This document discusses addressing floods and droughts in river basins supported by Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis/Strategic Action Programs (TDA/SAPs). It lists 22 river basins that have conducted TDAs and the 18 that also have SAPs. The Volta Basin is used as an example, describing its flood and drought causes as above average rainfall, dams, agriculture/mining, and lack of governance. Impacts are listed as infrastructure/livelihood losses, poverty, migration, land degradation and more. Monitoring development and use of data/information management systems and GIS are recommended. Decision support systems are proposed to help with information management, assessments, planning scenarios, and stakeholder involvement for integrated water resources

1. Adressing Floods and Drought
in GEF supported TDA/SAPs
IWC-7
October 2013
Peter Bjornsen, UNEP-DHI Centre

2. TDA
Volta Basin
Senegal River Basin
Lake Chad Basin
Orange-Senqu River Basin
Danube river Basin
São Francisco river Basin (DAB)
Okavango River Basin
Lake Victoria Basin
Lake Tanganyika
Lake Shkoder
Pantanal Basin (in portuguese)
Kura River Basin
Lake Peipsi
San Juan River Basin
Bermejo River Basin
Dnipro River Basin
Niger River Basin
Amazon river basin
Tumen River Basin
SAP
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
(X)
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

3. Volta Basin
Causes
Flood events*:
Above average rainfall,
inapropriately used dams,
unsustainable agriculture
and mining,
Illegal diversion of river
channels for mining.
Droughts :
Increased water demand,
deforestation,
longer dry seasons,
lack of transboundary
coordination and efficient
governance (also for
floods).
Impacts
Events
described
Qualitatively
Flood events:
Changes in the
Loss of infrastructure,
overall aggregate
Loss of livelihoods,
volume
Droughts:
available, and
Poverty,
changes in the
Increased migration,
temporal and
Social instability.
seasonal
Land degradation,
distribution of
Biodiversity loss.
water availability
Coastal ecosystem erosion; observed. Water
Aquatic invasive species; shortages have
Increased sedimentation, become more
Loss of soil and vegetative intense and less
cover,
predictable.
Deteriorating water
quality.
Monitoring
Develop and
establish
national/
regional landbased
activities data
and information
management
system
Develop
capabilities of
GIS use/Monitor
supply and
quality of water
in major rivers/

4. Climatic variability and change

5. Multiple challenges
Floods
Irrigation
Domestic
water
Hydropower
Drought

6. Why Decision Support Systems?
Provide an opportunity to embed IT and analytical
tools more thoroughly in WR agencies’ workflow;
Provide a technical platform for collaboration
internally and externally;
The DSS concept matches well with implementation
of IWRM processes by WR agencies

7. Information
managemen
t
Emergency
management
Operational
forecasting
Real-time
TDA
Screening
and
assessment
SAP
Climate change
adaptation
Prevention
and mitigation

8. Typical Technical Frameworks of DSSs
….with an array of underlying generic tools

9.  Linkage to observation networks and data sources;
 Formulation of appropriate data collection
programs;
 Data processing & analysis tools;
 Procedures for data transfer & sharing;
 Approve / quality control of data / information

10. Main Components of DSSs
Assessments of current situation;
Evaluating planning scenarios;
Climate change impacts & adaptation;
Water allocation procedures;
Disaster management ;

11. Structured analysis and use of data;
Understanding complex cause-effect relationships;
Consistent scenario modelling
Planning oriented models
Process oriented models

12. Main Components of DSSs
Sharing of data / information ;
Publishing plans / reports;
Stakeholder involvement;
Providing learning tools.

13. Tools
Down scaling
Adapters
Spread Sheets
Indicators
Multi Criteria Analysis
Simulation codes
Scripting
WEB Publishing
Scenario Analysis
Access Control
Time Series Processing
Optimisers
Scheduling
GIS
Data Bridges
Visualisation

15. How does DSS fit with IWRM at river basin level ?
Recognition
Identify problems and
needs
Public awareness
Assessments
Course of actions
Draft Planning
Coordination
Reaching agreements
Final basin Plan
Implementation
Monitoring &
evaluation