| U.S.-Canada Transboundary Water Management | How do issues of equity and development impact the identification of stakeholders in cases involving hydropower or other revenue generating water infrastructure? | Because hydropower projects require large financial investments, groups that are unable to make financial contributions may be marginalized. This seems to be the case for the Columbia River Treaty, in which the traditional fishing grounds of a large number of Native American tribes were altered and fisheries destroyed to provide protection for cities in the United States and economic opportunities for Canada. Because of this tendency to undervalue stakeholders who are unable to invest in the project itself, it may be necessary for decision-makers to be especially vigilant and sensitive to stakeholder needs when dealing with hydropower projects. |
| U.S.-Canada Transboundary Water Management | What role(s) can hydropower play in a nation's energy strategy? | As in the Columbia River Treaty, hydropower can be a form of added value in addition to other benefits like flood control and drought protection, enabling payments and exchange to occur between countries which may facilitate or fund the construction of projects that might otherwise not be feasible. As recent controversy over the treaty indicates, it is best to consider the effects of engineering projects of the scale of hydroelectric dams on a multitude of stakeholders, because of their far-reaching ecological and hydrological impacts. Hydropower is a powerful tool for a nation’s energy strategy, but one that must be used prudently and with attention to impacts on “outsider” groups like endangered species and indigenous people. |
| US-Canada Columbia River Management | What kinds of water treaties or agreements between countries can provide sufficient structure and stability to ensure enforceability but also be flexible and adaptable given future uncertainties? | |
| US-Canada Columbia River Management | Where does the benefit “flow” from a hydropower project and how does that affect implementation and sustainability of the project? | |
| US-Canada Columbia River Management | What mechanisms beyond simple allocation can be incorporated into transboundary water agreements to add value and facilitate resolution? | |
| Upstream Hydropower Development in the Syr Darya River Basin, Downstream Impacts, and Potential Opportunities | What effective mechanisms can downstream states/countries use to protect their water related interests/rights? | |
| Urmia Lake: The Need for Water Diplomacy | How can government be dis/incentivized to offer an inclusive planning process? | Urmia Lake Restoration program initiated Iran Department of Environment (DOE) has prepared a 10-year plan to restore the Lake Urmia. The plan includes different solutions with a 10 year horizon will maintain the lakes condition. In addition to this, the UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) is also in collaboration with DOE have concluded the following solution to survive the lake (UNDP and DOE 2013):
Urgent Actions (to be implemented within 1-2 years)
* Strengthen the institutional structure
* Update the Integrated Management Plan
* Establish a Lake Urmia Sustainability Fund
* Reduce agricultural water use
* Mobilize a public campaign to conserve water
* Ecological restoration of (part of) the lake – “embayment”
* Implement health-protection measures (especially related to salt/dust storms)
* Develop a monitoring system on the condition of the basin and the lake
Recommended medium-term actions
* Prepare a long-term development vision for the Basin
* Continue with water conservation measures
* Do not prioritize certain supply-side measures
* Optimize the water allocation system |
| Urmia Lake: The Need for Water Diplomacy | How can consultation and cooperation among stakeholders and development partners be better facilitated/managed/fostered? | The government of Islamic Republic of Iran established the Urmia Lake Restoration Program (ULRP) in 2013. This program is under auspices of the President and then has more power than of the former program initiated by DOE. After several meetings, this program produced a set of guidelines, including 19 potential solutions for the lake. One of these solutions was to rent the lands of the Zarrinehrud River (which provides roughly 40% of all inflow to the lake) from farmers who did not harvest during winter seasons of the preceding three years. However, this solution was rejected by members of the local parliament who claimed the plan would negatively impact employment and waste funding on farmers, who do not possess effective tools to invest.
Another solution mentioned by the ULRP was reallocation of water among the lake's three neighboring provinces. When applied, however, this approach resulted in each province making greater demands, and ultimately claiming more water.
