wesley henson, alex boswell-ebersole, molly carver, cristian pacheco skills practicum, summer 2012
TRANSCRIPT
Environmental Flow Policy Analysis for the Tempisque
River; Costa RicaEmploying Stakeholder Driven Data Collection to
Inform Water Management Decisions
Wesley Henson, Alex Boswell-Ebersole, Molly Carver, Cristian Pacheco
Skills Practicum, Summer 2012
OverviewIntroduction
Project ScopeSurface WaterGroundwaterImportance of hydrology in ecological systems
Environmental Flow AnalysisStakeholder AnalysisLaw and Policy Framework AnalysisTraditional Ecological Knowledge
Introduction
Scoping QuestionsAre the proposed environmental flows
adequate for maintaining the ecological integrity of the Tempisque River?
What changes in the Legal/Policy framework are necessary to implement an environmental flow?
What tools can be developed to enhance our understanding of the system?
Surface WaterPrinciple flow contributions
precipitationreturn flows from irrigation Districtgroundwater
72% of rain from June to NovemberFloods in the wet season Low/No flow during the dry season Available data is limited
GroundwaterOften, groundwater is the only source of potable water
for population centers Over the last decade, 93% increase in well
construction. Over 9,886 estimated wells
Aquifers over-exploitedExtensive tourism development Municipal Use Agricultural production
Yet… VERY LITTLE IS KNOWN ABOUT THE AQUIFERS
Importance of Hydrology in Ecological Systems
The hydrologic regime:
Shapes the evolution, distribution, and stability of aquatic biota and ecological processes
Retention of sediments and organic matter
Pollutant transport
Water depth and temperature
Available dissolved oxygen for aquatic life.Can alter riparian habitats.
Environmental FlowEnvironmental flows should consider
minimum amount of flowvariation in flow regimes
low flows seasonal highs flood peaks extraordinary events
Environmental Flows Should belegally defensiblescientifically defensibleadministratively feasible
Human
Needs
Ecological Health
Evaluation of Proposed Environmental Flow
May
June Ju
ly
Augus
t
Septe
mbe
r
Octob
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Novem
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Decem
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Janu
ary
Febru
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chApr
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5
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Proposed Environmental Flow
Current ConcessionsMinimum Environmental FlowMaximum amount for concession
Month
Str
eam
flow
in c
ubic
mete
rs/s
econd
Stakeholder AnalysisAgriculture Industry Subsistence UsersLocal and Federal Governments
AyA MINAET MINSA SENARA SETENA ICE
Local communitiesAquaculture TourismFishing Industry (Gulf of
Nicoya)
Current Water Law
MINAET grants the concessionsConcessions (required for all uses except
domestic)Only two criteriaDuration = 30 years max
Creates a hierarchy of priorities for competing applicants (but – based on values 1940’s values)
Existing users still entitled to use water (even if they cant prove acquisition of use was legal)
Problems with the Current FrameworkThe Water Law is old
The hierarchy established is out of dateNo institutional coordination
They operate pursuant to their own self-interested regulations
SENARA’s Fee for Irrigation waterNo incentive for conservation or efficiency
No procedure for establishing environmental flow
Why Advocate for the Passage of New Water Bill?
Facilitates Institutional Coordination (Creates NDWR)
Decisions made in consideration of hydrologic basin scale
Establishes a hierarchy of uses (like the current law) BUT these uses are determined by standards set by each Hydrologic Unit
Maximum concession duration = 20 years Establishes procedure for setting
environmental flow “flow required to satisfy permanent ecosystem
needs”
Traditional Ecological Knowledge
“All types of knowledge about the environment derived from the experiences and traditions of a particular group of people".
(Esselman, Opperman, 2000)
Citizen Driven Data CollectionPeople have a vested interest in water managementData is limiting factor in decision-makingTake advantage of Traditional Ecological
KnowledgeTrain citizens to collect data about surface
water and groundwater Simple methods
Groundwater levels River Stage Flow velocity
Establish a central data base to store collected data so it is available to stakeholders
Take Home MessageProposed environmental flow methodology is
sound
New water legislation should be passed to facilitate better water management
TEK and Citizen Driven science may be able to fill the huge gaps in understanding of the system
QUESTIONS?