Integrated Water Resources Management on the World Stage

Ari M. Michelsen Ph.D. Texas A&M AgriLife Research, El Paso Research Center

The Texas A&M University System

American Water Resources Association 2012 Annual Conference

November 12-15, 2012 – Jacksonville, Florida

Michelsen

Source: Facing the Future, IBM, 2012

Water Interdependencies

Pressure on water resources highlights the hydrologic, social, economic and ecological inter-dependencies and need for integrated approaches to developing and managing water and land resources.

IWRM Development

Ø  Global Water Partnership (GWP) 1996 Ø  GWP, IWRM Background Paper No. 4, Stockholm,

2000

Ø  UNDP, Cap-Net & GWP, IWRM Tutorial, 2005

Ø  GWP, IWRM: Strengthening Local Action, 4th World Water Forum, 2006

Ø  GWP & INBO, Handbook for IWRM in Basins, 2009 & 2012

Ø  International Center for Integrated Water Resources Management ICIWaRM, UNESCO & U.S. Govt. (USACE-IWR), 2009

World IWRM Development

Ø  IWRM is a process that promotes the coordinated development and management of water, land and related resources in order to maximize economic and social welfare without compromising the sustainability of ecosystems and the environment (GWP 2000).

Ø  Operationally, IWRM approaches involve applying knowledge from various disciplines as well as insights from diverse stakeholders to devise and implement efficient, equitable and sustainable solutions to water and development problems (GWP 2000).

World IWRM Concept

Ø  Comprehensive (integrated)

Ø  Participatory

Ø  Planning and implementation tool

Ø  All sources of water

Ø  Balances social and economic needs

Ø  Ensures protection of ecosystems for future generations

World IWRM Principles

Ø  IWRM designated 6th WWF Priority Theme l  Balancing Multiple Water Uses Through IWRM

l  AWRA selected as lead and Chair of IWRM Theme

l  Organized 10 IWRM Sessions with international committee members

l  Sessions addressed IWRM issues, impediments, solutions, recommendations and highlighted case studies

World IWRM Activities

Ø Getting Started: Choosing an entry point for a National IWRM strategy. l  Target: By 2015, according to their laws and

regulations, 25 new countries new countries will adopt processes that encourage/ensure the participation of all stakeholders in IWRM, and thus set up and empower appropriate Integrated Water Resources Management authorities at relevant levels, representing the stakeholders.

IWRM 6th WWF Issues & Targets

Ø  IWRM for All: Make water planning a reality by adopting IWRM plans.

l  Target: By 2018, the same 25 countries/authorities make water resource planning a reality by adopting Integrated Water Resource Management (Master) Plan (IWRMP) at various scales within the perimeter of the IWRM authorities they have constituted and empowered.

IWRM 6th WWF Issues & Targets

Ø Water Quality: Which water for which use? Developing a framework of reference.

l  By 2015 establish a worldwide recognized frame of reference related to the quantity and the quality required for different uses, through joint work between international professional associations representing all usages of water and scientists.

IWRM 6th WWF Issues & Targets

Ø  Valuing water and ecosystems in decisions to ensure our sustainability.

l  By 2015, reference methods for guiding the economic valuation of water resources and ecosystems are available to business, governments, and finance institutions. By 2018, those reference methods are standardized to support a systematic inclusion of economic values of water resources and ecosystem services in decision making and IWRM.

IWRM 6th WWF Issues & Targets

Ø Elaborate and validate models to help decision makers implement IWRM.

l  By 2015 elaborate and validate models which could be used as tools for helping decisions makers implement IWRM to balance multiple water uses to best achieve desired goals.

IWRM 6th WWF Issues & Targets

Ø  Sustainable management of multiple use water services.

l  By 2015, water service professionals, jointly with international associations representing all usages of water, issue appropriate guidelines (with indicators of impact assessment on health, wealth, environment, resource management and hydraulic system sustainable operation) for managing multiple resources and multiple use services (MUS) in line with those approved by international organizations and funding institutions.

IWRM 6th WWF Issues & Targets

Ø Water accounting & monitoring for managing multiple uses of water.

l  By 2015, IWRM authorities, jointly with water service professionals will identify reliable methods and provide recommendations on appropriate equipment for accounting/ measurement of withdrawn water resources as well as produced, distributed, consumptive use and return flow water volumes.

IWRM 6th WWF Issues & Targets

Ø  Integrating groundwater and IWRM. l  The session outcome was a desire among the

participants to stay informed about groundwater and IWRM: case histories, research, conferences, etc. To that end, a commitment was made by the Coordinator, Dr. Michael E. Campana, AWRA, and Oregon State University (USA), to develop an online community focusing on ‘Groundwater and IWRM ‘(see http://is.gd/FVm95P).

IWRM 6th WWF Issues & Targets

Ø Broad recognition that IWRM can be conducted at many scales and levels of comprehensiveness

Ø Does not have to be perfect

Ø Must be tailored for local conditions

Ø Engage stakeholders

6th WWF IWRM Consensus

Ø Successful IWRM efforts typically included:

l  Legal/institutional support

l  Common interests and/or issues

l  Potential for mutual benefit

l  Financial support/incentives

l  Stakeholder involvement, communication & education

6th WWF IWRM Findings

Ø  Multidisciplinary AWRA is well suited to IWRM

Ø  Held 4 Water Policy Dialogues, IWRM rec.

Ø  Conducted large survey of water professionals on IWRM 2006 – 100% support; but what is it?

Ø  AWRA adopts IWRM Policy Statement 2011

Ø  Organized International Specialty Conference on IWRM 2011

Ø  2012 – IWRM Award established and 1st Award

Ø  AWRA Policy Committee - Case Studies in IWRM: From Local Stewardship to National Vision, 2012

AWRA and IWRM Activities