This document summarizes key issues and lessons from water resources planning and governance in highly contested river basins: 1. In heavily used river basins, it is no longer possible to allocate water to meet all demands. Water resources planning must shift to view water as integrated into the economy, not separate from it. 2. Social and cultural values must be understood and incorporated into the planning process, as people's values matter greatly in contested basins. 3. Environmental protection arguments require strong evidence when water development offers clear social and economic benefits, especially in developing countries. Good science and monitoring are needed. 4. Challenges of water, food, and energy security are intricately linked and must

1. Water
Resources
Planning
and
Governance
in
Highly
Contested
Rivers
RiverSymposium,
9
October
2012
Robert
Speed
Okeanos
Pty
Ltd

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3. gregated global gap between existing accessible, reliable
ply1 and 2030 water withdrawals, assuming no efficiency gain
m3, 154 basins/regions
6,900
2% 900
CAGR -40%
2,800
1,500
Municipal & 4,500 4,200
Domestic 100
600 700 Groundwater
Industry 800
Relevant supply quantity is
much lower that the
4,500 absolute renewable water
availability in nature 3,500 Surface water
Agriculture 3,100
Existing 2030 Basins with Basins with Existing
withdrawals2 withdrawals3 deficits surplus accessible,
reliable,
sustainable
supply1
Units:
billion
m3
ng supply which canSource:
Mat 90% reliability, based on historical hydrology and infrastructure investments scheduled through 2010; net of
be provided ckinsey,
2009,
Char%ng
our
Water
nmental requirements
Future
d on 2010 agricultural production analyses from IFPRI
d on GDP, population projections and agricultural production projections from IFPRI; considers no water productivity gains between 2005-2030
E: Water 2030 Global Water Supply and Demand model; agricultural production based on IFPRI IMPACT-WATER base case

4. Historical
PerspecHves
and
Approaches
Infrastructure & Systemic water Growth &
water use resources development
• water resource (surface) • catchment (IWRM) • political-economic
• reconciliation • resource protection • inter-sectoral
• demand projections • demand management • uncertainty (change)
• water supply regulation • WQ management • water as catalyst/const
• system optimisation • stakeholder engagement • adaptive management
pre-­‐1970’s
1980’s
&
1990s
2000’s

5. Issue
1.
• In
heavily
contested
basins,
it
is
oQen
no
longer
possible
to
allocate
and
manage
water
resources
to
meet
all
developmental
demands.
• Water
is
both
a
major
constraint
and
also
a
catalyst
for
economic
development.
ShiQ
from
“water
for
the
economy”
to
“water
in
the
economy”

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Lesson:
Water
plans
and
development
plans
should
be
developed
through
an
itera6ve
process

7. Issue
2.
• People
–
and
what
they
value
–
maXer
in
water
resources
management.
All
the
more
so
in
contested
basins.

8. Lesson:
Understand
the
social
and
cultural
values
and
incorporate
those
in
the
process

9. Issue
3.
• Where
water
resources
development
offers
clear
social
and
economic
benefits,
environmental
protecHon
needs
to
demonstrate
an
equally
compelling
case.
In
developing
countries,
this
is
even
more
criHcal.

10. 95%
decline
in
fish
fry
Lesson:
the
importance
of
good
science
and
monitoring
only
increases
as
basins
become
more
contested

11. Issue
4.
• Challenges
associated
with
water
security
are
intricately
linked
with
issues
related
to
food
and
energy
security

12. Lesson:
Understand
the
connec6ons,
the
dependencies,
and
the
costs
and
benefits

13. Issue
5.
• Having
an
aspiraHonal
vision
for
a
basin
can
promote
a
long-­‐term
view
BUT
may
not
always
provide
guidance
on
how
trade-­‐offs
should
be
managed

14. Lesson:
Acknowledge
that
you
can’t
have
everything
and
decide
what
it
is
you
want
from
the
basin
Pegram
et
al.,
2012

15. Thank
you!