for improving water quality, quantity and variability on ecosystemservices for both water and land management.

Arakawa river (Japan) (1)[3.1.2.4] Identify the importance of instream morphology and flood plain
connectivity on ecosystem function. Research the effects of physical hydraulicalterations and its effect on environment and ecosystem functions.
[3.1.3.1] Share information on the status of the environment in the river basinwith other sectors and stakeholders.

Bemejo river (Argentina) (2)Bemejo river (Argentina) (3)[3.1.3.2] Promote educational activities on environmental sustainability inthe river basin.

Bemejo river (Argentina) (7)[3.1.4.1] Promote capacity-building by developing the capacity of leaders andmanagers who can recognize problems, find necessary solutions and implement them.

Bemejo river (Argentina) (5)[3.1.4.2] Transfer and adaption of best management of environmental sustainability
practice with regard to reflecting local conditions.

Werra river (Germany) (3)Bemejo river (Argentina) (5)Murray-Darling (Australia) (2)4.2.1 Phase 1: Recognizing and identifying

IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability

Fig. 4.3 Phase 1: Recognizing and identifying

IWRM process
Phase

53

PhaseSteps

Key for success

Conceptualizing

Assessment[3.2.1.1] Conceptualize the environmental requirement within IWRM, and set the goals
for managing of environmental sustainability.
[3.2.1.2] Identify key stakeholder groups, including those who are impacted or sociallyvulnerable, and identify key persons within them.
[3.2.1.3] Identify available information and making good use of existing information.
[3.2.2.1] Identify a range of options available to achieve goals for managing environmental sustainability.

Conceptualization

Draft planning[3.2.2.2] Harmonize related plans including those from outside the water sector.

Werra river (Germany) (2)[3.2.2.3] Harmonize multiple objectives taking into account the appropriate balanceamong water-related sectors in the whole basin.

Werra river (Germany) (3)[3.2.3.1] Develop alternative environmental management plans that balances withwater resources management objectives and environmental objectives.

Werra river (Germany) (3)[3.2.3.2] Conduct environmental impact analysis for assessing environmental
impact on the draft plans and environmental benefit analysis to evaluatesocial and economic impacts.

Citarum river (Indonesia) (3)Oigawa river (Japan) (1)[3.2.3.3] Consider feasibility of the draft plans with social and industrial aspects.
To conceptualizing

Citarum river (Indonesia) (3)4 – IWRM Process� is it in line with social
demands?
Is it well balanced?
� Are you thinking into the
future?
� Do you understand theconstraints and are you
exploring what you can do?

From
Preliminary
agreement

Links topractical examples

4.2.2 Phase 2: Conceptualizing

Fig. 4.4 Phase 2: Conceptualizing

54 IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability

IWRM process

IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability

Fig. 4.5 Phase 3: Coordinating and detail planning

Phase

Steps

Coordinating &detail planning

Building coordination
mechanism

Key for success[3.3.1.1] Identify the roles and responsibilities of each relevant sector andstakeholders in each proposed plan, and obtain agreements from the sectors.

Links topractical examples
Werra river (Germany) (2)Arakawa river (Japan) (2)[3.3.1.2] Evaluate different planned options through public consultation, andrefine/revise alternative plans.

� is transparency secured(satisfying to the reason)?
� Are stakeholders
convinced (satisfying to
the heart)?
� Is it socially lair (satisfying
to the law?

[3.3.1.3] Secure social equity and transparency.
[3.3.1.4] Take into account future prospects for social and environmental
changes when spatial planning is applied in the basin.

Coordination

To conceptualizing[3.3.2.1] Prepare a framework for stakeholder participation to build
consensus among stakeholders.

No[3.3.2.2] Introduce water conservation incentives appropriate for local
conditions.
Preliminary
agreement
Yes

Finalizing the plan
Reaching
an agreement

To
Implementing,monitoring& evaluating[3.3.2.3] Prepare a formal coordinating body and clearly indicate roles andresponsibility in the river basin (e.g. a river basin committee)[3.3.2.4] Acting as the representative for the environmental sector and/ororganizing an environmental technical working group.

Citarum river (Indonesia) (2)Bermejo river (Argentina) (2)Bermejo river (Argentina) (3)Murray-Darling (Australia) (3)Oigawa river (Japan) (1)
Werra river (Germany) (1)Citarum river (Indonesia) (2)Bermejo river (Argentina) (1)Bermejo river (Argentina) (6)4.2.3 Phase 3: Coordinating and detail planning

IWRM process55Implementing,monitoring& evaluating

To Recognizing& Identifying

Key for success
Implementation[3.4.1.1] Confirm the coordination scheme established for planning, and share
information among stakeholders.
[3.4.1.2] Implement all elements of the agreed plan to achieve designated goals.

Monitoring& evaluation[3.4.2.1] Develop monitoring and evaluation programmes in consultation withtechnical groups and plan for elements that have uncer tain outputs.

Links topractical examples
Bemejo river (Argentina) (4)4 – IWRM Process� Is the implementation
programme executed
promptly?
� Is the system adaptedand functioning?
� Are there any new
problems with the new
approach/scheme?

Steps

4.2.4 Phase 4: Implementing, monitoring and evaluating

Fig. 4.6 Phase 4: Implementing, monitoring and evaluating

56 IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability

IWRM process
PhasePhasePolicies/national
strategies,
legislative
framework,
financing� Can you move ahead withjust the consensus built
among stakeholders or doyou need a formal
framework?
� Are you working bottom-up
to influence national or
higher level organizations?
� Do you have financial
sources in mind?

Links topractical examples

Steps

Key for successPolicies andNational strategies[3.5.1.1] Contribute to development and revision of national principles, policies
and strategies for managing environmental sustainability.

Legislative
framework[3.5.2.1] Revise the corresponding institutional guidelines and design procedures,that are consistent with national policies and strategies for sustainable development.

Citarum river (Indonesia) (1)Bermejo river (Argentina) (6)Financing[3.5.2.2] Define roles and responsibilities of river basin management entities forthe management of environmental sustainability.

Werra river (Indonesia) (3)Murray-Darling (Australia) (1)

Werra river (Germany) (1)
Murray-Darling (Australia) (1)Citarum river (Indonesia) (3)Arakawa river (Japan) (1)
Oigawa river (Japan) (2)4.2.5 Important aspects of IWRM: Policies/national strategies, legislative
framework, financing

57

Fig. 4.7 Important aspects of IWRM: Policies/national strategies, legislative framework, financing

IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability

IWRM process

4 – IWRM Process

5. Practical Examples

This section includes practical examples of IWRM at
the river basin level in the form of a ‘Case Story’ illustrating actual IWRM efforts, and ‘Extracted Key for
Success’ highlighting elements of success for enhancing IWRM, based on interviews conducted at sites.

1) Case Story (explaining the process
pathway)
A Case Story lays out the facts in a sequential manner and illustrates the pathway towards the ‘Key for
Success’ (KFS). The Case Story includes links to the‘Extracted Key for Success’ so that one can understand how the Key for Success fits into the overall
story.

Facts
Ref. to KFS
2. Management phases and institutional strengthening (top-down but
bottom-up enablement)…
KFSPublic education was seen as an important part of the process… Educational programmes
5.5.2 (2)were implemented to enhance public awareness and to help increase understanding by thepeople in the communities. A programme that has been particularly successful is ‘Special
Forever’, which was…
Fig. 5.1 Format and example of a case

58 IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability2) Extracted Key for SuccessThe ‘Extracted Key for Success’ illustrates why the‘Key for Success’ was implemented and explains
the thought process behind it. In order to ensure
the relevance of keys for success to users, ‘the Key’is explained in a generalized manner together withconditions and limitations for its application. It also
includes references to ‘Useful Tools’ that may enhance
its effectiveness.

[ Title ]Problem type to solve
Enhancing public awareness[ Situation ]Description of theEnsuring public awareness and support in implementing policy changes…
situation[ Problem ]Problems encounIt was important to ensure that people in the basin understood the importance of the
teredchanges being implemented to the basin’s water resources management…
Measures taken to[ How the problem was overcome ]Public awareness was enhanced through an environmental education programme overcome the problem
implemented in primary schools…
[ The key ]Wisdom behind theInteractive educational activities targeting primary school children facilitated greatermeasures taken in aawareness on environmental issues in the basin, not only among children but also
generalized terms
among their families.
Conditions and[ Conditions and limitations in applying the KFS ]The programme can be effectively implemented through an organization such as a limitations, tools toenhance the applicateaching association…
tion of the KFS, etc.
Fig. 5.2 Format and example of Extracted Key for Success

IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability59

5 – PRACTICAL examples

5.1 Werra river basin (Germany)
5.1.1 Case Story (Werra river basin)
Facts
1. Introduction

Ref. to KFS

The Werra river basin has a total area of 5,498 km². The Werra river is part of the river
basin district Weser, which empties into the North Sea. It is located in the centre of Germany. The source of the Werra is located at an altitude of 797 metres above sea level,
while the confluence with the Fulda River, following a course of 296 km, is situated at analtitude of 117 metres a.s.l.The catchment’s long-term precipitation mean is approximately
840 mm. The runoff regime of the Werra shows a typical pluvio-nival pattern. The longterm mean discharge (MQ) at the ‘Letzter Heller’ gauge is 50.5 m³/s, while the highest
flood discharge (1946) is 605 m³/s and the lowest low-flow discharge (1949) is 5.1 m³/s.
Figure 1 illustrates the altitude levels of the Werra catchment.
Roughly 43% of the total area of the Werra river basin is tree-covered, while approximately
52% of the area is agricultural land. Areas for settlement, trade and traffic only account fora share of less than 5%. The overall region is rated as structurally weak.

Fig. 5.1.1 Basin of the river Werra

60 IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability

Facts2.The European Water Framework Directive

Ref. to KFS

New demands on water management planning for river basins are a result of the EU Water
Framework Directive valid since 22.12.2000 (from Extracted KFS 1_ Situation).
The European Water Framework Directive (WFD) specifies the guidelines for integrated
river basin management within the European Union for the coming decades.
It demands a ‘good’ status for all surface waters, which has to be specified by ecological criteria; it defines river basins as the spatial units of water management and demands a combined approach of emission limits and river-specific emmission standards. Obviously thecomplexity of these tasks demands integrated and interdisciplinary cooperation between
ecologists, hydrologists, water managers, computer scientists and sociologists.

KFS5.1.2(1)

The project’s main challenge is the complex task of planning different alternative proposals for a programme of measures, which have to take into account ecological (good status), economic (cost efficiency) and social criteria (participation, acceptance). This target
demands a consideration of many different factors and a holistic approach in order tocombine results from different disciplines into a joint planning system.
It was dealt with an approach characterized by means of the EEA’s DPSIR model: theknowledge required for the derivation of responses was provided via cause-and-effectchains between driving forces, pressure, state and impact. The impacts of measures werecharacterized in view of their environmental quality while concurrently taking account of
the impact on driving forces, pressure parameters and expected changes of state in order
to identify both effective and efficient measures that – on top of this – comply with thesocio-economic objectives and marginal conditions. (from Extracted KFS 1_ How the
problem was overcome).

Fig. 5.1.2 DPSIR model developed by the European Environment Agency (EEA)
to describe the interaction between society and environment

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5 – PRACTICAL examples

Facts
3. Ecological evaluation and analysis of deficit

Ref. to KFS

The waters’ ecological deficits constituted the basis for the definition of measures to achieve
the stated good ecological state. This required that specifications for changing the parameters be considered as decisive for ecological conditions.
There was a problem to achieve ecological evaluation and analysis of deficit in that a biological, chemical-physical and hydromorphological evaluation of the Werra river and its main
tributaries had to be carried out within the scope of the integrated project.
This was dealt with a specific evaluation method.The evaluation of the benthic invertebrates biocoenosis is implemented by applying the AQEM method or ‘Assessment system for the ecologi-­
cal Quality of streams and rivers throughout Europe using Macrovertabrates’.The lists of speciesof the diatom and macrophyte societies were evaluated with the aid of the PHYLIB process.

Fig. 5.1.3 Biocoenotic evaluation of water bodies in the Werra region
for the actual state (individual parameters)

4. Modeling of water balance, balance of materials and water quality
A forecast of the changes to be expected in the evaluated biocoenoses for the various
action scenarios of the integrated project was produced as well as an assessment of thequestion as to whether the good ecological state in the individual water bodies can actually be achieved by realizing the planned measures (Schumann et al. 2005)*. Based on an
analysis of the chemical loads, differentiated into point and non-point sources of pollution,
and a model-based simulation of strategies to modify wastewater treatment and agricultural practices, different aspects to improve water quality were examined.

KFS5.1.2(2)

Several problems were encountered when modeling water balance, materials and water
quality, described as follows:

62 IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability

FactsRef. to KFS– The continuous load from diffuse sources into the river basin was difficult to detect
precisely. It is influenced by the rainfall pattern because of the immobilisation of bonded
phosphorus and erosion (from Extracted KFS 2_Problem).
– Modest use of fertilizer by the farmers (from Extracted KFS 2_Problem).
The following actions below were taken to deal with the problems:– The SWAT (Soil & Water Assessment Tool) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) was used (from Extracted KFS 2_How the problem was overcome).
– Main point sources (sewage treatment plans) were detected and enhanced to achieve
the thresholds (from Extracted KFS 2_ How the problem was overcome).
– Guidelines for efficient environmental crop production was prepared (from Extracted
KFS 2_ How the problem was overcome).

