Your search found 11 records
1 O’Brien, G. C.; Dickens, Chris; Hines, E.; Wepener, V.; Stassen, R.; Landis, W. G. 2018. A regional scale ecological risk framework for environmental flow evaluations. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 22(2):957-975. [doi: https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2017-37, 2017]
Environmental flows ; Environmental impact assessment ; Environmental sustainability ; Environmental management ; Risk assessment ; Ecological factors ; Water resources ; Water management ; Best practices ; Decision making ; Catchment areas ; Stakeholders ; Mapping ; Uncertainty ; Case studies / South Africa / Lesotho / Kenya / Tanzania / Senqu River Catchment / Mara River Catchment
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H048063)
http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci-discuss.net/hess-2017-37/hess-2017-37.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H048063.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H048063.pdf
(1.81 MB)
Recent developments in Environmental Flow (E-flow) frameworks advocate holistic, regional scale, probabilistic E-flow assessments that consider flow and non-flow drivers of change in socio-ecological context as best practice. Regional Scale ecological risk assessments of multiple sources, stressors and diverse ecosystems that address multiple social and ecological endpoints, have been undertaken internationally at different spatial scales using the relative-risk model since the mid 1990's. With the recent incorporation of Bayesian belief networks into the relative-risk model, a robust regional scale ecological risk assessment approach is available that can contribute to achieving the best practice recommendations of E-flow frameworks. PROBFLO is a regional scale, holistic E-flow assessment method that incorporates the relative-risk model and Bayesian belief networks (BN-RRM) into a transparent probabilistic modelling tool that addresses uncertainty explicitly. PROBFLO has been developed to holistically evaluate the socio-ecological consequences of historical, current and future altered flows in the context of non-flow drivers and generate E-flow requirements on regional scales spatial scales. The approach has been implemented in two regional scale case studies in Africa where its flexibility and functionality has been demonstrated. In both case studies the evidence based outcomes facilitated informed environmental management decision making, in the context of social and ecological aspirations. This paper presents the PROBFLO approach as applied to the Senqu River catchment in Lesotho and further developments and application in the Mara River catchment in Kenya and Tanzania. The ten BN-RRM procedural steps incorporated in PROBFLO are demonstrated with examples from both case studies. Outcomes allowed stakeholders to consider sustainable social and ecological E-flow trade-offs between social and ecological endpoints. PROBFLO can be incorporated into adaptive management processes and contribute to the sustainable management of the use and protection of water resources.
2 Dickens, Chris; O’Brien, G.; Stassen, R.; Eriyagama, Nishadi; Kleynhans, M.; Rowntree, K.; Graham, M.; Ross-Gillespie, V.; MacKenzie, J.; Wymenga, E.; Mapedza, Everisto; Burnet, M.; Desai, M.; Hean, J. 2018. E-flows for the Upper Niger River and Inner Niger Delta: synthesis report. [Project report prepared by the International Water Management Institute for Wetlands International]. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE). 201p.
Environmental flows ; Rivers ; Deltas ; Water resources ; Aquatic ecosystems ; Monitoring ; Risk assessment ; Ecosystem services ; Habitats ; Invertebrates ; Birds ; Manatees ; Fisheries ; Floodplains ; Dams ; Sediment ; Water quality ; Flow discharge ; Vegetation ; Indicators ; Geomorphology ; Living standards ; Social aspects ; Ecological factors ; Hydrodynamics ; Modelling ; Case studies / West Africa / Mali / Niger / Upper Niger River / Inner Niger Delta / Bani River
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H049434)
(13.80 MB)
3 Dickens, Chris; O’Brien, G.; Stassen, R.; Eriyagama, Nishadi; Kleynhans, M.; Rowntree, K.; Graham, M.; Ross-Gillespie, V. 2018. E-flows for the Upper Niger and Inner Niger Delta: specialist reports - hydrology, hydraulics, geomorphology and water quality. [Project report prepared by the International Water Management Institute for Wetlands International]. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE). 210p.
Environmental flows ; Hydrology ; Hydraulics ; Geomorphology ; Water quality ; River basins ; Deltas ; Water resources ; Freshwater ; Surface water ; Groundwater ; Flow discharge ; Flooding ; Catchment areas ; Dams ; Sediment ; Habitats ; Risk assessment ; Climate change ; Hydrodynamics ; Land use ; Mining ; Population density ; Models / West Africa / Mali / Upper Niger River / Inner Niger Delta / Bani River / Sankarani River / Dialakoro / Gouala / Koulikoro / Ke Macina / Djenne / Koryoume
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H049435)
(16.40 MB)
4 Dickens, Chris; O’Brien, G.; Stassen, R.; Eriyagama, Nishadi; Kleynhans, M.; Rowntree, K.; Graham, M.; Ross-Gillespie, V.; MacKenzie, J.; Wymenga, E.; Mapedza, Everisto; Burnet, M.; Desai, M.; Hean, J. 2018. E-Flows for the Upper Niger River and Inner Niger Delta: specialist response report for vegetation, fish, invertebrates and birds. [Project report prepared by the International Water Management Institute for Wetlands International]. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE). 104p.
