IMPROVED LIVELIHOODS WITH DAMS

Background

Investment in new dams for the management of water resources in Africa is likely to increase in the foreseeable future. In many places the water regulated by dams is an absolute requirement to meet development objectives. However, with increasing water demand and greater awareness of environmental concerns and social responsibilities, the complexity of dam operation has increased greatly in recent years.


The wise and sustainable use of the water stored in a reservoir requires consideration of a large number of complex and inter-related issues and poses intricate technical and political problems. Many of these problems can be avoided if care is taken in planning and designing the dam and it's operation. Optimizing reservoir releases must take account of water uses upstream and downstream of the dam, including water supply, agriculture (i.e. irrigation and livestock), fisheries and power generation requirements, as well as the requirements of communities dependent on the natural resources of downstream ecosystems, possible health impacts and the needs of aquatic habitats. It is necessary to consider not just physical factors, but also livelihood and other socio-economic issues. In such situations, the quality of the decision-making process is critical to the sustainability of decisions made. There is a need for tools that facilitate both stakeholder participation and informed decision-making by clarifying the likely consequences of different management options.

The research questions
  • What kinds of decision support system are most appropriate for planning and operation of large dams in Africa?
  • How can decision support system be used most effectively to ensure successful participation of all stakeholders and assess the costs and benefits of different options to each?

Objectives
  • Complete Ethiopian and Ugandan case studies of dam planning and operation with a focus on environmental and social (including health) issues.
  • Publish guidelines for decision-making related to the planning and operation of dams in Africa

Methods
  • Carry out study of the impact of malaria in the vicinity of Koka dam, Ethiopia
  • Study environmental flows and water allocation from Chara Chara weir, Lake Tana, Ethiopia.
  • Study environmental impact assessment, water allocation and environmental flows at Koga dam, Ethiopia
  • Study dam operation on the Victoria Nile and upstream impacts on Lake Victoria, Uganda.

Project leader

Matthew McCartney (M.Mccartney@cgiar.org)

Researchers

Seleshi Awulachew, Jonathan Lautze

COLLABORATORS

Ministry of Water Resources Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Department of Civil Engineering, University of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Southern Waters, Cape Town South Africa

Major Donors

Challenge Program on Water and Food (CPWF)

Project Duration

01 January 2005 to 31 December 2008

Location

IWMI - Sub Regional Office for Nile Basin & Eastern Africa