5. Socio-economic principles of action planning
Manifold uses of the river water and the river itself requires an indepth analysis of benefits
and costs (from Extracted KFS 3_Situation).
Thus, the socio-economic aspects of planned measures to improve the ecological state
were analysed under three categories: costs, benefits and acceptance of planned measuresby stakeholders.
Several problems were encountered in developing an action plan, described as follows:– Identification of the water users and their interest on the outcome of the river management (from Extracted KFS 3_Problem).
– Analysis of the economic benefit of the interests, but economic evaluation of benefitsof the different measures was often not practical (high financial and temporal efforts)(from Extracted KFS 3_Problem).

KFS5.1.2(3)

The following actions below were taken to deal with the problems:– A decision support system was implemented in the project (from Extracted KFS 3_
How the problem was overcome).
– A ‘cooperation index’ was devleoped, which helped combine the interests of all actors(from Extracted KFS 3_ How the problem was overcome).
– Economic analysis of the catalogue of measures was carried out (from Extracted KFS
3_ How the problem was overcome).
– A ‘Benefit Transfer’ approach was taken (Thiele & Wronka, 2002)** (from Extracted
KFS 3_ How the problem was overcome).

6. Data management in a GIS-based information system
The administration and storage of all project-relevant data was realized within the scopeof a specially developed space-related information system, constituting the system framework of the decision support system. (Schumann et al. 2005)*

IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability63

5 – PRACTICAL examples

Facts
7. Decision support system

Ref. to KFS

The decision support system was developed with a view to supporting decision-makers inbalancing, comparing and assessing different combinations of measures in terms of alternative suggestions for an action programme to improve the ecological state. The decision
support system provides a decentralized application option, to allow usage by varied stakeholders and promote public participation. (Schumann et al. 2005)**

Schumann, A., J. Dietrich, P. Podraza, D. Borchardt, I. Michels & Petschow, U. (2005): Integration ökologischer, hydrolo­gischer, siedlungswasserwirtschaftlicher, sozio-ökonomischer und entscheidungstheoretischer Aspekte in das Flussgebietsmanagement am Beispiel der Werra. Limnologie
aktuell, Bd. 11, 221-235, E. Schweizerbart’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, Stuttgart. (Integration of ecological, hydrologic, sanitary engineering, socioeconomic and decision-theoretical aspects into river basin management using the example of the Werra river).
** Thiele, H. D. and T. C. Wronka (2002), ‘Umweltgüter und ihre Bewertung’. Zeitschrift für Umweltpolitik & Umweltrecht 3, pp. 405-414.

Fig. 5.1.4 IWRM spiral of Werra River

64 IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability

5.1.2 Extracted Key for Success (Werra river basin)(1) Extracted Key for Success[ Title ]The European Water Framework Directive (EU-WFD)[ Situation ]New demands on water management planning for river basins as a result of the EU Water Framework Directive valid since 22.12.2000. In addition to the already integrative aim of achieving a good ecological conditionof streams, the required combined approach of emission and emission observations, the demands made on
a socio-economic assessment of measures (especially regarding possible exceptions) or the explicitly statedpublic participation set a number of framework conditions, which are only to be considered in an interdisciplinary manner.
[ Problem ]Attaining a good status for the water bodies comprises ecological as well as economical, physical, hydrologicaland morphological aspects.
[ How the problem was overcome ]Main focus on the hydromorphological impairments and the material balance.
 preparation of a catalogue of measures.
[ The key ]It is advisable to prepare an institutional framework to aggregate experience and knowledge obtained throughconstruction/improvement or operation/maintenance of infrastructure in and out of the basin.
Establish national principles such as policies and strategies on managing environmental sustainability.
[3.3.2.3] Formal coordinating body
Prepare a formal coordinating body and clearly indicate roles and responsibilities in the river basin (e.g. a river
basin committee).
[3.5.1.1] National principles for environmental sustainability
Contribute to development and revision of national principles, policies and strategies on managing environmental sustainability.
[ Conditions and limitations in applying the KFS ][ Ideas for enhancing the applicability of the KFS ]IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability65

5 – PRACTICAL examples(2) Extracted Key for Success[ Title ]Balance of material[ Situation ]It was mainly a matter of nitrogen and phosphorus emissions from point and diffuse sources.
[ Problem ]– The continuous load from diffuse sources into the river basin is difficult to detect precisely. It is influenced
by the rainfall pattern because of the immobilization of bonded phosphorus and erosion.
– Modest use of fertilizer by the farmers.
[ How the problem was overcome ]– The SWAT (Soil & Water Assessment Tool) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). (http://swatmodel.tamu.edu/)– Guidelines for efficient environmental crop production.
– Detect main point sources (sewage treatment plans) and enhance them to achieve the thresholds.
[ The key ]It is important to harmonize related plans including those from outside the water sector.
Identify roles and responsibilities of each relevant sector and stakeholders in each proposed plan and obtainagreements from the sectors.
[3.2.2.2] Harmonizing the related plans
Harmonize related plans including those from outside the water sector.
[3.3.1.1] Roles and responsibilities
Identify the roles and responsibilities of each relevant sector and stakeholders in each proposed plan, andobtain agreements from the sectors.
[ Conditions and limitations in applying the KFS ][ Ideas for enhancing the applicability of the KFS ]66 IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability

(3) Extracted Key for Success[ Title ]Cost-benefit analysis[ Situation ]Manifold uses of the river water and the river itself requires an indepth analysis of benefits and costs.
[ Problem ]– Identification of the water users and their interest on the outcome of river management.
– Analysis of the economic benefit of the interests, but economic evaluation of benefits of the different
measures was often not practical (high financial and temporal efforts).
[ How the problem was overcome ]– A decision support system was implemented in the project.
– A ‘cooperation index’ was developed, which helped combine the interests of all actors.
– Economic analysis of the catalogue of measures.
– A ‘Benefit Transfer’ approach. (Thiele & Wronka 2002)*[ The key ]Set priorities among problems to be solved, taking into account such constraints as time and funds.
Develop technology that fully reflects local conditions.
Develop alternative environmental sustainability management plans.
Secure financial resources for environmental coordination in order to promote IWRM in the basin.
[3.1.4.2] Technology transfer and development
Transfer and adaptation of best management of environmental sustainability practice with regard to reflecting
local conditions.
[3.2.2.3] Harmonizing multiple objectives for water management
Harmonize multiple objectives taking into account the appropriate balance among water-related sectors in
the whole basin.
[3.2.3.1] Alternative plans
Develop alternative environmental management plans that balance water resources, management objectives
and environmental objectives.
[3.5.2.2] Defining roles and responsability
Define roles and responsibilities of river basin management entities for the management of environmental
sustainability.
[ Conditions and limitations in applying the KFS ][ Ideas for enhancing the applicability of the KFS ]*Thiele, H. D. and T. C. Wronka (2002), ‘Umweltgüter und ihre Bewertung’. Zeitschrift für Umweltpolitik & Umweltrecht 3, pp. 405-414.

IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability67

5 – PRACTICAL examples

5.2 Citarum river basin (Indonesia)
5.2.1 Case Story (Citarum river basin)
Facts
1. BackgroundRef. to KFS

Citarum River Basin,West Java, Indonesia is one of the most strategic rivers in Indonesia. It
covers an area of 13,000 sq km and is home to 17 million people. The basin supplies 80%of the capital’s (Jakarta) water needs, providing irrigation for 390,000 ha and generating
1,400 MW of electricity. Deteriorating infrastructures, competing water demands, rapid
urban and industrial growth, and inadequate institutional capacity have led to water supply
shortages and unhealthy environmental conditions within the entire basin.

Fig. 5.2.1 Citarum River Basin
Citarum river originates from mount Wayang (elevation 2,198 metres a.s.l.) south of Bandung the capital city of West Java Province. From a total of 270 km, the first 25 km confluence follows a steep slope before reaching the central portion of the river for about
150 km starting at Bandung. The river meanders for the last 70 km across an alluvial plain
before reaching the Java Sea. The average annual precipitation in the region is 2,400 mm,
where the upper catchment receives the heaviest rainfall, exceeding 4,000 mm annually.
The basin covers nine districts and two cities with a total population of 17.8 million in
2003, of which 30% work in agriculture, 25% in industry and 45% in the service industry.
The population is projected to rise to 21.3 million by 2010.
In 2006, a strategic environmental management plan (EMP) was prepared in parallel with,and as an integral part of, the basin road map formulation. Programme interventions covered: (i) remediating existing environmental problems and enhancing environmental quality,(ii) strengthening environmental management capacity, and (iii) mitigating possible adverse
impacts.
The basin road map was prepared with the sustainable management of water resources for
economic and social development as the principal goal.The immediate objective was to improvewater availability and quality for integrated and participatory water resources management.

68 IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability

FactsRef. to KFS

Fig. 5.2.2 Wayang Mount
2. Physical condition
There are three major dams as cascade reservoirs in the river: Saguling dam at the vicinityof Bandung city; Cirata sdam situated in the middle, and; Jatiluhur dam in the lower part.
The first two dams mainly generate power whereas Jatiluhur dam is a multipurpose damdelivering water through three main canals namely West, North and East Tarum canals.
This is a key rice producing area in the country.There are a total of 390,000 ha of irrigatedpaddy fields, of which a total of 240,000 ha is served by the Jatiluhur reservoir. The basin
serves two major and heavily populated and urbanized cities. These are Bekasi, a satellite
city of Jakarta, and Bandung, the capital city of West Java province. Industrial locations are
generally interwoven with settlements and clustered along the expressway corridor linking
Jakarta and Bandung.

Fig. 5.2.3 Location of major dams and Citarum River BasinIWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability69

5 – PRACTICAL examples

Facts
3. Environmental management frameworks

Ref. to KFS

An innovative cooperation-based approach to industrial pollution control had been conducted in the late 1980s.The Clean River Program showed big promise but apparently has
not been sustained in the basin and throughout the country due to a change of government in 1998, among other things. An update of the environmental management framework (EMF) was conducted in 2006 with the environmental management plan (EMP) basedon the environmental management framework in 2006.
Three sets of environmental management activities were discussed during the update of
EMF with related stakeholders:• Remediation or amelioration of adverse water related environmental conditions.
• Capacity development in environmental management.
• Mitigation measures to address some potentially adverse impacts resulting mainly fromthe water utilization programme’s key area.

Fig. 5.2.4 Development plan within Citarum Integrated River Basin
4. Capacity development for environmental management
The identified needs for capacity development resulting from a diagnostic of the current
capacities of the various agencies involved will be implemented gradually from 2010 to2014 as part of the IWRM roadmap activities. This will be carried out in parallel with theestablishment of the water council and institutional reform.
Improved Basin Management Organization
To address current institutional arrangements characterized by highly sectoral divisions ofwork and a lack of coordination.

70 IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability

FactsRef. to KFS
Improvement of a Regulatory and Enforcement System
With weak and fragmented regulatory and authority systems, the government turned
towards a cooperation approach to deal with the pollution problems.The programme wasonly limited to big polluters.
New management strategies (raw water and wastewater charges)
Utilizing economic instruments and other forms of incentives and disincentives in order toinduce voluntary restraint on water use and wastewater disposal.
Water Quality Monitoring
Water quality is the key indicator of IWRM effectiveness and sustainability. Therefore­quality monitoring is expanded to address policy and planning needs specifically for areawide water quality management.
These not only include industries but also various diffuse and unregulated sources.
Environmental Impact Mitigation and Monitoring Measures
Establishing modeling for a decision support system in mitigation and monitoring measures.

5.The case story
The pattern of urbanization in the region is clustered along a rapidly urbanizing corridor
defined by a expressway connecting Jakarta and Bandung established in 2004. It is predicted that urbanization will continue its expansion toward the upper catchments. This
aspect has significant impact on the water supply since domestic water supply passes along
the same corridor through West Tarum Canal. Settlements and industrial establishments
are intrusive and will consequently threaten both water quality and water supply security.
Poor surface water supply services force households and industries to extract water fromgroundwater sources. Actual extraction is believed to be above the official records. The
lowering of the groundwater level is reported to be up to 5 metres per year.
In the downstream,West Tarum canal supplies 80% of Jakarta’s raw water supply and henceis vital to the well-being of 8 million inhabitants. Reduction of conveyance capacity is due
to both sediment deposits and the prolific growth of aquatic plants. These plants trap silt
and accelerate the shallowing of the canal. A programme priority is to manage the overuseof groundwater resources with the development of surface water to replace groundwater,in particular to address industry’s over-dependence on groundwater. This is planned forthe period 2012–2016.
In terms of water quality, the combination of untreated domestic sewage, solid waste disposal and industrial effluent have significantly increased pollution loads in the Citarum. In
the late 1990s, river effluent in the upper basin from Bandung vicinity flowed into Sagulingreservoir with an average annual BOD concentration as high as 300mg/l.

KFS5.2.2(1)
KFS5.2 (1)KFS5.2.2(2)

Control measures successfully reduced the BOD load to 200 mg/l by year in 2000, andfurther reduced up to 55 mg/l in subsequent years. However, BOD concentration remains
as high as 130 mg/l during the dry season.

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5 – PRACTICAL examples

Facts
Ref. to KFS
As a result, emphasis has been placed on multi-stakeholder participation that includes
developing management schemes that combine the use of regulatory methods (commandand-control), cooperation and market oriented instruments (raw water fees and pollution
charges).
Moreover, the lack of proper solid waste management contributes to both pollution andflooding. In 2004, average daily solid waste generation was 6,500 m3/day, of which an estimated 1,500 m3/day was not collected and properly disposed. The annual uncollected garbage accumulating in the drainage system in rivers amounts to 500,000 m3. The estimatedinflow of solid waste into the reservoir is 250,000 m3 per year. In areas with high industrial
density, there is a need for more targeted pollution reduction planning, scheduled for theperiod 2010–2014. Managing pollution from these industries needs to address toxic pollutant discharges.