Environmental flows ; Vegetation ; Fisheries ; Invertebrates ; Birds ; Ecosystem services ; Aquatic environment ; Habitats ; Biodiversity ; Rivers ; Deltas ; Living standards ; Public health ; Waterborne diseases ; Risk assessment ; Malaria ; Onchocerciasis ; Parasites ; Pathogens ; Vectors ; Sanitation ; Water resources ; Water quality ; Floodplains ; Sediment ; Modelling / West Africa / Upper Niger River / Inner Niger Delta
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H049436)
(5.46 MB)
5 O’Brien, G. C.; Dickens, Chris; Baker, C.; Stassen, R.; van Weert, F. 2020. Sustainable floodplains: linking e-flows to floodplain management, ecosystems, and livelihoods in the Sahel of North Africa. Sustainability, 12(24):10578. (Special issue: Durable Protections for Free-Flowing Rivers) [doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/su122410578]
Floodplains ; Sustainability ; Environmental flows ; Water management ; Ecosystem services ; Livelihoods ; Risk assessment ; Water resources ; Flooding ; Social aspects ; Ecological factors ; Stakeholders ; Communities ; Habitats ; Deltas ; Rivers ; Models ; Uncertainty / North Africa / Sahel / Mali / Inner Niger Delta / Upper Niger River
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050174)
(16.10 MB) (16.1 MB)
Floodplains are particularly important in the semi-arid region of the Sub-Sahelian Africa. In this region, water governance is still being developed, often without adequate information and technical capacity for good, sustainable water resource management. However, water resources are being allocated for use with minimal sustainability considerations. Environmental flows (e-flows) include the quantity and timing of flows or water levels needed to meet the sustainable requirements of freshwater and estuarine ecosystems. Holistic regional scale e-flows linked to floodplain management can make a noticeable contribution to sustainable floodplain management. The Inner Niger Delta (IND) in Mali is an example of a vulnerable, socio-ecologically important floodplain in the Sahel region of North Africa that is being developed with little understanding of sustainability requirements. Although integrally linked to the Upper Niger River catchment, the IND sustains a million and half people within the region and exports food to surrounding areas. The flooding of the Delta is the engine of the socio-economic development as well as its ecological integrity. This paper aims to demonstrate the contribution that holistic regional e-flow assessment using the PROBFLO approach has to achieving floodplain sustainability. This can be achieved through the determining the e-flow requirements to maintain critical requirements of the ecosystems and associated services used by local vulnerable human communities for subsistence and describing the socio-ecological consequences of altered flows. These outcomes can contribute to the management of the IND. In this study, the socio-ecological consequences of altered flows have been evaluated by assessing the risk of alterations in the volume, duration, and timing of flows, to a number of ecological and social endpoints. Based on the risk posed to these endpoints by each scenario of change, an e-flow of 58% (26,685 million cubic meters (MCM) of water annually) was determined that would protect the ecosystem and maintain indicator components at a sustainable level. These e-flows also provide sustainable services to local communities including products for subsistence and limit any abnormal increases in diseases to the vulnerable African communities who live in the basin. Relative risk outputs for the development scenarios result in low-to-high-risk probabilities for most endpoints. The future development scenarios include insufficient flows to maintain sustainability during dry or low-flow periods with an increase in zero flow possibilities. Although unsuitable during the low-flow or dry periods, sufficient water is available through storage in the basin to meet the e-flows if these scenarios were considered for implementation. The IND is more vulnerable to changes in flows compared to the rivers upstream of the IND. The e-flow outcomes and consequences of altered flow scenarios has contributed to the management of vulnerable IND floodplains and the requirements and trade-off considerations to achieve sustainability.
