Water

Dams and Development E-Paper Contents

p. -1 of 74 BACK | NEXT Home Page of Dams and Development Foreword I. Why an e-paper on dams and development? II. Assessing options III. Participatory processes IV. Social impacts V. Environmental impacts VI. Benefit distribution VII. Dam safety and sustainability VIII. Existing projects IX. Improving governance X. What other organizations say XI. ADB, Dams, and Development XII. References Contact Us

IUCN: Flow - the essential guide to environmental flows

Based on its global experience and case studies, IUCN-The World Conservation prepared a guidance document, Flow, that provides the rationale for determining environmental flows, methodologies to define the flows, options for modifying infrastructure so that the flows can be delivered, sources of finance, covers the policy and regulatory requirements and notes the importance of obtaining political support.

An essential element of flow determination is the social and political process of determining the target river condition - defining the objectives and negotiating the various scenarios. Scientific methods are required to provide a link between these targets and the flow regimes to achieve them.

Four methods are presented to define ecological flow requirements, depending on the context and level of information and understanding of the river system already available:

• Look up tables
• Desk-top analysis
• Functional analysis
• Habitat modeling

These analyses methods are part of wider assessment frameworks that 'identifies the problem, uses the best technical method, and presents the results to decision-makers'. (Flow, section 2.5). The three frameworks described are:

• In-stream Flow Incremental Methodology (IFIM)
• Downstream Response to Imposed Flow Transformation (DRIFT)
• Catchment Management Abstraction Strategies (CAMS)

Also see IUCN Publication Value - 'a practical guide that explains the most important steps and techniques for the valuation of ecosystem services, and the incorporation of its results in decision-making'.

Back Dams and Development	Next Contact Us