The document summarizes research on how communities in Keosenkham Village, Lao PDR have adapted their livelihoods after being resettled due to the construction of the Nam Gnouang Dam and reservoir. Household surveys were conducted before and up to 3 years after resettlement to understand changes in reliance on the river versus reservoir ecosystem over time. While fishing remains important, households' dependence on the river and involvement in fishing has declined since resettlement. Total income derived from the reservoir is lower than what was previously derived from the river. The conclusion calls for sustaining fisheries and improving wetland habitats around the reservoir to increase natural fish productivity and support the community.

1. Yumiko Kura, WorldFish
Greater Mekong Forum on Water, Food and Energy,
23 October, 2015
Hydropower Reservoir and Livelihood Adaptation of
Communities in Keosenkham Village, Lao PDR
1

2. Keosenkham
Resettlement
Site
Sopchat
Thambing
Sensi
PhonkeoNam Gnouang
Dam
Change from River to
Reservoir ecosystem

3. Timeline of Field Surveys
3
FGDs and
Stakeholder
Consultation
HH survey in 4
villages
Before
Resettlement
100 HH
April 2011 Dec. 2013
HH survey in 4
villages
2 Years After
Resettlement
92 HH
Dec.2014 – Jan. 20Feb. 2011
Resettlement
to Keosenkham
May-July 2011
Sept. 2012
HH survey in 4
villages
1 Year After
Resettlement
100 HH
HH survey in 4
villages
3 Years After
Resettlement
92 HH
+ FGDs
* Total number of resettled households in 4 villages = 180

4. Table 1: % Households Considering Nam Gnouang River/Reservoir as “Important” or “Very Important”
4
RIVER RESERVOIR
For
Before
Resettlement
After
Resettlement
YEAR 1
After
Resettlement
YEAR 2
After
Resettlement
YEAR 3
Alternative in Keosenkham
(provided by the power
company)
Drinking 44 - - - Public and private wells
Bathing 74 - 11 - Public and private wells
Washing 76 - 11 - Public and private wells
Irrigation (including
river bank garden)
36 - 59 49 Wells and reservoir
Fishing 98 99 82 81 Reservoir
Livestock watering 55 25 25 22 Reservoir and wells
Transportation 91 4 65 52 Road access
Micro-hydropower 25 - - - Public power grid
Village events and
festivals (e.g. wedding)
68 - 5 4 Public and private wells
Rituals (e.g. funeral) 32 - 10 11 Public and private wells
Use of Nam Gnouang Reservoir compared to the use of
Nam Gnouang River before resettlement

5. River-based to Reservoir-based Income
(incl. the value of food and other products consumed at
home )
5
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
Before Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
Income(MKip/year/HH)
Non farm
NTFP Wetlands
Irrigated
Agriculture
Fisheries
Percentage of
Total Income
%
Figure 1: Income derived from river / reservoir ecosystems
Total income derived from
reservoir is much less than the
income derived from river
Fisheries continue to be the most
important local use of the
reservoir for income generation
Households involved in fishing
has declined from 100% before
resettlement to 68% 3 years after
resettlement due to various
reasons

6. Fishing areas upstream of the reservoir and
tributaries are important for local communities
10/30/2015 Footer Text 6
Important
fishing areas

7. 7
Conclusions
• Fisheries is the most important
community use of reservoir and
needs to be sustained for
foreseeable future
• Fisheries from reservoir and
surrounding wetlands still have
potential to increase natural
productivity
• Need to improve and protect a
variety of wetland habitats in and
around the reservoir to facilitate
natural fish breeding