6 Dickens, Chris; Mukuyu, Patience; Ndlovu, B.; O'Brien, G.; Stassen, R.; Magombeyi, Manuel. 2020. E-flows for the Limpopo River Basin: from vision to management. Project report prepared by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI); Washington, DC, USA: USAID. 104p. (E-flows for the Limpopo River Basin: Report 3) [doi: https://doi.org/10.5337/2022.218]
Environmental flows ; River basins ; Aquatic ecosystems ; Ecosystem services ; Water purification ; Cultural services ; Livelihoods ; Risk ; Ecological factors ; Habitats / Zimbabwe / South Africa / Mozambique / Botswana / Limpopo River Basin
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051952)
(3.61 MB)
7 Dickens, Chris; O'Brien, G.; Stassen, R.; van der Waal, B.; MacKenzie, J.; Eriyagama, Nishadi; Villholth, Karen; Ebrahim, Girma; Magombeyi, Manuel; Wepener, V.; Gerber, S.; Kaiser, A.; Diedericks, G. 2021. E-flows for the Limpopo River Basin: specialist literature and data review. Project report prepared by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI); Washington, DC, USA: USAID. 252p. (E-flows for the Limpopo River Basin: Report 4) [doi: https://doi.org/10.5337/2022.219]
Environmental flows ; River basins ; Hydrology ; Groundwater ; Water quality ; Geomorphology ; Hydraulics ; Vegetation ; Fish ; Aquatic invertebrates / Botswana / Mozambique / South Africa / Zimbabwe / Limpopo River Basin
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051953)
(9.48 MB)
8 O'Brien, G.; Dickens, Chris; Stassen, R.; Erasmus, H.; Herselman, S.; van der Waal, B.; Wepener, V.; Pearson, H.; LeRoux, H.; Villholth, Karen; Ebrahim, Girma; Magombeyi, Manuel; Riddell, E.; Petersen, R. 2022. E-flows for the Limpopo River Basin: present ecological state - drivers of ecosystem change. Project report prepared by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI); Washington, DC, USA: USAID. 296p. (E-flows for the Limpopo River Basin: Report 5) [doi: https://doi.org/10.5337/2022.220]
Environmental flows ; River basins ; Ecosystems ; Ecological factors ; Hydrology ; Groundwater ; Surface water ; Hydraulics ; Geomorphology ; Water quality / South Africa / Mozambique / Botswana / Zimbabwe / Limpopo River Basin
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051954)
(10.8 MB)
9 O'Brien, G.; Dickens, Chris; Wade, M.; Stassen, R.; Diedericks, G.; MacKenzie, J.; Kaiser, A.; van der Waal, B.; Wepener, V.; Villholth, Karen; Ebrahim, Girma; Dlamini, V.; Magombeyi, Manuel. 2022. E-flows for the Limpopo River Basin: environmental flow determination. Project report prepared by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI); Washington, DC, USA: USAID. 209p. (E-flows for the Limpopo River Basin: Report 7) [doi: https://doi.org/10.5337/2022.222]
Environmental flows ; River basins ; Ecosystem services ; Hydrology ; Fish ; Invertebrates ; Riparian vegetation ; Groundwater ; Water quality ; Ecological factors / Botswana / Zimbabwe / Mozambique / South Africa / Limpopo River Basin
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051956)
(5.75 MB)
10 O'Brien, G.; Dickens, Chris; Wade, M.; Stassen, R.; Wepener, V.; Diedericks, G.; MacKenzie, J.; Kaiser, A.; van der Waal, B.; Villholth, Karen; Ebrahim, Girma; Dlamini, V.; Magombeyi, Manuel. 2022. E-flows for the Limpopo River Basin: risk of altered flows to the ecosystem services. Project report prepared by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI); Washington, DC, USA: USAID. 144p. (E-flows for the Limpopo River Basin: Report 8) [doi: https://doi.org/10.5337/2022.223]
Environmental flows ; River basins ; Ecosystem services ; Risk assessment ; Water resources ; Water quality ; Ecological factors ; Fish ; Cultural services ; Models / Botswana / Zimbabwe / Mozambique / South Africa / Limpopo River Basin
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051957)
(6.84 MB)
11 Eriyagama, Nishadi; Messager, M. L.; Dickens, Chris; Tharme, R.; Stassen, R.. 2024. Towards the harmonization of global environmental flow estimates: comparing the Global Environmental Flow Information System (GEFIS) with country data. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 53p. (IWMI Research Report 186) [doi: https://doi.org/10.5337/2024.204]
Environmental flows ; Estimation ; Information systems ; Hydrological data ; Databases ; Comparisons ; Assessment ; Sustainable Development Goals ; Goal 6 Clean water and sanitation ; Freshwater ; Water resources ; Water stress ; Rivers ; Stream flow ; Runoff ; Aquatic ecosystems ; Habitats ; Ecological factors ; Catchment areas ; Land cover ; Drainage area ; Hydrological modelling ; Tools ; Time series analysis ; Heterogeneity ; Indicators ; Indexes
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI Record No: H052596)
(3.01 MB)
The source of data used to estimate the e-flow requirement in Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Indicator 6.4.2 (level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of available freshwater resources) is the Global Environmental Flow Information System (GEFIS), an online tool produced and managed by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI). In addition to the GEFIS estimate, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), as the custodians of the SDG indicator, encourages countries to put forward their locally determined e-flow estimates, especially if it differs from the GEFIS estimate. To date, however, only a few countries have taken up this opportunity. The aim of this report is to compare e-flows estimated by GEFIS with independent e-flow assessments performed at the local level to gauge the level of agreement between the two sets of estimates. We compared e-flow estimates from GEFIS to local e-flow estimates at 533 river sites.
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