KFS5.2.2(3)

In the upper part of Citarum, hilly-land farming is extensive for planting vegetables andannual crops, which do not provide adequate protection against soil erosion. In fact, uplandfarming areas increased from 6,000 ha in 1992 to 37,000 ha in 2001 at the expense of forest areas.The forested area has declined with only 10.2% remaining of the total area, mostof which is in fragmented condition further reducing ecosystem viability making the areas
vulnerable to encroachment.
Watershed erosion is a serious problem especially in the upper river basin. The annual
sediment flow was estimated to be upwards of 8 million m3 at Saguling reservoir, which isequivalent to an erosion rate of 3 mm per year. The sediment load is also deposited in thecanal bed resuting in a reduction of canal capacity.

KFS5.2.2(4)

Flooding has become more frequent and severe in Bandung area. The problem is due
to many reasons: (i) watershed degradation, (ii) straightening of river course resulting inhigher peak flows downstream, (iii) land subsidence due to the over-extraction of groundwater, (iv) excessive garbage clogging the channels.
Watershed management, which started with piloting in the Citarik sub-catchment in the
1990s and will be upscaled during the period 2010–2014, is principally based on the needto rehabilitate the upper catchments in order to abate adverse effects on basin water supply and water quality.

72 IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability

Fig. 5.2.5 IWRM Spiral of Citarum River BasinIWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability73

5 – PRACTICAL examples

5.2.2 Extracted Key for Success (Citarum River Basin)(1) Extracted Key for Success[ Title ]Remediation Measures
Groundwater management[ Situation ]– Poor services of surface water supply forces households and industries to extract water from ground­water. Actual extraction is believed to be above the official records.The lowering of the groundwater levelis reported to be up to 5 metres per year.
– The pattern of urbanization in the region is clustered along a rapidly urbanizing corridor defined by theexpressway connecting Jakarta and Bandung. It is predicted that urbanization will continue its expansion
toward the upper catchments.This aspect has significant impact on the water supply since domestic watersupply passes along the same corridor through West Tarum Canal. Settlements and industrial establishment
are intruding and will consequently threaten both water quality and water supply security.
[ Problem ]In the downstream, West Tarum canal supplies 80% of Jakarta’s raw water supply and hence is vital to thewell-being of 8 million inhabitants. Reduction of conveyance capacity is due to both sediment deposits and theprolific growth of aquatic plants. These plants trap silt and accelerate canal shallowing.
[ How the problem was overcome ]The programme priority for managing the over-used groundwater resources involves the development of
surface water to replace groundwater, in particular to address industry’s over-dependence on groundwater.
[ The key ]Water supply options and improved groundwater management are needed to reverse the dependence ongroundwater resources as a primary source of water by developing surface water supply options.This requires
proper institutional instruments such as pricing and incentives that will support the switch from groundwaterto surface water.
[3.5.2.1] Revising institutional frameworks
Revise the corresponding institutional guidelines and design procedures, that are consistent with national policies and strategies for sustainable development.
[ Conditions and limitations in applying the KFS ]Development of strategies and an action plan for improved effectiveness of regulation of groundwater use,
including recommendations for changes to the existing regulatory framework.
Establishment of, and ongoing support for, a stakeholder forum.
[ Ideas for enhancing the applicability of the KFS ]Rehabilitation of West Tarum canal for quality groundwater recharge.
Improvement in groundwater pricing and licensing regulation.
Stakeholder forum for Bandung sub-Basin under Citarum Basin Water Resources Council.

74 IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability

(2) Extracted Key for Success[ Title ]Basin-wide Water Quality management[ Situation ]In terms of water quality, the combination of untreated domestic sewage, solid waste disposal and industrial
effluent have significantly increased pollution loads in the Citarum. In the upper basin, river effluent from
Bandung vicinity flows into Saguling reservoir and in the late 1990s had an average annual BOD concentration
as high as 300mg/l.
[ Problem ]Control measures successfully reduced the BOD load to 200 mg/l by year 2000, which was further reduced
up to 55 mg/l in subsequent years. However, BOD concentration still remains as high as 130 mg/l during thedry season.
[ How the problem was overcome ]As a result, emphasis has been placed on multi-stakeholder participation that includes developing management schemes that combine the use of regulatory methods (command-and-­control), cooperation and market
oriented instruments (raw water fees and pollution charges).
[ The key ]Development and implementation of a basin river quality improvement strategy and action plans is required,along with effective monitoring and reporting mechanisms. In addition, information exchange among theimplementing agencies and other basin stakeholders, including communities, civil society organizations (CSOs)
and the private sector, will improve overall performance and minimize wasted effort caused by overlaps inwater quality improvements.
[3.2.3.2] Environmental assessment
Conduct environmental impact analysis in the draft plans for assessing environmental impacts, and environmental benefit analysis to evaluate social and economic impacts.
[3.3.2.1] Stakeholder participation
Prepare a framework for stakeholder participation to build consensus among stakeholders.
[3.3.2.3] Formal coordinating body
Prepare a formal coordinating body with clearly indicated roles and responsibilities in the river basin (e.g. ariver basin committee).
[ Conditions and limitations in applying the KFS ]Policies and procedures for water quality management.
Development of organizational capacity.
[ Ideas for enhancing the applicability of the KFS ]Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (3R) facilities.
Individual biogas generation plants.
Improved solid waste management in Bandung, Bekasi, Cikarang and Karawang.

IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability75

5 – PRACTICAL examples(3) Extracted Key for Success[ Title ]Area pollution sources management[ Situation ]Moreover, lack of proper solid waste management contributes to both pollution and flooding. Average dailysolid waste generation is 6,500 m3/day, of which an estimated 1,500 m3/day is neither collected nor properly
disposed of.
[ Problem ]The annual uncollected garbage accumulating in the drainage system in rivers amounts to 500,000 m3. The
estimated inflow of solid waste into the reservoir is 250,000 m3 per year.
[ How the problem was overcome ]In areas with high industrial density, there is a need for more targeted pollution reduction planning. Managing
pollution from these industries needs to address toxic pollutant discharges.
[ The key ]Preparation and implementation of Area-Based pollution sources management is required to implement specific action plans for pollution source management throughout the basin in places such as Bandung, Bekasi andother highly urbanized areas. The overall objective is to improve water quality within the Citarum River Basin(CRB) through strong coordination among sectors. Main immediate objectives are:(i) To have a sound and comprehensive water quality database upon which planning, policy and operational
decisions can be based (with respect to water management).
(ii) To have appropriate and effective policies and procedures in place for water quality management.
(iii) To make measurable improvements in key water quality parameters across the basin.
[3.1.2.1] Identification of actual and future priority area
Identify actual and future priority areas (critical locations and key issues) as well as objectives for sound management of environmental sustainability within the context of IWRM in a river basin.
[3.2.1.3] Identifying available information and additional needed data
Identify available information and make good use of existing information[3.5.1.1] National principles for environmental sustainability
Contribute to the development and revision of national principles, policies and strategies for managing environmental sustainability.
[ Conditions and limitations in applying the KFS ]Public awareness and understanding of the community in terms of solid waste management.
Lack of sanitation and wastewater treatment facilities.
[ Ideas for enhancing the applicability of the KFS ]Low cost of water treatment technology.
Provision of sanitation facilities.
Conduct pollution sources inventories and pollution load assessment in key water quality management area
(prioritize Bandung and Bekasi).
Capacity-building.

76 IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability

(4) Extracted Key for Success[ Title ]Rehabilitation of Degraded Watersheds[ Situation ]– The pattern of urbanization in the region is clustered along a rapidly urbanizing corridor defined by theexpressway connecting Jakarta and Bandung. It is predicted that urbanization will continue its expansion
towards the upper catchments. This aspect has a significant impact on the water supply since domestic
water supply passes along the same corridor through West Tarum Canal. Settlements and industrial establishment are intruding and will consequently threaten both water quality and water supply security.
– In the upper-part of Citarum, hilly-land farming is extensive for planting vegetables and annual crops, which
do not provide adequate protection against soil erosion. In fact, upland farming areas increased from
6,000 ha in 1992 to 37,000 ha in 2001 at the expense of forest areas. The forested area has declined with
only 10.2% remaining of the total area, most of which is in fragmented condition further reducing ecosystem viability making the areas vulnerable to encroachment.
–	Flooding has become more frequent and severe in Bandung area. The problem is due to many reasons:(i) watershed degradation, (ii) straightening of river course, resulting in higher peak flows downstream, (iii)
land subsidence due to the over-extraction of groundwater, (iv) excessive garbage clogging the channels.
[ Problem ]Watershed erosion is a serious problem especially in the upper river basin. The annual sediment flow was
estimated upwards to 8 million m3 at Saguling reservoir, which is equivalent to an erosion rate of 3 mm per
year. The sediment load is also deposited in the canal bed and resulted in a reduction of canal capacity.
[ How the problem was overcome ]Watershed management is principally based on the need to rehabilitate the upper catchments in order toabate adverse effects on basin water supply and water quality.
[ The key ]Objectives of watershed management and biodiversity conservation are to:(i) Conserve the unique internationally important biological diversity found in remnant patches of the WestJava Montane Forest type in CRB.
(ii) Establish protocols and models of best conservation management design and practice in an IndonesianModel National Park and a variety of other protected area (PA) types, and leverage these practices toother Indonesian PAs.
(iii) Reduce threats to biodiversity values in PAs and surrounding landscapes in CRB.
(iv) Achieve effective community based conservation management in both PAs and strategic parts of the
production landscapes.
(v) Achieve improved environmental and biodiversity stewardship in CRB by local communities.
[3.1.2.2] Assessing the long-term environmental changes in the basin
Identify the effects on the river, lake and estuary ecology associated with various changes in the river basin.
[ Conditions and limitations in applying the KFS ]Gain multi-stakeholder acceptance for reforestation on a spatial plan brokered by a water resources council,
as well as allowing for broad public scrutiny.
Village actions plans for reforestation.
[ Ideas for enhancing the applicability of the KFS ]Land Rehabilitation.
Alternative livelihoods for displaced upland forest villagers.
Land rehabilitation.
Conservation and reforestation.

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5 – PRACTICAL examples

5.3 Bermejo river basin (Argentina)
5.3.1 Case Story (Bermejo river Basin)
Facts
1. BackgroundRef. to KFS

The Bermejo River Basin in southern South America extends over some 123,000 km2 andoriginates in the Andes mountains of northwestern Argentina and southern Bolivia. The
population is estimated at 1.2 million, the majority being rural workers, small farmers andindigenous communities, with the lowest levels of income, education and sanitary conditions.
The river, which flows some 1,300 km, links two major geographic features: the Andean
Cordillera and the Paraguay-Paraná rivers. It is the only river that completely crosses thehuge expanse of the Chaco Plains, acting as a corridor for the connection of biotic elements of both the Andean mountains and the Chaco Plains. Radically differing weather andtopographic conditions in the large basin support an array of rainforests, humid valleys, andmountain deserts in the Upper Basin, and dry forests as well as humid and gallery forestsin the Lower Basin. There is exceptional habitat diversity along the watercourse.
The basin has a history of ‘extractive’ exploitation of forests, which has resulted in diminishedbiodiversity and impoverished natural resources. Clearing of land for cultivation andwidespread overgrazing has created problems of erosion and desertification, aggravating
sediment mobilization that has contributed to downstream environmental degradation.
Sediment loadings in the Bermejo waters are some of the highest in the world (8 kg/m3).
Total discharge of sediment is in the order of 100 million tons/year. The amount of sediment deposited along the course of the Lower Basin during floods regularly changes thecourse of the river, impeding a rational use of water and land resources.
Water quality protection and restoration is also a growing concern as the Bermejo region
develops. In the Bolivian section of the Upper Basin, where water-quality deterioration
problems appear to be localized, 68% of the surveyed sites suffered restrictions due tobacteriological contamination.

Fig. 5.3.1 Bermejo River Basin

78 IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability

Facts
2. Formulation of Strategic Action Program (SAP)In 1995, the governments of Argentina and Bolivia created the Binational Commission for
the Upper Bermejo and Grande de Tarija River Basins as a permanent legal and technicalmechanism responsible for managing those river basins, sought to achieve the sustainable
development of its area of influence, optimize the use of its natural resources, generate
employment, attract investment, and provide for rational and equitable use of its water
resources.

Ref. to KFS

KFS5.3.2(1)

In the same year, the Binational Commission requested assistance from the Global
Environment Facility (GEF) for the preparation of a water resources management
programme in the watershed. This assistance helped with the preparation of a project
proposal for the formulation of a Strategic Action Program (SAP) seeking to solve thepriority transboundary environmental problems affecting the basin.
A Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) and the preparation of the SAP were carriedout between 1997 and 2000 comprising the identification of priority transboundary environmental concerns and related sectoral issues, the implementation of pilot demonstration projects to assess the feasibility and relative costs of specific remedial measures, andthe establishment of a comprehensive public participation and consultation process for theplanning and implementation of development projects in the basin.
Six transboundary priority areas for ecosystem level conservation, rehabilitation andpreservation were identified in the TDA: (1) soil degradation, primarily due to erosionand desertification processes; (2) water scarcity and availability restrictions; (3) water
degradation; (4) habitat and biodiversity losses and deterioration of terrestrial and aquatic
biotic resources; (5) losses due to flood-related and other natural hazard events; and,(6) deterioration of quality of life in the basin population and loss of cultural resources.
These issues are endemic throughout the basin and most have both a natural and ananthropogenic component.
Put forward by both governments, the SAP represents a comprehensive 20-year, US$470
million proposal envisioned by basin stakeholders as a long-term action plan designed
not only to address the root causes of the critical environmental degradation processes
affecting the basin, but also to promote the sustainable development of basin communities.
The programme leading towards sustainable development is composed of 136 projects
to be implemented in a 20-year period. More than 70% of the foreseen investment
corresponds to water resource development projects, mainly structures for irrigation anddrinking water supply, reflecting a long-awaited aspiration of the basin communities. The
strengthening of basin institutions, the building of agency and organizational capacity, andthe integration of environmental concerns into economic development activities are also
key elements of the programme.

KFS5.3.2(2)

KFS5.3.2(3)

3. High priority actions of Strategic Action Program (SAP)
To help lay the groundwork and initiate the implementation process, a small number ofhigh priority actions were selected from each programme component, and subsequently
approved for GEF financing.

KFS5.3.2(4)

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5 – PRACTICAL examples

Facts
Actions were grouped in four categories as follows:

Ref. to KFS(1) Environmental prevention, protection and rehabilitation
The activities programmed for this component deal with soil management and erosion
control, the consolidation of protected areas, the protection of biodiversity, basic natural
resource studies, and the maintenance of the quality of the basin’s water resources.
Actions undertaken, including engineering works, equipment and training, has brought more
and better infrastructure, capacity and information for the control of erosion, retention of
sediments, consolidation of riverbeds and prevention of floods. Water channels for drinking and irrigation have been extended in selected areas. Through a focus on watershedmanagement, including training in water and soil management techniques, these actions
have provided production alternatives and improved health conditions in impoverishedcommunities, and helped reduce soil erosion in critical areas.

KFS5.3.2(5)

Integrated, community-based units have been created to serve the ecotourism market,
helping to establish buffer zones and environmental corridors to reduce human impacts
on areas of significant habitat value. Sustainable and cost-effective sanitation strategies
have been successfully implemented with high local impact and replication potential. A binational hydrometeorological network has been implemented, including specialized equipment in provincial laboratories, that allow for precise quantification and monitoring ofwater quality, quantity and sediment loads.
Specific actions taken under this component are:(a) Structural and nonstructural measures for soil conservation and erosion control in
selected critical areas of the basin, such as construction of soil and gabion dikes; introduction, dissemination and training in sustainable agroforestry and cattle-raising management
practices; implementation of a bi-national environmental information system and monitoring network; implementation of small-scale irrigation works and regeneration of vegetative cover and erosion control; and introduction of sustainable production practices andapplication of techniques for the protection, conservation, management, and rehabilitationof natural habitats.
(b) Restoration of water quality in watercourses along pre-established critical stretches,
including wastewater pilot treatment plants; wastewater drainage networks; water collection systems; and an integrated waste management system implemented with the active
participation of local communities; equipment and training to strengthen water quality monitoring capacity in provincial water agencies; and bi-national site assessments conducted toanalyse the physical, chemical and biological parameters of water and sediments.
(c) Protection of biodiversity, including implementation of alternative management plans
for reserves; a comprehensive biodiversity study for the Upper Bermejo Basin, and a study
for the evaluation of sub-Andean rangelands in the Central Valley of Tarija.
(2) Sustainable development of natural resources
This component is aimed to encourage the adoption of alternative production modes thatare environmentally friendly or at least minimizes environmental degradation, providing
at the same time greater economic opportunities for the local population in a context ofintegrated management of water resources and planning for the basin as a whole. The initial action under this component was to formulate an integrated management programme
for the basin’s water resources, which draws upon – and at the same time establishes – aregional framework for the execution of the remaining activities.

KFS5.3.2(6)80 IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability

FactsRef. to KFS
Progress to date includes technological packages for soil and water management designed
and implemented in irrigated areas and marginal zones; optimizing soil and water use;
increasing crop productivity and controlling soil erosion; implementation of a native forest
nursery; technical assistance and implementation of sustainable practices for cattle-raising,forest exploitation, soil and water management; introduction of alternative production
in several locations, including small-scale industries and artisanship; and introduction ofsound agro-silvo-pastoral systems and sustainable management practices in indigenous
communities(3) Institutional development and strengthening
Activities undertaken within this component addressed weaknesses within the current
organizational base that hinder the effective, holistic management of the water resourcesof the Bermejo River Basin. This will ensure the institutional capacity to implement the
new laws, regulations, and procedures necessary for sustainable watershed management,
to increase participation in decision-making within the basin, and to enhance and underpin
the ability of the Bi-national Commission not only to carry out its current mandate but
also to assume additional responsibilities relating to information-sharing and coordination
among stakeholders.
(4) Public awareness and participation.
The SAP identified the need for environmental education programmes as a key elementin support of sustainable programmes for protecting and rehabilitating the environment
and promoting economic development. This activity continues and extends its focus tothis community throughout the Bermejo Basin. It also contributes to the development
and distribution of curricula and materials for use in training teachers, and includes community and private sector initiatives in the scope of education programming. One elementof this activity is specifically designed to improve educational opportunities in the mostvulnerable communities. The results of this activity saw an increase of awareness amongcommunities in the basin as well as a better understanding of ways to improve their living
standards and bring about positive environmental change at the local level. The output of
the activity includes the preparation of appropriate curricula at the different educational
levels, publicity materials for promoting public awareness, and materials and manuals foruse in teaching and teacher training.

KFS5.3.2(7)

The development of the SAP was the outcome of a highly transparent, public interaction
process that identified community-based mechanisms for the protection of the water
resources of this river system. The public was not only consulted throughout the SAP
formulation process but actively participated in it. The effort involved work by community
level organizations, non-governmental institutions, official local, state and federal agencies,
and the private sector.

References
This case story has been prepared on the basis of the following publications:
Strategic Action Program for the Binational Basin of the Bermejo River, Executive Summary.
http://www.oas.org/DSD/PDF_files/Bermejoeng.PDF (Accessed 8 July 2010)

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5 – PRACTICAL examples

Facts
Ref. to KFS
Organization of American States, Office for Sustainable Development & Environment, Bermejo river basin, (October 2005), Implementation of the Strategic Action Program for the Binational Basin of the Bermejo River,Water Project Series, Number 1
http://www.oas.org/dsd/Events/english/Documents/OSDE_1Bermejo.pdf (Accessed 8 July2010)

Fig. 5.3.2: IWRM spiral of Bermejo River Basin

82 IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability

5.3.2 Extracted Key for Success (Bermejo River Basin)(1) Extracted Key for Success[ Title ]Establish a formal coordinating body in the river basin (e.g. a river basin committee).
[ Situation ]Weaknesses within the current organizational base hinder the effective, holistic management of the water
resources of the Bermejo River Basin.
[ Problem ]The governments of Argentina and Bolivia aimed to achieve the sustainable development of the area ofinfluence of the Upper Bermejo and Grande de Tarija River Basins, optimize the use of its natural resources,
generate employment, attract investment, and provide for rational and equitable use of its water resources.
[ How the problem was overcome ]In 1995, the governments of Argentina and Bolivia created the Bi-national Commission for the Upper Bermejo
and Grande de Tarija River Basins as a permanent legal and technical mechanism responsible for managing theriver basins.
[ The key ]In the same year, the Bi-national Commission requested assistance from the Global Environment Facility(GEF) for the preparation of a water resources management programme in the watershed. This assistancehelped with the preparation of a project proposal for the formulation of a Strategic Action Program (SAP)
seeking to solve the priority transboundary environmental problems affecting the basin.
[3.3.2.3] Formal coordinating body
Prepare a formal coordinating body and clearly indicate roles and responsibilities in the river basin (e.g. a river
basin committee).
[ Conditions and limitations in applying the KFS ][ Ideas for enhancing the applicability of the KFS ]IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability83

5 – PRACTICAL examples(2) Extracted Key for Success[ Title ]Identify key needs in potential priority areas (critical locations and key issues) for IWRM implementation in
the basin. Identify the ecosystem management objectives.
[ Situation ]Six transboundary priority areas for ecosystem level conservation, rehabilitation and preservation were identified in the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA).
[ Problem ]Issues addressed: (1) soil degradation, primarily due to erosion and desertification processes, (2) water scarcity and availability restrictions, (3) water degradation, (4) habitat and biodiversity losses and deteriorationof terrestrial and aquatic biotic resources, (5) losses due to flood-related and other natural hazard events,and (6) deterioration of quality of life in the basin population and loss of cultural resources. These issues areendemic throughout the basin and most have both a natural and an anthropogenic component.
[ How the problem was overcome ]The formulation of a Strategic Action Program (SAP) seeking to solve the priority transboundary environmental problems affecting the basin.The SAP represents a comprehensive proposal envisioned by basin stakeholders as a long-term action plan designed not only to address the root causes of the critical environmental degradation processes affecting the basin but also to promote the sustainable development of basin communities.
The programme leading towards sustainable development is composed of 136 projects to be implemented
in a 20-year period. More than 70% of the foreseen investment corresponds to water resource development
projects, mainly structures for irrigation and drinking-water supply, reflecting a long-awaited aspiration of thebasin communities. The strengthening of basin institutions, the building of agency and organizational capacity,and the integration of environmental concerns into economic development activities are also key elementsof the programme.
[ The key ]The development of the SAP was the outcome of a highly transparent, public interaction process that has
identified community-based mechanisms for the protection of water resources in this river system. The public was not only consulted throughout the SAP formulation process but actively participated in it. The effort
involved work by community level organizations, non-governmental institutions, official local, state and federal
agencies, and the private sector.
[3.1.3.1] Public awareness, transparency and accountability
Share information on the status of the environment in the river basin with other sectors and stakeholders.
[3.3.2.1] Stakeholder participation
Prepare a framework for stakeholder participation to build consensus among stakeholders.
[ Conditions and limitations in applying the KFS ][ Ideas for enhancing the applicability of the KFS ]84 IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability

(3) Extracted Key for Success[ Title ]Develop alternative environment management plans[ Situation ]A comprehensive Strategic Action Program (SAP) was put forward by the governments of Argentina andBolivia.
[ Problem ]The SAP represents a US$470 million proposal envisioned by basin stakeholders as a long-term action plan
designed not only to address the root causes of the critical environmental degradation processes affecting thebasin, but also to promote the sustainable development of basin communities.
[ How the problem was overcome ]The programme leading towards sustainable development is composed of 136 projects to be implemented
in a 20-year period. More than 70% of the foreseen investment corresponds to water resource development
projects, mainly structures for irrigation and drinking-water supply, reflecting a long-awaited aspiration of thebasin communities. The strengthening of basin institutions, the building of agency and organizational capacity,and the integration of environmental concerns into economic development activities are also key elementsof the programme.
[ The key ]The development of the SAP was the outcome of a highly transparent, public interaction process that identified community-based mechanisms for the protection of water resources in this river system. The public was
not only consulted throughout the SAP formulation process, but actively participated in it.The effort involved
work by community level organizations, non-governmental institutions, official local, state and federal agencies,
and the private sector.
[3.1.3.1] Public awareness, transparency and accountability
Share information on the status of the environment in the river basin with other sectors and stakeholders.
[3.3.2.1] Stakeholder participation
Prepare a framework for stakeholder participation to build consensus among stakeholders.
[ Conditions and limitations in applying the KFS ][ Ideas for enhancing the applicability of the KFS ]IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability85

5 – PRACTICAL examples(4) Extracted Key for Success[ Title ]Implement basin management plans in an integrated manner.
[ Situation ]The Strategic Action Program (SAP) is an action plan designed to address the root causes of the critical environmental degradation processes affecting the basin as well as to promote the sustainable development ofbasin communities.
[ Problem ]The programme leading towards sustainable development is to be implemented in a 20-year period. Morethan 70% of the foreseen investment corresponds to water resource development projects.The strengtheningof basin institutions, the building of agency and organizational capacity, and the integration of environmental
concerns into economic development activities are also key elements of the programme.
[ How the problem was overcome ]To help lay the groundwork and initiate the implementation process, a small number of high priority actions
were selected from each programme component.Actions were grouped into four categories: (1) environmental protection and rehabilitation, (2) sustainable development of natural resources, (3) institutional development and strengthening, and (4) public awareness and participation.
[ The key ]To implement water resource development projects together with the strengthening of basin institutions andthe integration of environmental concerns into economic development activities.
[3.4.1.1] Coordination scheme
Confirm the coordination scheme established for planning, and share information among stakeholders.
[ Conditions and limitations in applying the KFS ][ Ideas for enhancing the applicability of the KFS ]86 IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability

(5) Extracted Key for Success[ Title ]Recognize status of environment of the river basin. What needs fixing?
[ Situation ]Sediment loadings in the Bermejo waters are some of the highest in the world (8 kg/m3). Total discharge of
sediment is of the order of 100 million tons/year. Water quality protection and restoration is also a growing
concern as the Bermejo region develops.
[ Problem ]The amount of sediment deposited along the course of the Lower Basin during floods regularly changes thecourse of the river, impeding a rational use of water and land resources. In the Bolivian section of the Upper
Basin, where water-quality deterioration problems appear to be localized, 68% of the surveyed sites had
suffered restrictions due to bacteriological contamination.
[ How the problem was overcome ]Actions undertaken, including engineering works, equipment and training, has brought more and better infrastructure, capacity and information for the control of erosion, retention of sediments, consolidation of riverbeds and the prevention of floods. With a focus on watershed management, including training in water and soil
management techniques, these actions have provided production alternatives and improved health conditionsin impoverished communities, and helped reduce soil erosion in critical areas. Sustainable and cost-effective
sanitation strategies have been successfully implemented with high local impact and replication potential. A
bi‑national hydrometeorological network has been implemented, including specialized equipment in provincial
laboratories, that allows for precise quantification and monitoring of water quality, quantity and sediment loads.
[ The key ]The focus on watershed management, which included training in water and soil management techniques, theprovision of production alternatives and improved health conditions in impoverished communities, as well as
the implementation of sustainable and cost-effective sanitation strategies.
[3.1.4.1] Promotion and development of necessary knowledge and capability
Promote capacity-building by developing the capacity of leaders and managers who can recognize problems,
find necessary solutions and implement them.
[3.1.4.2] Technology transfer and development
Transfer and adaptation of best management of environmental sustainability practice that fully reflects local
conditions.
[ Conditions and limitations in applying the KFS ][ Ideas for enhancing the applicability of the KFS ]IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability87

5 – PRACTICAL examples(6) Extracted Key for Success[ Title ]Identify the effects of changes in the basin as the effects of river, lake and estuary ecology[ Situation ]The basin has a history of ‘extractive’ exploitation of forests, which has resulted in diminished biodiversity andimpoverished natural resources.
[ Problem ]Clearing of land for cultivation and widespread overgrazing has caused a diminution of biodiversity and created problems of erosion and desertification aggravating sediment mobilization that has contributed to downstream environmental degradation.
[ How the problem was overcome ]Encouragement of the adoption of alternative production modes that are environmentally friendly or that atleast minimizes environmental degradation providing at the same time greater economic opportunities forthe local population in a context of integrated management of water resources and planning for the basin
as a whole. Progress to date includes technological packages for soil and water management designed andimplemented in irrigated areas and marginal zones; optimizing soil and water use; increasing crop productivity
and controlling soil erosion; implementation of a native forest nursery; technical assistance and implementationof sustainable practices for cattle-raising; forest exploitation; soil and water management; introduction ofalternative production in several locations, including small-scale industries and artisanship; and the introductionof sound agro-silvo-pastoral systems and sustainable management practices in indigenous communities.
[ The key ]The formulation of an integrated management programme for the basin’s water resources, which draws upon,
and at the same time establishes, a regional framework for the execution of the remaining activities.
[3.3.2.3] Formal coordinating body
Prepare a formal coordinating body and clearly indicate roles and responsibilities in the river basin (e.g.a river
basin committee).
[3.5.2.1] Revising institutional frameworks
Revise the corresponding institutional guidelines and design procedures that are consistent with national
policies and strategies for sustainable development.
[ Conditions and limitations in applying the KFS ][ Ideas for enhancing the applicability of the KFS ]88 IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability

(7) Extracted Key for Success[ Title ]Promote education of the river basin environment[ Situation ]The river basin is an appropriate unit to learn the importance as well as the complexity and difficulty of sustainable development.
[ Problem ]The Strategic Action Program (SAP) identified the need for environmental education programmes as a key
element in support of sustainable programmes for protecting and rehabilitating the environment and promoting economic development.
[ How the problem was overcome ]This activity extends the community focus throughout the Bermejo Basin. It also contributes to the development and distribution of curricula and materials for use in teacher training and includes community andprivate sector initiatives in education programming. One element of this activity is specifically designed to
improve educational opportunities in the most vulnerable communities.
[ The key ]To increase awareness among communities in the basin as well as a better understanding of ways to improvetheir living standards, and bring about positive environmental change at the local level.
[3.1.3.2] Environmental education
Promote educational activities on environmental sustainability in the river basin.
[ Conditions and limitations in applying the KFS ][ Ideas for enhancing the applicability of the KFS ]IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability89

5 – PRACTICAL examples

5.4 Murray-Darling Basin (Australia)
5.4.1 Case Story (Murray-Darling Basin)
Facts
Ref. to KFS
1. Background
The Murray-Darling Basin (MDB) is the sixth largest river basin in the world covering
1,073,000 km2. It supports a population of approximately two million, in addition to anothermillion who are externally dependent. The majority of the land is arid or semi-arid with
evaporation (mean of 1,200 mm/year) generally exceeding rainfall (mean of 450 mm/year).
KFSFlow is highly variable with annual runoff ranging from 2,500 to 40,000 GL, averaging
5.4.2
24,000 GL, of which about 11,250 GL/ year is diverted mainly for irrigation. There have(1)been no substantial flows to the sea for a number of years.The difference between inflows
and diversions is lost through evaporation and seepage. Much of the basin is also characterized by a very low gradient with a decrease in elevation of only 200 m over 1,000 km.
Consequently, the basin has little capacity to flush itself of salts and sediments making thesystem more vulnerable to water quality issues.
!

Fig. 5.4.1 Murray-Darling River Basin
The basin produces approximately 40% of the nation’s agricultural income. As well as beinga major source of Australia’s irrigation water, the basin is also the major source for stockand domestic water supply in South Australia. Approximately two thirds of the basin’s flow
(90–95%) is primarily diverted for irrigation.This water diversion has generated many economic and social benefits, however this on top of widespread native vegetation clearing has
led to a drastic decline in the ecological health of the basin’s rivers and wetlands. A numberof catchments and aquifers in the MDB suffer from over-use of their water resources.
Until recently, in Australia the states have been responsible for the management of water
resources. This has been a fundamental challenge for the MDB as it comprises parts offive separate jurisdictions. With the new institutional arrangements for managing the
MDB, created by the Commonwealth government’s Water Act 2007/8 and a referral ofpowers by the states, this has now changed. The new organization, which has replaced the
Murray-Darling Basin Commission, is the Murray-Darling Basin Authority. Previously, the90 IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability

FactsRef. to KFS
institutional and regulatory fragmentation made it difficult to effectively address the basin’s
key natural resource management problems.The key challenges for the MDB include overallocation of water resources, increasing conflict between competing water users in theface of climate variability and restoring the environmental condition of the system.

2. Living Murray Initiative - Australia
During the 1990s, there was a problem of degrading ecological quality of the river due
to continued over abstraction of the river for irrigation and other uses with limited
water being recoverable under the existing water allocation laws and the limited available
funding.
The situation changed in 2004 when the Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council committed AUS$500 million (AUS$200 million from the Australian Government) over five
years to recover an annual average of up to 500 gigalitres of water for the environment.
The Australian Government has reiterated its commitment to the Living Murray Initiative
through Water for the Future. The water recovered through the Living Murray Initiative isbeing used to improve the health of six icon sites (Figure 5.4.2):• Barmah-Millewa Forest  • Gunbower and Koondrook-Perricoota Forests  
• Hattah Lakes  • Chowilla Floodplain (including Lindsay-Wallpolla)  
• Lower Lakes, Coorong and Murray Mouth  • River Murray channel  Fig. 5.4.2 The Six icon Sites across Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia(Source: Living Murray website)
At the same time, the Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council committed a complementary investment of AUS$150 million under the Living Murray Environmental Works andMeasures Program. This programme facilitates effective application of recovered water
through the design and construction of site-specific infrastructure and other measures.

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5 – PRACTICAL examples

Facts
Ref. to KFS
Since November 2003, existing water available to the environment (not including any Living
Murray water) and infrastructure has been actively managed collaboratively by jurisdictions
and the Murray-Darling Basin Commission.This work has contributed towards meeting theecological objectives for the Living Murray (TLM) First Step decision’s six Icon Sites. In thiscontext, the 2005-06 season was the most active season of environmental managementin the history of river regulation. Over 36 000 Ha of the natural environment of the River
Murray system and Icon Sites were deliberately watered for environmental purposes in
2005/06 (to February).
The sources of water used included a combination of:• the accumulated Barmah-Millewa Forest Environmental Water Allocation (BMF EWA);• other existing state-based environmental allocations (e.g. Victorian Murray Flora andFauna Entitlement, NSW Adaptive Environmental Water);• River Murray surplus flows and Above Entitlement Flows to South Australia (partthereof); and• River Murray Increased Flows from the Snowy available under the River Red Gum Rescue Package agreed to by Ministerial Council in September 2005.
Given that no ‘new’ TLM water has yet been recovered, the positive environmental benefits
observed - especially in 2005-06 - have been the result of intelligent use of existing water
available to the environment, use of new and existing infrastructure and improved planningand cooperation developed through the Living Murray process.
Environmental actions and outcomes in 2005-06 included the:(a) Release of an accumulated 5 years worth of the Barmah-Millewa Forest Environmental
Water Allocation (~510 GL) to achieve one of the most significant colonial nestingwaterbird breeding events in recent decades and the spawning of threatened fish suchas Silver Perch;(b) Delivery of environmental water through various means such as flow enhancement,
pumping/siphoning, weir manipulation (Lock 1, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 26), and use of regulated
creeks/channels to reinvigorate stressed fl oodplain vegetation including River Red
Gums, and to fi ll wetlands across Gunbower Forest, Hattah Lakes, Chowilla Floodplain(including Lindsay-Wallpolla) and the River Murray Channel;(c) Release of water through the Barrages at the Murray Mouth which provided temporary
freshening of parts of the Coorong; and 7 months continuous operation of fishways (toFebruary, but continuing until about April 2006) allowing the passage of thousands ofsmall-bodied native fish and collectively using less than 100 ML/day to operate.
Benefits to the Icon Sites have not been equal. Of the six sites, Barmah-Millewa Forestis the only one to have met all of the major ecological objectives, a result possible only
because of the availability of the pre-existing environmental water allocation.
Furthermore, the actions at other Icon Sites have contributed only partially to meeting
their objectives. An example is the River Red Gum Rescue where results have been positive to date, but limited in scale by the capacity to deliver the water to the sites by meansother than elevating river levels. This necessitated a focus on a small range of species (i.e.
River Red Gum communities) &/or relatively discrete floodplain/wetland areas. As such,larger areas of floodplain continue to decline in health (e.g. Chowilla Floodplain).

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FactsRef. to KFS
3. Methods for environmental water application
From 2001 to 2007, the MDB recorded its equal driest six-year period (BOM, 2007),
including 2006, which had the lowest rainfall levels recorded since 1900. Extended dry
periods together with a high pressure on the system due to high irrigation water demandand high temperature was causing severe water shortages in the basin.
The Murray-Darling Basin system had never experienced such pressure on the system.The
commission predicted that if the low inflow continued there was a high chance that thereserves would become empty and that some of the critical urban water requirement inSouth Australia wouldn’t be met. The existing water allocation needed to be reviewed
The water available for environmental use in 2004/05 and 2005/06 was delivered to sites
using various methods:(a) ‘flow enhancement’- involves releasing additional water from storages to enhance flow
rates and raise river levels downstream;(b) ‘weir manipulation’ - involves raising or lowering the upstream weir pool level to floodor dry areas in the vicinity of the Lock/Weir;(c) ‘regulated creeks/channels’ – involves use of creeks/anabranches &/or irrigation supply
channels to gravity feed water into wetlands;(d) ‘pumping/siphons’- involves pumping or siphoning water from the river to discrete
wetland systems; and(e) ‘Barrage release’ - involves releasing water from the Lower Lakes through the Barrage
gates and fishways into the Coorong and Murray Mouth

KfS5.4.2(2)

4. Coordination of Environmental Monitoring
Problems of environmental degradation escalated in the basin, and it had become apparent
that such issues extended across state boundaries and thus cooperation between states
was needed. Institutional framework for basin management cooperation among states had
to be reformed to address the environmental problems requiring coordinated and effective planning and management of the basin.
In addressing the water needs of each states as well as the environmental degradation
issue, which extends across state boundaries, cooperation between states needed to bestrengthened.
Several operational “committees” convened by the Commission Office (River Murray
Environmental Manager & River Murray Water), participated in regular teleconferences
to coordinate the real time management of the environmental watering actions. These
included:(a) Barmah-Millewa Forest Operations Committee;(b) Lock 8 Operations Committee;(c) Locks 1, 4, 5 and 6 Operations Committee (convened by DWLBC); and the(d) Barrages Operating Committee.

KfS5.4.2(3)

The membership of these “committees” includes lead Icon Site Managers and representatives from State Natural Resource Management Agencies, Catchment Management
Authorities, research organisations and State Constructing Authorities.
Critical matters relating to system operation, water accounting and water availability havebeen referred as necessary to the Water Liaison Working Group (formerly the Water
Liaison Committee) and the Environmental Watering Group (EWG).

