WLW Day 1: A pathway to healthy rivers by Robert Speed

8/3/2019 WLW Day 1: A pathway to healthy rivers by Robert Speed

1/24

A pathway to healthy rivers

Robert Speed

8/3/2019 WLW Day 1: A pathway to healthy rivers by Robert Speed

2/24

8/3/2019 WLW Day 1: A pathway to healthy rivers by Robert Speed

3/24

Context

Rapid economic development

Unprecedented pressures on river systems

Declining river health

Emerging policies and plans to improve river

health

8/3/2019 WLW Day 1: A pathway to healthy rivers by Robert Speed

4/24

So, what have we learnt about improving riverhealth through better river basin

management?

And how can we apply this knowledge in

different rivers and different countries?

8/3/2019 WLW Day 1: A pathway to healthy rivers by Robert Speed

5/24

Foundation principles

To maintain and improve river health weneed to:

Recognise the value of healthy rivers and

be clear what we want from our rivers

Understand how our rivers function

Put in place systems and institutions to

protect and restore

8/3/2019 WLW Day 1: A pathway to healthy rivers by Robert Speed

6/24

Strategic planningIdentify assets and values;goals and objectives

Policy measures Water allocation/e-

flows Pollution control

Catchmentmanagement

River scienceUnderstand rivercondition andprocesses

Institutions

8/3/2019 WLW Day 1: A pathway to healthy rivers by Robert Speed

7/24

Strategic planningIdentify assets and values;goals and objectives

Policy measures Water allocation/e-

flows Pollution control

Catchmentmanagement

River scienceUnderstand rivercondition andprocesses

Institutions

8/3/2019 WLW Day 1: A pathway to healthy rivers by Robert Speed

8/24

Strategic

basinplanning

8/3/2019 WLW Day 1: A pathway to healthy rivers by Robert Speed

9/24

Waterallocation

plans

Water resourcesdevelopment andoperations plans

Conservation& restoration

plans

Water qualityprotection

plans

Waterdemand andsupply plans

Flood riskmanagement

plans

Masterbasin plan

8/3/2019 WLW Day 1: A pathway to healthy rivers by Robert Speed

10/24

Strategicenvironmental planning

8/3/2019 WLW Day 1: A pathway to healthy rivers by Robert Speed

11/24

Golden rules: strategic (basin) planning

1. Understand how the system operates: hydrological,

physical, ecological, social, economic andinstitutional

2. Plan and act, even without full knowledge

3. Establish vision, priorities, objectives

4. Focus on implementation throughout

5. Enable adaption to changing circumstances

6. Address issues at the appropriate scale

8/3/2019 WLW Day 1: A pathway to healthy rivers by Robert Speed

12/24

At the project level:

Avoid incremental impacts Recognise/identify strategic objectives

Social

Ecological

Economic

8/3/2019 WLW Day 1: A pathway to healthy rivers by Robert Speed

13/24

Strategic planningIdentify assets and values;goals and objectives

Policy measures Water allocation/e-

flows Pollution control

Catchmentmanagement

River scienceUnderstand rivercondition andprocesses

Institutions

8/3/2019 WLW Day 1: A pathway to healthy rivers by Robert Speed

14/24

E i l fl d ll i

8/3/2019 WLW Day 1: A pathway to healthy rivers by Robert Speed

15/24

Environmental flows and water allocation

ld l ll d

8/3/2019 WLW Day 1: A pathway to healthy rivers by Robert Speed

16/24

Golden rules: water allocation andenvironmental flows

1. Environmental water needs should provide the

foundation for water allocation decisions

2. Level of complexity of the plan/approach should reflect

the complexity in the basin

3. Allow flexibility to deal with changing circumstances4. Exercise caution in granting water entitlements

5. Establish robust mechanisms for implementing e-flows

8/3/2019 WLW Day 1: A pathway to healthy rivers by Robert Speed

17/24

At the project level:

Consideration in determining project viability:system yield, environmental (flow) impact

Infrastructure design to support:

E-flow implementation (releases) Connectivity

Identify links between water quality and flow

regime

8/3/2019 WLW Day 1: A pathway to healthy rivers by Robert Speed

18/24

Strategic planningIdentify assets and values;goals and objectives

Policy measures Water allocation/e-

flows Pollution control

Catchmentmanagement

River scienceUnderstand rivercondition andprocesses

Institutions

8/3/2019 WLW Day 1: A pathway to healthy rivers by Robert Speed

19/24

River science

River health assessment Understand condition, threats

Guide management response

Track effectiveness Environmental flow assessment

Maximise effectiveness of water forenvironment

8/3/2019 WLW Day 1: A pathway to healthy rivers by Robert Speed

20/24

Golden rules: river science andassessing river health

1. Set clear goals and objectives

2. Select appropriate indicators: linked to assets,

responsive

3. Classify rivers

4. Set appropriate reference values

5. Report results

6. Implement the monitoring program to informmanagement

8/3/2019 WLW Day 1: A pathway to healthy rivers by Robert Speed

21/24

At the project level:

Equally relevant at: Planning stage/environmental impact

assessment

Ongoing monitoring

8/3/2019 WLW Day 1: A pathway to healthy rivers by Robert Speed

22/24

Strategic planningIdentify assets and values;goals and objectives

Policy measures Water allocation/e-

flows Pollution control

Catchmentmanagement

River scienceUnderstand rivercondition andprocesses

Institutions

8/3/2019 WLW Day 1: A pathway to healthy rivers by Robert Speed

23/24

Golden rules: institutions

1. Clear mandates, powers andresponsibilities

2. Recognise capacity constraints

8/3/2019 WLW Day 1: A pathway to healthy rivers by Robert Speed

24/24

Thank-you