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

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A pathway to healthy rivers

Robert Speed





Context

• Rapid economic development

• Unprecedented pressures on river systems

• Declining river health

• Emerging policies and plans to improve river

health



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?



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



Strategic planningIdentify assets and values;goals and objectives

Policy measures• Water allocation/e-

flows• Pollution control

• Catchmentmanagement

River scienceUnderstand rivercondition andprocesses

Institutions








Institutions



Strategic

basinplanning



Waterallocation

plans

Water resourcesdevelopment andoperations plans

Conservation& restoration

plans

Water qualityprotection

plans

Waterdemand andsupply plans

Flood riskmanagement

plans

Masterbasin plan



Strategic environmental planning



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



At the project level:

• Avoid incremental impacts• Recognise/identify strategic objectives

– Social

– Ecological

– Economic








Institutions



E i l fl d ll i



Environmental flows and water allocation

ld l ll d



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




• 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








Institutions



River science

• River health assessment – Understand condition, threats

– Guide management response

– Track effectiveness• Environmental flow assessment

– Maximise effectiveness of water forenvironment



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




Equally relevant at:• Planning stage/environmental impact

assessment

• Ongoing monitoring








Institutions



Golden rules: institutions

1. Clear mandates, powers andresponsibilities

2. Recognise capacity constraints



Thank-you