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5 – PRACTICAL examples

Fig. 5.4.3 Wetland vegetation response to watering, Hut Lake, Barmah Forest(Photo: Goulburn-Broken CMA)

2004-2009

Fig. 5.4.4 IWRM spiral of Murray Darling Basin

94 IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability

5.4.2 Extracted Key for Success (Murray-Darling basin)(1) Extracted Key for Success[ Title ]Targeted Government Action with Limited Water and Funding[ Situation ]Degrading ecological quality of the river due to continued over abstraction of the river for irrigation andother uses.
From 2001 to 2007, the MDB recorded its driest six-year period (Australian Government Bureau Of Meteorology, 2007), with 2006 recording the lowest rainfall levels since 1900. Extended dry periods together with ahigh pressure on the system due to high irrigation water demand and high temperature caused severe water
shortages in the basin.
[ Problem ]Limited water could be recovered under the existing water allocation laws and therefore there was a needto buy environmental water.
The basin produces approximately 40% of the nation’s agricultural income and is a major source of irrigationwater for both stock and the domestic water supply. Due to the severe and prolonged drought period, thebasin’s economic activities were impacted. It was important to ensure that water was only allocated for criticalneeds and that the benefits of limited water supplies be maximized.
[ How the problem was overcome ]Targeting recovery of six icon sites with limited water resources.
The Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council committed AUS$500 million (AUS$200 million from the Australian Government) over five years to recover an annual average of up to 500 gigalitres of water for theenvironment.
[ The key ]Government targeted action backed by appropriate funding mechanisms secured sustainable funding to buy
environmental flows.
The Australian Government has reiterated its commitment to the Living Murray Initiative through Water for
the Future. The water recovered through the Living Murray Initiative is being used to improve the health of
six icon sites.
[3.5.1.1] National principles for environmental sustainability
Contribute to the development and revision of national principles, policies and strategies for managing environmental sustainability.
[3.5.2.2] Defining roles and responsibility
Define roles and responsibilities of river basin management entities for the management of environmental
sustainability.
[ Conditions and limitations in applying the KFS ]Political goodwill and greater interest of the states responsible for water management.
[ Ideas for enhancing the applicability of the KFS]
National regulation to reallocate water to the environment.

IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability95

5 – PRACTICAL examples(2) Extracted Key for Success[ Title ]Innovative methods of application of environmental flows[ Situation ]Limited water flows needed to be delivered to the icon sites at different locations and elevations.
From 2001 to 2007, the MDB recorded its driest six-year period (Australian Government Bureau Of Meteorology, 2007) with 2006 recording the lowest rainfall levels since 1900. Extended dry periods together with ahigh pressure on the system due to high irrigation water demand and high temperature caused severe water
shortages in the basin.
[ Problem ]Limited water could be recovered under the existing water allocation laws and the limited available funding.
The Murray-Darling Basin system had never experienced such pressure on the system. The commission predicted that if the low inflow were to continue there was a high chance that the reserves would become empty
and that some of the critical urban water requirement in South Australia wouldn’t be met. The existing water
allocation therefore needed to be reviewed.
[ How the problem was overcome ]The Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council committed a complementary investment of AUS$150 million
under the Living Murray Environmental Works and Measures Program. This programme facilitates the ­effective
application of recovered water through the design and construction of site-specific infrastructure and othermeasures.
The water available for environmental use in 2004/05 and 2005/06 was delivered to sites using various
methods:(a) ‘flow enhancement’ – involves releasing additional water from storage to enhance flow rates and raise riverlevels downstream.
(b) ‘weir manipulation’ – involves raising or lowering the upstream weir pool level to flood or dry areas in thevicinity of the Lock/Weir.
(c) ‘regulated creeks/channels’ – involves use of creeks/anabranches and/or irrigation supply channels togravity feed water into wetlands.
(d) ‘pumping/siphons’ – involves pumping or siphoning water from the river to discrete wetland systems.
(e) ‘Barrage release’ – involves releasing water from the Lower Lakes through the Barrage gates and fishways
into the Coorong and Murray Mouth.
[ The key ]Local innovations for effective use of environment flows.
Existing water available to the environment (not including any Living Murray water) and infrastructure has
been actively managed in a collaborative way by jurisdictions and the Murray-Darling Basin Commission.
This work has contributed towards meeting the ecological objectives of the Living Murray (TLM) First Step
decision’s six Icon Sites.
Use of new and existing infrastructure and improved planning and cooperation developed through the Living
Murray process.
[3.1.4.2] Technology transfer and development
Transfer and adaptation of best management of environmental sustainability practice that fully reflects local
conditions.
[ Conditions and limitations in applying the KFS ]Good flow and ecological data backed by scientific analysis and engineering design.
[ Ideas for enhancing the applicability of the KFS]

96 IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability

(3) Extracted Key for Success[ Title ]Managers involvement in deciding environmental flow releases[ Situation ]Need for effective coordination among different water management groups to achieve real time managementof environmental water actions.
Problems of environmental degradation escalated in the basin and it had become apparent that such issues
extended across state boundaries and thus cooperation between states was needed. The institutional framework for basin management cooperation among states had to be reformed to address the environmental
problems, requiring coordinated and effective planning and management of the basin.
[ Problem ]Water flows across different jurisdictions and catchments.
In addressing the water needs of each state as well as the environmental degradation issue, which extends
across state boundaries, cooperation between states needed to be strengthened.
[ How the problem was overcome ]Several operational ‘committees’ convened by the Murray Darling Commission Office (River Murray Environmental Manager & River Murray Water), participated in regular teleconferences to coordinate the real time
management of the environmental watering actions. These included:(a) Barmah-Millewa Forest Operations Committee.
(b) Lock 8 Operations Committee.
(c) Locks 1, 4, 5 and 6 Operations Committee (convened by DWLBC).
(d) Barrages Operating Committee.
The membership of these ‘committees’ includes lead Icon Site Managers and representatives from State
Natural Resource Management Agencies, Catchment Management Authorities, research organizations andState Constructing Authorities.
[ The key ]Involvement of key stakeholders across states.
Critical matters relating to system operation, water accounting and water availability have been referred asnecessary to the Water Liaison Working Group (formerly the Water Liaison Committee) and the Environmental Watering Group (EWG).
[3.3.2.1] Stakeholder participation
Prepare a framework for stakeholder participation to build consensus among stakeholders.
[ Conditions and limitations in applying the KFS ]Well functioning coordination mechanisms among different stakeholder and manager groups.
[ Ideas for enhancing the applicability of the KFS]

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5 – PRACTICAL examples

5.5 Arakawa River Basin (Japan)
5.5.1 Case Story (Arakawa River Basin)
Facts
1. Introduction

Ref. to KFS

The Arakawa River is a Class-1 river originating in Mt. Kobushi-dake at 2,475-metre elevation, flowing into Tokyo Bay and spanning 173 kilometres. The drainage basin covers
2,940 km2 in the two prefectures of Saitama and Tokyo.
The population of the Arakawa basin is approximately 9.3 million people, accounting forabout one fourteenth of the total population in Japan. Most of the population is concentrated in the alluvial lowland, plateaus and hillsides in the middle and lower reaches of theriver. The population density along the river in Tokyo Prefecture is 12,900 inhabitants/km2,
which is the highest among the basins of Class-1 rivers in Japan. Because Arakawa Riverflows through the Tokyo Metropolitan Area – the political, economic, and cultural centreof Japan – it is considered an extremely important river in terms of water utilization andflood control. Moreover, the Arakawa is serving a vital role as a source of agricultural,industrial and city water for the Tokyo Metropolitan Area.
Since early times, the Arakawa basin has been widely inhabited by people who benefited
from the river. Arakawa was part of the Tone River System until the early Edo era when the
Shogunate decided to divert its course by constructing a channel that connected Arakawa
to Iruma River, which remains unchanged today. This boosted the utilization of Arakawa
as a source of agricultural water and as a waterway for transportation. The Arakawa basin
has an inland Pacific-type climate with hot and humid summers and cold and dry winters.
The annual precipitation of the various districts of the basin area ranges from 1,200 mm to1,800 mm, averaging 1,400 mm, which is lower than the national average of 1,700 mm.
The annual precipitation per capita is only one tenth of the national average.

Fig. 5.5.1 Arakawa Basin Map

98 IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability

Facts
2. Overview of Water Utilization of Arakawa River

Ref. to KFS

Water from Arakawa River is utilized primarily for hydroelectric power generation in theupper reaches, as agricultural water in the middle reaches and – coupled with water drawn
from Tone River – as city water in the lower reaches.
The Rokuzeki Headworks situated in the middle reaches over the two districts of Fukawa
City and Hanazono-Cho, Osato-gun of Saitama Prefecture draws nearly 50% of total
water taken from Arakawa River for agricultural purposes. Rokuzeki is a collective namefor six weirs and channels that take water from Arakawa. These weirs were integrated
into Rokuzeki Headworks in 1938. Since then, the facility has greatly contributed to theincreased food production policy of the Japanese government.

3. Problem
Occurrence of Riverbed Exposure and Interrupted Fish Migrations
Due to an increased demand for city water in recent years, Arakawa has experienced frequent droughts resulting in water intake restrictions in the Metropolitan Area and rationing or shutoff of the water supply in wider areas affecting people’s lives. It was difficult todischarge water to downstream areas due to the absence of water discharge functions at
the weirs. To rectify the situation, dam construction plans were formulated to secure a sufficient volume of service water for urban areas, for which the downstream weirs needed
to be renovated such that they could also hold sufficient water to maintain the capacityof the dams. Also, due to influent seepage through the gravel riverbed of ­middle Arakawa,
water flow was often intercepted around the Arakawa Great Bridge during droughts,
which exposed the riverbed. This caused the death of many fish and negatively affected
the ecosystem as well as the fisheries industry, the landscape, outdoor leisure and otheractivities.

Fig. 5.5.2 Occurrence of Exposed
Riverbed (June 1996)

Fig. 5.5.3 Death of Fish due to Exposed
Riverbed (June 1996)

Structures were constructed around the Rokuzeki Headworks, Akedo Siphon and otherriver-crossings. However, these facilities had no or insufficiently functioning fishways, whichwere preventing fish from migrating upstream or downstream. In addition, the old Rokuzeki
Headworks formed a bottleneck interrupting the down flow of water in times of flooding
and thus it became a problem in flood control. Also, it was ageing and needed immediate
renovation.

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5 – PRACTICAL examples

Facts

Ref. to KFS

Fig. 5.5.4 Akedo Siphon

Fig. 5.5.5 Fish ladder at former Rokuzeki
Headworks

Despite the numerous problems of flood control and the environment as a result of
the former Rokuzeki Headworks, as described above, practical solutions were not implemented. The reason being that it had to accommodate both the needs of a continuous
facility operation for agricultural water utilization by water intake administrators (Ministryof Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)), which has jurisdiction over agricultural
water and is responsible for the management of Rokuzeki Headworks, and the need to
improve the facility by restructuring basin-wide water utilization.

4. Action(1) Setting Up a Discussion Table
In 1992, the discussion forum for coordination among relevant sectors was organized and
MLIT (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism) as the secretariat, gave its
support and in fact played a key role in its establishment. It was organized for stakeholders
from the various sectors such as MLIT, MAFF, and water users of the Rokuzeki Headworks,
Akigase Intake Weir and so on, to present their respective problems, identify common
objectives, and define a division of work. After a series of discussions, it was decided in
1993 to renovate the Rokuzeki Headworks and construct a flow improvement channel
and fishways.The construction work began in 1998 and was completed in 2003. As a result,riverbed exposure downstream of the meadworks was eliminated and breeding grounds
and habitats for fish and other aquatic species were restored.

KFS5.5.2(2)!

Fig. 5.5.6 Water Flow Management of Arakawa River

100 IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability

FactsRef. to KFS
The reconstruction was not just aimed at reconstructing the facility but to achieve therestructuring for the advanced water utilization and environmental restoration of theentire Arakawa Basin. It was also decided to build and manage facilities that would properly regulate the discharge of water supplied from the upstream dams through Rokuzeki
Headworks by centrally controlling the discharge rates and other flow conditions downstream of Musashi Canal, Iruma River and Akigase Intake Weir, and by managing the intake
and discharge rates of Futase Dam, Urayama Dam, Arakawa Reservoir and other facilities
in an integrated manner.
(2) Division of Work
After a series of discussions and coordination among MLIT, MAFF and other organizations
concerned, and by taking into account the role and needs of Arakawa River, it was decided
to construct a flow improvement channel to be used as a bypass to efficiently regulate
the flow rate, as well as a mild slope fishway to help fish with weak swimming abilities tomigrate upstream. In this way, improvement of water utilization, environment and flood
control achieved through the reconstruction of the facilities managed by each sector andhelped by the coordination among water users in the basin, while the river administrator
played a key role in the entire process.

Project
Challenge

MLIT
Comprehensive
Middle Arakawa Flow
Improvement Project

MAFF
Comprehensive Disaster
Prevention Projectin Osato National
Agricultural Land

• Appropriate dischargeof water supplied fromdams to downstream
by constructing a flow
improvement channel.
–• Discharge of water toprevent riverbed exposure
by constructing a flow
improvement channel.
• Construction of fish• Construction of a flow
• Disrupted upstream/ladders (ice-harbor type)improvement channel
downstream(along the right and left
(which also works as afish migration
priming channel) and mild banks)slope fishways.
• Discharge of water toprevent riverbed exposure
by constructing a flow
improvement channel.
• Aged facilities• Channel widening,• Renovation of Rokuzeki• Lack of discharge capacity revetment/embankment
Headworks and removalof Akedo Siphon• Channel widening,
revetment/embankment• Water flow control
Prevention riverbed
exposure

Table. 5.5.1 Division of Work by Project and Challenge

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101

5 – PRACTICAL examples

Facts
Ref. to KFS(3) Eco-Friendly Facilities
1) Construction of Flow Improvement Channel
The flow improvement channel, which was constructed on the right bank side of the
KFSRokuzeki Headworks, also serves as a priming channel discharging water at 3m3/s during
5.5.2
normal operations so as to prevent riverbed exposure, while releasing water reserved in(1)
upstream dams to be used as city water.

Fig. 5.5.7 New Rokuzeki Headworks, Flow Improvement Channel,
and Mild Slope Fishway!

