Simulating the hydrology of small coastal ecosystems in conditions of limited data
Simulating the hydrology of small coastal ecosystems in conditions of limited data

Author: Smakhtin, Vladimir U., Piyankarage, Sujeewa C., Stanzel, P., Boelee, Eline

Publisher: IWMI

Published: 2004

Total Pages: 36

ISBN-13: 9290905387

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The impacts of water resources and irrigation development need to be quantified in order to understand the environmental costs of such development activities. Complex data-intensive simulation methods are normally used for this purpose in the developed world. However, lack of reliable data prohibits the use of such models in developing countries where it is more practical to apply models with less data requirements. The report illustrates three applications of simple and pragmatic simulation models to small coastal water bodies in Sri Lanka and South Africa.

An assessment of small-scale users' inclusion in large-scale water user associations of South Africa
An assessment of small-scale users' inclusion in large-scale water user associations of South Africa

Author: Faysse, Nicolas

Publisher: IWMI

Published: 2004

Total Pages: 45

ISBN-13: 9290905735

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The management of water resources is being transformed in South Africa. All water users, especially the small-scale ones, are now invited to participate in this movement. This report reviews the process of inclusion of small-scale users in the new large-scale Water User Associations (WUA).Considering the difficulties encountered in this process, this report also recommend external monitoring after the transformation of an Irrigation Board into a WUA. This method may also facilitate assessment of the inclusion of small-scale users into catchment management agencies, and water resource management organizations.

The Use of Remote Sensing Data for Drought Assessment and Monitoring in Southwest Asia
The Use of Remote Sensing Data for Drought Assessment and Monitoring in Southwest Asia

Author: Prasad Srinivasa Thenkabail

Publisher: IWMI

Published: 2004

Total Pages: 34

ISBN-13: 9290905751

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This report describes the development of the near real-time drought monitoring and reporting system for the region, which currently includes Afghanistan, Pakistan and western parts of India. The system is based on drought-related indices derived from high-resolution remote-sensing data (MODIS). The unique feature of the study is the development of regression relationships between drought-related indices obtained from MODIS and AVHRR data, which have different pixel-resolution and optical characteristics. The goal is to make the system available, via Internet, to all stakeholders in the region.

Wetlands and Natural Resource Management
Wetlands and Natural Resource Management

Author: Jos T.A. Verhoeven

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2006-11-22

Total Pages: 365

ISBN-13: 3540331875

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This book provides a broad and well-integrated overview of recent major scientific results in wetland science and their applications in natural resource management issues. The contributors, internationally known experts, summarize the state of the art on an array of topics, divided into four broad areas: The Role of Wetlands for Integrated Water Resources Management: Putting Theory into Practice; Wetland Science for Environmental Management; Wetland Biogeochemistry; Wetlands and Climate Change Worldwide.

Planning for environmental water allocations: An example of hydrology-based assessment in the East Rapti River, Nepal
Planning for environmental water allocations: An example of hydrology-based assessment in the East Rapti River, Nepal

Author: Smakhtin, Vladimir, Shilpakar, R. L.

Publisher: IWMI

Published: 2005

Total Pages: 29

ISBN-13: 9290905948

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Although the protection of the aquatic environment is high on the world water resources agenda, most developing countries still lack the technical and institutional capacity to establish environmental water allocation practices and policies. The existing methods of assessment of environmental water allocations are either complex and resource-intensive or not tailor-made for the specific conditions of a particular country or region. To promote emerging concepts of environmental flow assessment and management, it is important to change the dominant perception that environmental demand is the least important and create awareness among responsible authorities about existing methodologies and processes that should be followed. This report presents some of these approaches and illustrates their applicability in the specific context of the East Rapti River basin, which features one of the main tourist attractions of Nepal, the Chitwan National Park.

Spatial Variation in Water Supply and Demand Across River Basins of India
Spatial Variation in Water Supply and Demand Across River Basins of India

Author: Upali Amarasinghe

Publisher: IWMI

Published: 2005

Total Pages: 46

ISBN-13: 9290905727

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India is a large country with regional differences in per-capita water supply and demand. Attempts to describe the water situation in India at a national level are often misleading due to the tremendous diversity in the water situation across the country. This Report analyzes the spatial variation of water supply and demand across river basins in India. The study identifies basins that are water-scarce because of inadequate water availability to meet the effective demand. It also identifies issues that are important for estimating the future water demand and for the formation of policy for future water-resources development and management.

Working wetlands: classifying wetland potential for agriculture
Working wetlands: classifying wetland potential for agriculture

Author: McCartney, M. P., Masiyandima, M., Houghton-Carr, H. A.

Publisher: IWMI

Published: 2005

Total Pages: 44

ISBN-13: 9290905980

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This paper reports on a form of multi-criteria analysis that provides a formal approach for evaluating the suitability of a wetland for specific agricultural uses, and ensures that explicit consideration is given to the possible consequences of such utilization. The method is based on a hybrid of ideas taken from concepts and methodologies related to: environmental flow assessments, land suitability classification and the hazard evaluation procedures used in the design of dams. The approach, which elaborates the idea of working wetlands, is generic, though the examples presented are for case studies from southern Africa.

Economics and politics of water resources development: Uda Walawe Irrigation Project, Sri Lanka
Economics and politics of water resources development: Uda Walawe Irrigation Project, Sri Lanka

Author: Molle, Francois, Renwick, M.

Publisher: IWMI

Published: 2005

Total Pages: 78

ISBN-13: 9290905840

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The Uda Walawe Irrigation and Resettlement Project (UWIRP) located in the Southern dry zone of Sri Lanka was initiated in the early 1950s. The original plan for the UWIRP was a highly ambitious social, economic and physical engineering project aimed at creating a modern, profitable agriculture sector. This report examines the history of water resources development and investment decisions for the UWIRP over a period of 50 years and uncovers underlying processes that shaped the evolution of the project and highlights the limitation of viewing development as a mere set of technical and social engineering endeavors.

Strategies for the Management of Conjunctive Use of Surface Water and Groundwater Resources in Semi-arid Areas
Strategies for the Management of Conjunctive Use of Surface Water and Groundwater Resources in Semi-arid Areas

Author: Asad Sarwar Qureshi

Publisher: IWMI

Published: 2004

Total Pages: 33

ISBN-13: 9290905794

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Due to inadequate rainfall, groundwater has acquired a vital role in the development of Pakistan's agricultural economy. However, a lack of awareness concerning the use of groundwater, either by itself or combined with canal water, has added large amounts of salt to the soil. As a result, large tracts of irrigated lands are already salinized, while many others are under threat. This report presents the results of a modeling study carried out to evaluate the long-term effects of a different quality of irrigation water on root zone salinity. The simulations were performed for the Rechna Doab (sub basin of the Indus Basin) in Pakistan, by using 15 years of actual rainfall and climatic data.

Proceedings of the National Conference on Water, Food Security, and Climate Change in Sri Lanka, BMICH, Colombo, June 9-11, 2009. Volume 2. Water quality, environment, and climate change
Proceedings of the National Conference on Water, Food Security, and Climate Change in Sri Lanka, BMICH, Colombo, June 9-11, 2009. Volume 2. Water quality, environment, and climate change

Author: Alexandra Evans

Publisher: IWMI

Published: 2010

Total Pages: 190

ISBN-13: 9290907223

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Contributed papers presented at the conference organized by International Water Management Institute, Irrigation Dept., Dept. of Agriculture, and Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute.