This presentation is the part of 12-day (28 January–8 February 2019) training workshop on “Multi-scale Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) from the Hindu Kush Himalayan Perspective” organized by the Strengthening Water Resources Management in Afghanistan (SWaRMA) Initiative of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), and targeted at participants from Afghanistan.

1. Strengthening Water Resources Management in
Afghanistan (SWaRMA)
Training Workshop on Multi-scale Integrated River Basin Management from a HKH perspective
Australian basin planning process
Andrew Johnson PSM
ajohnson@icewarm.com.au

2. Integrated Water Resources Management
“Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) is a process which promotes the coordinated
development and management of water, land and related resources, in order to maximise the resultant
economic and social welfare in an equitable manner without compromising the sustainability of vital
ecosystems.” GWP-TAC, 2000[i]

3. IWRM Principles
Water is a finite, changing and vulnerable resource
Water development and management should be based on a
participatory approach, involving users, planners and policy-
makers at all levels
Women play a central part in the provision, management and
safeguarding of water
Water is a public good and has a social and economic value in
all its competing uses
Based on three e’s (equitable, efficient and ecologically
sustainable)

4. IWRM Pillars
• An enabling environment of suitable policies, strategies and
legislation for sustainable water resources development and
management,
• Putting in place the institutional framework through which to
put into practice the policies, strategies and legislation, and
• Setting up the management instruments required by these
institutions to do their job.

5. Conceptual Model Design
• Climate
• Rainfall/Snow/Ice
• Surface/groundwater
• Water quality
• River systems modelling
• Biophysical modelling
• Ecosystems
• Socio-economic modelling
• Potable water, sanitation and hygiene
• Hydropower
• Agriculture/ Irrigation
• Ecosystem services
• Social/Cultural benefits

6. Murray-Darling
Basin
• 1 million km2
• 20% of mainland Australia
• 2 major river systems
– Murray River 2,530 km
– Darling River 2,740 km
• 4 States and 1 Territory
• Supports 3 million people
• 75% of Australia’s irrigation
• $15 A Billion in Agricultural
production

7. Australia’s Agreed Water
Policy Objectives
• Water security
• Water use efficiency
• Water for the environment
• Sustainable supply
• Tradability of water
• Better metering and water accounting
• Improved science, socio-economic input to
decisions
• Better, more participatory, water decision
making

8. Managing Towards Sustainable Level of Use
Sustainable Use
Current Water Use
Sustainable Use
Current Water Use
Under developedOver developed
Water resource Water resource
Defined by
the
stakeholders

9. The Catalyst
• The Millennium Drought created extreme ecological, social
and economic stress
• Water trading demonstrated that:
water was a valuable commodity
its actual fiscal value is seasonally variable (market/season
demand)
nominally the volume of water is limited
Water can have a capital and operating value
• The Basin Plan and its SDL and water recovery targets was the
basis on which to develop a focussed response
• Recognition of prior effort to adopt efficient distribution and
on-farm water use was critical to community engagement
• Complex business case required to justify proposed
adjustment and meet water recovery targets.

10. MDB Drought an Insight into Climate
Change
• Millennium drought in SE Australia is an indication of “worst-
case scenario” for projected Climate Change
• Drought has provided insight into mechanisms and policies
needed to respond to Climate Change in Southern Australia
Prior to regulationDrought ?

11. Operational Challenges - Managing Droughts

12. Year Opening
Allocation %
Final
Allocation %
2003-04 65% 95%
2004-05 70% 95%
2005-06 70% 100%
2006-07 80% 60%
2007-08 4% 32%
2008-09 2% 18%
2009-10 2% 62%
2010-11 21% 67%
2011-12 100% 100%
SA River Murray Water Irrigation Allocation
History