2) Construction of Fishways
Fish ladders were installed on either side of the river as well as a mild slope fishway on
the right bank side along the flow improvement channel. The mild slope fishway enables
fish with weak swimming abilities, found downstream of Rokuzeki Headworks, to ascendand descend.
This fishway was designed at a 0.6m/s flow velocity, 0.2m water depth, 1/110 gradient anda flow rate of around 0.4m3/s based on the physiology of targeted fish species.The fishway
was constructed in partnership with MAFF, the institution responsible for reconstructing
the fish ladders as part of its guarantee to maintain its prior function, while taking into
consideration the fish species inhabiting Arakawa River, the landscape, maintenance andother factors.

Fig. 5.5.8 Mild Slope Fishway(seen from downstream)

Fig. 5.5.9 Mild Slope Fishway(from upstream )102 IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability

FactsRef. to KFS
Since their installment, the fishways have been monitored for accountability and, by setting
up an observation area by the mild slope fishway, they have been utilized for educational
purposes by local junior high and elementary school children as well as the general public.
Continuous monitoring and provision of learning opportunities are making sustainable
operations of the fishways possible.
Targeted
Fish
Species
Mild Slope
FishwayFish
Ladders

Oncorhynchusmasou

Plecoglossus altivelis
altivelis

Tribolodon
hakonensis

Carassius
auratu

O

O

O

O

O

O

O

Anguillajaponica

Rhinogobius
brunneusO

O

Table. 5.5.2 Fishway Types & Targeted Fish Species

Mild Slope Fishway

Mild Slope Fishway
Mild Slope Fishway

Flow Improvement
ChannelFig. 5.5.10 Positions of Mild Slope Fishway and Fish Ladders

5. Effect
Before the construction of the flow improvement channel, Rokuzeki Headworks was discharging water at a flow rate of 3m3/s or less for a total of 467 days during the four-year
period between 1994 and 1997. Following the installation of the channel, the number of
below 3m3/s days decreased considerably to 87 days out of four years from 2003 and 2006.
Furthermore, no riverbed exposure occurred in the mainstream Arakawa downstream of
Rokuzeki Headworks since the construction of the flow improvement channel.
In addition, water supplied from upstream dams (Futase Dam, Urayama Dam, and Kakkau Dam), which was not discharged downstream steadily through Rokuzeki Headworks
before the construction of the flow improvement channel, is now properly discharged to
Akigase Intake Weir, and thus supplying a stable intake of water to urban areas.

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5 – PRACTICAL examples

Facts

Ref. to KFS

Fig. 5.5.11 Cumulative no. of days by discharge volume from Rokuzeki Headworks before
and after the construction of a flow improvement channel

Fig. 5.5.12 Discharge of Water to Downstream of Rokuzeki Headworks

In the gentle slope fishway, fish species with weak swimming abilities such as Phoxinus
lagowskii steindachneri, Gnathopogon elongatus, Cobitis biwae and Rhinogobius brunneus are being
observed in large numbers, indicating that the newly installed fishway has taken effect.

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FactsRef. to KFS

Fig. 5.5.13 No. of fish observed in gentle slope fishway!

!

Fig. 5.5.14 Arakawa River Spiral
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5 – PRACTICAL examples

5.5.2 Extracted Key for success (Arakawa River Basin)(1) Extracted Key for Success[ Title ]Preservation of the Ecosystem[ Situation ]Frequent drought and riverbed exposure and the deteriorating environment in the midstream area werecauses for concern.
Due to the increased demand for city water in recent years, Arakawa River experienced frequent drought
resulting in water intake restrictions in the Metropolitan Area and rationing or shutoff of water supply inwider areas affecting people’s lives. Releasing sufficient volumes of water to downstream areas was difficult
due to the absence or malfunctioning of water discharge equipment at the weirs.
Also, due to influent seepage through the gravel riverbed of middle Arakawa, water flow was often interrupted
during drought around Arakawa Great Bridge exposing the riverbed.This caused the death of many fish, which
negatively affected the ecosystem as well as the fisheries industry, the landscape, outdoor leisure and otheractivities.
[ Problem ]Sufficient water supply and a continuity of river flow (preservation of healthy environment) had to be realized
for the entire Arakawa Basin.
Arakawa River serves as an important source of water for various purposes from the upper reaches to thelower reaches in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area and, at the same time, it is expected to provide a precious natural environment for city dwellers who seek to enjoy the landscape, outdoor leisure, and other recreational
activities. The challenge was to satisfy the conflicting needs for both water supply and environmental protection (continuous river flow).
[ How the problem was overcome ]Environmental improvement was realized through the elimination of riverbed exposure and the securing of
the water supply through stable replenishment. Aimed towards advanced water utilization and environmental
restoration of the entire Arakawa Basin, it was decided to build and manage facilities that would properly
regulate the discharge of water supplied from upstream dams through Rokuzeki Headworks so as to realize efficient water utilization by integrally monitoring such river flow conditions as the tributary inflow anddischarge rates of other weirs, as well as by managing the intake and discharge rates of dams reservoirs, andother facilities in an integrated manner.
The completion of the flow improvement channel greatly reduced the number of days when the discharge
rate from Rokuzeki Headworks fell below 3m3/s, resulting in the elimination of riverbed exposure and an
improvement of the fish habitat.
The flow improvement channel properly brings water from upstream dams, which occasionally did not flow
to Rokuzeki Headworks before its installment, to the downstream through the weir such that a stable intakeof water is supplied to urban areas.
Also, the construction of the mild slope fishway enabled fishes that previously had difficulty overcoming thefish ladders to migrate more freely. Through the reconstruction of the facilities, water utilization, environment
and flood control was improved. This was managed by each sector and coordinated among water users in thebasin, while the river administrator played a key role in the whole process.

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[ The key ]– Establishment of the centralized water management and facility operation systems for the entire basin
enabled the proper control of water discharge from upstream dams to downstream facilities. Also, monitoring of the ecosystem both upstream and downstream of the Rokuzeki Headworks led to the construction and improvement of fishways, which consequently restored ecological continuity.
– Indentify the effects of water quality, quantity and variability in the basin on ecosystem functions and services. Identify options for water quality, quantity and variability on ecosystem services for both water andland management.
– Establish national principles of managing environmental sustainability.
[3.1.2.3] Hydrological variability in terms of water quality and quantity
Identify the causes and effects of current water management practice on water quality, quantity and variability
in the basin on ecosystem functions and services.
Identify options for improving water quality, quantity and variability on ecosystem services for both water andland management.
[3.5.1.1] National principles for environmental sustainability
Contribute to development and a revision of national principles, policies and strategies for managing environmental sustainability.
[ Conditions and limitations in applying the KFS ][ Ideas for enhancing the applicability of the KFS]
Guidance on Assessing Normal River Flow (draft).
Guidelines for Designing Fishways.

IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability107

5 – PRACTICAL examples(2) Extracted Key for Success[ Title ]Formation of Consensus through Participation of Stakeholders[ Situation ]With regard to Rokuzeki Headworks, the river administrator (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure,Transport and Tourism (MLIT)), which implements flood control measures and water resource development projects, and the water
intake administrator (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)) with jurisdiction over agricultural
water, were faced with different problems.
For the river administrator (MLIT), the old Rokuzeki Headworks presented a problem in terms of flood control as
it was forming a bottleneck and could not sufficiently release water due to a lack of discharge facility.
For the water intake administrator (MAFF), the urgent issue was the renovation of an aged and deteriorating
Rokuzeki Headworks. In addition, water rights holders of the lower reaches sought to draw adequate and stable
volumes of water from the dams.
[ Problem ]Despite various problems faced by the different sectors with regard to Rokuzeki Headworks, conditions to implement solutions were not met due to a lack of coordination between the river administrator (MLIT) and the water
intake administrator (MAFF).
[ How the problem was overcome ]A discussion forum was organized by stakeholders to identify common goals and problems and to define a divisionof responsibilities.
The discussion forum, supported by MLIT as the secretariat tasked with coordination among relevant sectors, wasorganized with the active involvement of MLIT.
Stakeholders from the various sectors each with different purposes, such as MLIT, MAFF, and water users of
Rokuzeki Headworks, Akigase Intake Weir and other downstream facilities, formed a discussion forum to present
their respective problems, identify common objectives and define responsibilities. After a series of discussions, it
was decided to renovate Rokuzeki Headworks and construct a flow improvement channel with fishways.
As a result, riverbed exposure downstream of the Headworks was eliminated, and spawning grounds and habitats
for fish and other aquatic species were restored.
[ The key ]– By taking into consideration the water utilization and the environmental protection of the entire basin, MLIT,
MAFF, other relevant organizations and water users of Rokuzeki Headworks, Akigase Intake Weir, and so on –each with their own purpose and interests – discussed and negotiated to find common understanding and to
define the sharing of responsibilities based on their respective problems.
– Identify key needs potential priority areas (critical locations and key issues) for IWRM implementation in thebasin. Identify your ecosystem management objectives.
– Obtain agreement on responsibility.
[3.1.2.1] Identification of actual and future priority area
Identify actual and future priority areas (critical locations and key issues) as well as objectives for sound management of environmental sustainability within the context of IWRM in a river basin.
[3.3.1.1] Roles and responsibilities
Identify the roles and responsibilities of each relevant sector and stakeholders in each proposed plan, and obtainagreements from the sectors.
[ Conditions and limitations in applying the KFS ][ Ideas for enhancing the applicability of the KFS]

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5.6 Oigawa River Basin (Japan)
5.6.1 Case Story (Oigawa River Basin)
Facts
Ref. to KFS
1. Introduction
The Oigawa River is a Class-1 river with a basin area of 1,280 km2 and a channel lengthof 168 km. It originates from the Ainodake peak (at elevation of 3,189 meters) located at
the boundaries of the Shizuoka, Nagano, and Yamanashi Prefectures, and runs in the middleof the Shizuoka Prefecture to the south through a delta that fans out of Shimada City
merging with tributaries such as Sumatagawa and Sasamagawa rivers and flowing into the
Suruga Bay.
The river basin area is comprised of the four cities of Shizuoka, Shimada, Fujieda and Yaezu,
and the two towns of Yoshida-cho and Kawanehon-cho. Mountains account for about 94%
of the total basin area, agricultural fields account for about 4%, and urban districts, including residential areas, account for about 2%.

Location Map

Oi Plain in the lower reaches!

Fig. 5.6.1 Oigawa Basin Map

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5 – PRACTICAL examples

Facts
Ref. to KFS
2. History of Hydroelectric Power Generation in Oigawa RiverIn 1906, a British-Japanese joint venture company, the Anglo-Japanese HydroelectricCompany, was established with private investors to begin operating the first hydroelectric
power plant in the Oigawa River system. In the late 1920s, dam and conduit type power
stations were introduced and five dams were constructed by around 1940. In orderto mitigate serious power shortages during the period of rapid economic growthin post-war Japan, development of electrical power resources progressed in evengreater strides. In Oigawa River,hydroelectric power generation
with six dams began and hassince been contributing greatly to
Japan’s economic development.

3. Problem – ‘Give Our
Water Back’ Movement
by Residents Against
Interrupted River Flow
In 1960, Shiogo Weir was completed for a hydroelectric power
located at the most downstream
part of Oigawa River. The weirdammed up the flow of Oigawa’s
mainstream, and water flow wasintercepted for 20 km downstream
from the intake point adversely
affecting the ecosystem and naturalenvironment of the area.
Local residents began to strongly
voice their desire to have Oigawa
restored to its original pristine
state, which led to the ‘Give Our
Water Back’ movement of Oigawa.

!

Fig. 5.6.2 Oigawa Basin Map

In 1975, a series of discussions andnegotiations were held over various issues, such as returning waterrights to the residents to restore
the flow volume of Oigawa at thetime when the water rights for
upstream power generation dams
were being renewed. As a result,an agreement was reached withthe electric company in 1976 torelease water from Shiogo Weirat a rate of 1 m3/s, which, however,
was not enough to resolve the discontentment of the people living in
the area.

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FactsRef. to KFS
4. Action - Establishment of the Middle Oigawa Basin Council
Local residents’ ‘Give Our Water Back’ demands intensified as the renewal of water rights
for Shiogo Weir, which was scheduled in 1989, drew close. In response to the residents’demands, the Ministry of Construction, the authority granting water rights, organized the
Middle Oigawa Basin Council in 1985, which comprised of Shizuoka Prefecture (riveradministrator), Chubu Electric Company (water rights holder), three municipalities, andother stakeholders, to discuss ways to restore the flow volume in Oigawa River.
According to the government ordinance article 10 of the River Law, appropriate discharge
rates (maintenance flow rates) were to be decided with comprehensive consideration ofvarious standpoints including the restoration of the landscape, preservation of river control facilities, retention of the groundwater level, protection of fauna and flora, and maintenance of the purity of river water. Thus, with regard to the discharge rates of the Oigawa
river basin, the aspects mentioned in the above were examined, and the final solutions
were worked out from the viewpoints of landscape and fauna and flora protection.

KFS5.6.2(1)

For the restoration of the landscape it was concluded that the water level needed to
be raised to the extent where the formation of a smooth continuous flow path both
upstream and downstream of the weir would be ensured throughout the year. For theprotection of fauna and flora, the water volume had to be increased to maintain roughly
15 cm or greater water depth in the habitats for such fishes as sweetfish, Japanese daceand pale chub.
As a result, it was agreed in 1989 to discharge water from Shiogo Weir at 3m3/s, which
eliminated the problem of riverbed exposure downstream of Shiogo Weir and restored
the spawning grounds and habitats of fishes.