Consensus building among these stakeholders is vital to the survival of the lake. As the ULRP lacks the authority to enforce compliance among local provinces, agricultural and water ministries, and parliamentary units, the introduction of a "water parliament" is one solution in which all formal stakeholders can receive equitable consideration toward the development of a successful mandatory policy. |
| Water Competition & Cooperation in the Las Vegas Valley | How can consultation and cooperation among stakeholders and development partners be better facilitated/managed/fostered? | In the Las Vegas Valley, municipalities competing for a limited water supply led to great inefficiencies. The formation of a cooperative water management utility created incentives for conservation and led to decreased water demands. Serious near-term shortages sparked interest in cooperation but good leadership was critical in navigating the transition. |
| Water Management, Environment and Self-determination in Catalonia, Spain | What considerations can be given to incorporating collaborative adaptive management (CAM)? What efforts have the parties made to review and adjust a solution or decision over time in light of changing conditions? | The Ebro faces huge seasonal and annual variations leaving hydroelectricity, agriculture and aquaculture and domestic users with a high degree of uncertainty. However, users all have capacity and knowledge to collect data and share data as well as specific needs at the different periods of the year. A CAM process gathering central and Catalan government, basin agency and stakeholders could add on the existing attention given in the PHE, which estimates ranges of quantities. |
| Water Quality Control of the South-to-North Water Diversion (SNWD) Middle Route Project (MRP) | How can costs for water quality projects be distributed between polluters and beneficiaries? | A Payment for Water Quality Services (PWQS) scheme could provide a method for investigating ways that the Water Source Area and Water Receiving Area might share the costs associated with the project. |
| Water Quality and Pollution Control in the Rhine River Basin | What considerations can be given to incorporating collaborative adaptive management (CAM)? What efforts have the parties made to review and adjust a solution or decision over time in light of changing conditions? | Collaborative Adaptive Management was utilized in formulating the Rhine 2020 plan. Specifically, the Rhine 2020 and EU Water Framework Directive were adopted after the Rhine Action Program ended, and the goals of Rhine 2020 were formed through evaluating the (then) current state of the ecosystem and water quality, and adjusting the management plans as necessary to reflect the changing conditions (i.e. including flood management goals as part of the Rhine 2020). |
| Yarlung Zangbo / Brahmaputra River: Competing Priorities of Hydropower and Agriculture | What calculations and considerations should be investigated by countries looking to harness additional hydropower? Which potential outcomes should be investigated or identified? | Environmental impacts must be thoroughly assessed, lest the hydropower generation capacity be developed at the expense of water and ecosystem services that disadvantaged populations depend on, which can impact agricultural productivity and fishing on which these populations depend. |
| Yarlung Zangbo / Brahmaputra River: Competing Priorities of Hydropower and Agriculture | How do issues of equity and development impact the identification of stakeholders in cases involving hydropower or other revenue generating water infrastructure? | The population size, poverty levels, dependence on river flow for agriculture, and electricity needs can make certain parts of a basin more compelling candidates for the benefits of hydropower. However, the issue is complicated at the transnational level when the hydropower electricity generation will benefit one marginalized population and disadvantage another marginalized population downstream. |
| Yarlung Zangbo / Brahmaputra River: Competing Priorities of Hydropower and Agriculture | How can mutual trust amongst riparians be nurtured? What actions erode that trust? | Data sharing and regular forums for communication and cooperation can foster mutual trust amongst riparians. Lack of transparency around infrastructure projects and data sharing can erode that trust. |
| Yarlung Zangbo / Brahmaputra River: Competing Priorities of Hydropower and Agriculture | Where does the benefit “flow” from a hydropower project and how does that affect implementation and sustainability of the project? | While the benefits of electricity generation can create a positive impact at the regional or national level, the disadvantages of hydropower generation (such as reduced river flow) can impact those populations living closest or downstream of a hydropower project. |
| Yarlung Zangbo / Brahmaputra River: Competing Priorities of Hydropower and Agriculture | What role(s) can hydropower play in a nation's energy strategy? | It can help a country supply “clean” energy without additional carbon emissions, which is particularly relevant in the case of China. |