5. Establishment of guidelines on water release from the hydraulic power
plant to secure environmental flow.
Increasing demands for the restoration of river environments is not unique to Oigawa
River. This is a common problem shared by other communities suffering from depleted
river water caused by a diversion of large volumes of water for power generation. In
regions where tourism is the main industry, demand for recovering abundant river flow toenhance their attractiveness is increasing. In order to facilitate negotiations between local
communities and water permit holders for power generation, it was necessary to establish
standards based on which parties concerned could work out amicable solutions.
In the process of licensing water rights, it is important to build consensus among relevant
stakeholders including other water users and municipalities in addition to adequate due
consideration of the river environment. Thus, in order to promote a proper coordination
by river administrators, MLIT proposed guidelines in 1988 on water release from hydraulicpower plant to secure environmental flow to secure sufficient maintenance discharge
levels at the time of water rights renewal for power generation.

KFS5.6.2(2)

The guidelines stated that the maintenance flow rate shall be newly established or revisedin terms of water utilization for power generation, which significantly hindered rivermanagement, and shall be based upon the comprehensive consideration of its effects
including the width and depth of river channels, conditions of river side areas, water quality
in the section with flow volume recession, and ecosystems. Furthermore, the guidelines

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5 – PRACTICAL examples

Facts
Ref. to KFS
state the need for sufficient and due consideration on the impact on power generation
capacity.
– An example of the conditions laid out in the guidelines relates to the water usage thatcauses a reduction of water levels in a 10 km or longer river section with a catchment
area of 200km2 or larger upstream of the intake point.
– The minimum maintenance flow rates of a river shall be established numerically (about
0.1 – 0.3 m3/s per 100 km2 catchment area).

6. Establishment of Maintenance Flow Rates for the Entire Basin
After the adoption of the guidelines on water release from the hydraulic power plant
to secure environmental flow, maintenance flow rates were established for other dams
located upstream of Shiogo Weir based on the guidelines, which consequently improved
the river environment of the entire basin area.

7. Effect
The graph below reveals changes in the flow rate a few years prior (1984) and after (1993
and 2004) Shiogo Weir began discharging water at 3 m3/s in 1989. The flow rates were
measured at Kanza, located downstream of Shiogo Weir. The graph indicates that the flow
volume of the river has been restored by the increased discharge.

Fig. 5.6.3 Changes in flow rate downstream of Shiogo Weir (Kanza)

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FactsRef. to KFS
The graph below shows the number of fishes observed in Kanza in 1993 shortly after thedischarge rate was increased, and in 2004. Compared to the 1993 figures, a greater numberof species and fish were observed in 2004, indicating the restoration of the ecosystem.

Fig. 5.6.4 Result of fish survey downstream of Shiogo Weir (Kanza)

Fig. 5.6.5 Result of fish survey downstream of Shiogo Weir (Kanza)!

!

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5 – PRACTICAL examples

5.6.2 Extracted key for success (Oigawa River Basin)(1) Extracted Key for Success[ Title ]Formation of Consensus through Participation of Stakeholders[ Situation ]Local residents’ concern and frustration grew over the deteriorating river environment and intercepted riverflow.
Pursuant to the agreement between the prefectural government and the electric power company, water wasdischarged from Shiogo Weir at the rate of 1m3/s, which, however, did not eliminate the exposure of the riverbed caused by intercepted river flow. This also affected the progress of other dams that were under planningat that time. Local residents’ discontent with the electric power company’s unflinching refusal to return thewater rights gradually grew to an uncontainable level.
Subsequently, the residents’ ‘Give Our Water Back’ movement intensified at the time when the water rights
renewal of Shiogo Dam drew close.
[ Problem ]It was near impossible to restore the river flow to a satisfactory level through discussions between the electric power company and the prefectural government representing the local residents.
Various discussions and negotiations were held to demand that the electric power company return the waterrights at the time of its renewal, for power generation at upstream dams so as to restore the river flow. As
a result, an agreement was concluded with the electric power company to release 1m3/s from Shiogo Weir,
which, however, was not enough to resolve the discontent of the local residents.
[ How the problem was overcome ]Triggered by the citizens’ movement, a council was established to reach a consensus on the appropriate flowrate.
– Local residents’ ‘Give Our Water Back’ movement gradually intensified at a time when the renewal of
the water rights for Shiogo Weir drew close. In response to the residents’ demand, the Ministry of Construction, the authority granting water rights, organized the Middle Oigawa Basin Council comprised of
Shizuoka Prefecture (river administrator), Chubu Electric Power Company (water rights holder), threemunicipalities, and other stakeholders, to discuss ways to restore the flow in Oigawa River.
Consequently, it was agreed to release 3m3/s from Shiogo Weir, which eliminated the riverbed exposure
caused by intercepted river flow and restored the natural habitat and spawning grounds of fishes and otherspecies.

114 IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability

[ The key ]Local residents organized a citizens’ movement from the realization that water intake for use in power generation was intercepting the river flow and causing the aquatic environment to deteriorate. This had an impact
on the central and prefectural governments and placed sufficient pressure on the electric power company totake part in the council and discuss the environmental problems caused by its water intake. At the council,
the two seemingly contradicting requirements of securing a sufficient water intake level and maintaining anappropriate flow rate were discussed, and it was decided that the electric power company would release
enough water to maintain an adequate river flow to restore the environment even at the sacrifice of lesser
revenues.
– Prepare a framework for stakeholder participation to build consensus among stakeholders.
– Impact analysis, modeling, environmental benefit analysis including social impact analysis (trade offanalysis).
[3.3.2.1] Stakeholder participation
Prepare a framework for stakeholder participation to build consensus among stakeholders.
[3.2.3.2] Environmental Assessment
Conduct environmental impact analysis for assessing environmental impact and environmental benefit analysis
in the draft plans to evaluate social and economic impacts.
[ Conditions and limitations in applying the KFS ]– The national government is required to consult with the prefectural governor before granting waterrights.
[ Ideas for enhancing the applicability of the KFS ]IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability115

5 – PRACTICAL examples(2) Extracted Key for Success[ Title ]Securing River Maintenance Flow
[ Situation ]The deterioration of the river environment caused by water intake for power generation was becoming a burning
issue.
Water intake for power generation at Shiogo Weir caused an interruption of river flow over 20 km in the lower
Oigawa, adversely affecting the ecosystem and the environment along the river.
This is a common problem shared by other communities suffering from depleted river water caused by a diversionof large volumes of water for power generation. In tourist regions, there was a growing demand to recover river
flow to enhance the attractiveness of the regions.
[ Problem ]The discharge rate that was agreed upon in the absence of reliable standards could not resolve the residents’discontent.
While an agreement was reached to release water from Shiogo Weir at a rate of 1m3/s in the absence of water
discharge standards from weirs, it was not enough to restore the river’s ecosystem and therefore did not resolve
the residents’ discontent.
[ How the problem was overcome ]River flow requirements were examined from various standpoints to determine the appropriate discharge rate.
Subsequently, guidelines were established that provided certain conditions towards maintaining an adequate river
flow in exchange for water rights renewal, including restrictions on water intake for power generation.
The appropriate river flow (maintenance flow) was examined from various viewpoints including the landscape,protection of river management facilities, retention of groundwater levels, preservation of fauna and flora, andmaintenance of purity of river water. Finally, solutions were worked out from the standpoints of landscape andfauna and flora preservation.
In the process of licensing water rights, it is important to build consensus among relevant stakeholders including
other water users and municipalities in addition to adequate due consideration of the river environment. Thus,in order to promote a proper coordination by river administrators, MLIT proposed guidelines in 1988 on water
release from hydraulic power plant to secure environmental flow to secure sufficient maintenance discharge levels
at the time of water rights renewal for power generation.
[ The key ]– The clearly defined requirements for water discharge from water intake weirs for power generation in Oigawa
River provided other areas in Japan, which had been suffering from similar problems caused by depleted riverflows, a basis to resolve their own problems. As a result, these areas were also able to restore river flows,
enhance the landscape and increase competitiveness in tourism and other sectors.
– Establish national principles for managing environmental sustainability.
[3.5.1.1] National principles for environmental sustainability
Contribute to the development and revision of national principles, policies and strategies for managing environmental sustainability.
[ Conditions and limitations in applying the KFS ]Establishment of water rights systems and renewal requirements.
[ Ideas for enhancing the applicability of the KFS ]Guidelines on water release from hydraulic power plant to secure environmental flow.

116 IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability

6. Useful Tools

Useful Tools provide useful ideas/information for
explaining or understanding complex issues that one
might face during IWRM implementation to ensure
good environmental status. Good utilization of thesetools will allow for the effective and efficient implementation of IWRM.

6.1 EcohydrologicalApproach

Ecohydrology is the transdisciplinary science defined
as a sub-discipline of hydrology which focuses on ecological processes occurring within the hydrologicalcycle and strives to utilize such processes for enhancing environmental sustainability and provides a systemic approach for solving problems associated withwater use and ecological conservation. Ecohydrology
considers the freshwater ecosystem form the catchments perspective and contains the following aspects:
the fundamental aspects of environmental sciences
based on empirical analysis of the structure and thefunctional relationships between the various abiotic
and biotic components of the environment and thedistillation of the general patterns from surrounding
commonalities.
The Ecohydrological Approach is expressed in threeprinciples:• Hydrological Principle: quantification of hydrological cycle analysis of a basin. It can be the template for functional integration of hydrological andbiological processes from the point of view ofsocio-economic and spatial-temporal dynamic versus various forms of human impact.
• Ecological Principle: the analysis of distributionof various types of bioconosis and its potential
to enhance resilience and absorbing capacity forhuman impact. It is necessary to regulate ecosystem structure and processes toward increasing thecarrying capacity.
• Ecotechnological Principle: ability to adapt terrestrial and aquatic organisms to water dynamics
and using the understanding of such feedbacks tocontrol hydrological processes and water quality
improvement and vice versa.

Fig. 6.1.1 Illustration of the three principles of Ecohydrology (Zalewski 2010)

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6 – useful tools

One of the implicit but primary goals of Ecohydrology
is to achieve sustainability, and ecohydrological goals
as a problem-solving science include:• slowing down the transfer of water from the atmosphere to the sea (considering flood and drought
control as priorities);• reducing input and regulating the allocation ofexcess nutrients and pollutants in aquatic ecosystems to improve water quality, biodiversity andhuman health; and• enhancing of ecosystem carrying capacity (resilience, biodiversity, ecosystem services for society)in harmonization with societal needs.
The above mentioned goals are achieved in a way that
regulates water allocation, with special considerationof the reverse of water quality degradation, and to
reduces input and regulates the excess nutrients andpollutants allocation in aquatic system toward “nonavailable pool” e.g. at soil, sediments vascular plantbiomass or even selected species from algae toward
zooplankton and fish.

Fig. 6.1.2 System solutions based on threeprinciples: improvement of ecological flow,
water quality, human health and quality of life
(modified from Zalewski 2002).

6.2 Environmental status mapping tools
Tools to link ecological responses with flow regimes
in order to decide on environmental flows, for example, the RANA model developed in Costa Rica.
The RANA – ICE methodology integrates hydrological, biological and socio-economic informationof river sections where the impact of hydropower­developments is envisaged. Natural hydrological pat-Fig. 6.2.1 RANA Components

terns are studied first and different water use demands
are identified, including those of the ecosystem, todetermine a minimum acceptable flow satisfying thesedemands. These demands are used as constraints andare evaluated against different flow regulation scenarios to recommend the environmental flow patternthat provides a sustainable use of water resources.

Fig. 6.2.2 Principal views of preferredhabitat conditions for a fish species

118 IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability

6.3 Motion charts for visualizing long-term water quality
In order to deal with the problems associated with
low natural discharge and high effluent loads, South
African water managers needed to make best useof all data at their disposal. Visualization is an effec-!

tive method for evaluating long-term data and theGoogleTM Docs Motion Chart provides a free platform for comparing water quality variables, particularly ratios of troublesome ions such as sulphate.

Fig. 6.3.1 Snapshot of a Google Motion Chart ofchloride against sulphate, highlighting the differences
between a site affected by mine drainage (B1H005Q01,
where a trail connects the complete time series)
against the background of 251 other sites.

6.4 Decision support system
MFAT is a decision support system that relates river
flow to potential habitat conditions for river andfloodplain environments. MFAT can help governments
and communities make informed decisions on environmental flows.

Fig. 6.4.1 MFAT Framework

The results from the MFAT can then be used to facilitate an informed trade-off process between environmental and human flow requirements.

Fig. 6.4.2 MFAT Framework

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119

6 – useful tools

6.5 Guidelines on Water Release from Hydraulic Power Plant
to Secure Environmental Flow
These guidelines aim to conserve as well as improveconditions of the river environment at the downstream of hydropower plants by securing environmental flow. In the process of license renewal of waterrights for hydropower generation, the regulation onwater intake – or how much water each hydropower

plant can use – is added in order to maintain adequate
environmental flow according to the guidelines.
In the case of Japan, for the hydropower plant withthe catchment area of 100 km2, water flow of approximately 0.1 to 0.3 m3/s is designed as environmental
flow.

Intake point
Reservoir
Power plantReservoir

Power plant

Interceptedwater flow

Intake point

Maintaining
environmental flow

Fig. 6.5.1 The image of maintaining environmental flow

120 IWRM Guidelines at River Basin Level – Part 2-4: The Guidelines for Managing Environmental Sustainability

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