13. Timeframe
An approach developed over many years

14. Australian Water Management Framework
National Policy
- National Competition Policy
1994
- Micro economic reform- water, electricity,
transport
- MDBC and basin planning 1988
- Salinity/water quality target
- National Water Initiative 2004
- Water security
- Water use efficiency
- Water for the environment
- Sustainable supply
- Tradability of water
- Better metering and water accounting
- Improved science, socio-economic input
to decisions
- Better, more participatory, water decision
making
- Millennium Drought – catalyst
for action
- Water Act 2007/8
- Water market and trading established
- Established MDBA and Basin Planning
Process
- Assigned national water information to
BoM
- ACCC designated to ensure
open/transparent market
Basin Planning Process
• Sustainable Yield and definition of
Sustainable Diversion Limit
• Catchment scale risk assessment
• Draft Plan for consultation
• Includes salinity, base flow and
environmental targets
• Final Plan
• Investment in change process to meet SDL
• Irrigation reform and research enhancement
• Regional industry and social change
• Environmental enhancement
State Response
• NRM Act 2004 and Catchment Plans consistent with SDL
• Irrigation reform- third phase (business enhancement)
• Wetland and floodplain enhancement
• New research centre
• Investment in regional business development
• Water Industry Act and open urban water market
• Desal Plant (50% of Adelaide requirement)
• Managed aquifer recharge, water recycling, household
tanks

15. 1. An agreement between stakeholders (states) on how to share and
manage the water resources of the basin
2. A risk based assessment that considers both surface and
groundwater resources
3. Considers social, environmental and economic aspects
4. An adaptive approach: Fixed for an agreed period and then
revaluated based on changing views and understanding
It does not:
• Prescribe how to operate the basin infrastructure
• Manage local/regional water allocation and sharing arrangements
What is a Basin Plan?

16. Manage towards sustainable levels:
• Reduce development in over allocated rivers
• Plan development in under allocated rivers
Understand the risks associated with a variable and
changing climate
Share water resources between competing users
(People, Environment, Irrigation, Towns and Industry)
Define water security and rights which facilitates
investment
Facilitate inter basin transfers
Maintain a healthy Basin
Manage conflicts
So what does a Basin Plan let you do?

17. Water Act 2008- Legislative Mandate
This provides the broad philosophy of how to share and manage water for the
benefit of the nation
The Basin plan reflects the particular needs and issues of the Basin
but must comply with the Water Act
• This provides the broad philosophy of how to share and manage water for the
benefit of the basin. Defines the level of use.
• It provides guidance on how to manage the basin’s water resources
The MD Agreement defines the agreed operational rules for the
System within the context of the Basin Plan
Water Allocation plan reflects the particular needs and issues of a
state/region within a basin and must be consistent with the Basin Plan
• Prescribes how the water resource is to be allocated and shared within the
region (within the bulk allocation determined in the Basin Plan)
• Provides licence, operational and allocation rules at the state level
• This plan is negotiated with all relevant water users in the region
How does the Murray Darling Plan work?
River Basin Planning: modelling for impact | Geoff Podger | Page 17

18. First Basin Plan attempt was done without stakeholder engagement
• It was developed in house
• Was based on science but not the issues
relevant to water users and communities
• It went up in flames
The second attempt had extensive stakeholder engagement
• Issues were clearly defined and understood before it was publicly released
• It responded to user concerns
• Considerably better evidence basis for the outcomes
• The sustainable limit was not substantially different to the First document
Stakeholder Engagement is Essential

19. A key outcome of the process is a Basin Plan
which is accepted by all parties
• Although the destination of the process is a formal ‘Basin plan’,
much of the value is achieved by the journey required to get
there.
• This is very much a social, as well as a technical, process.
• With stakeholders you must agree on questions such as:
 What are the issues,
 how big is the resource,
 what is a baseline,
 who is entitled to how much,
 what are some potential possible futures, and how to test/assess these
futures against what is known of the system,
 finally to negotiate the trade-offs, required to get there.
• This process is hard..mistakes will be made (we made them)

20. Principles
• Uses science to underpin the policy agenda
• You can’t manage what you can’t measure
• An iterative process over a considerable time period
• Requires innovative leadership that is prepared to drive the
agenda and build trust
• You can’t manage or share without trust
• Trust is built from a transparent, robust and defensible
understanding of what you choose to manage and share
• Community engagement critical
• Enables you to respond to emerging issues
• Delivers ecologically sustainable development: economic,
social and environmental

21. What are the benefits to users ?
Why they would participate in the process
• Water Security – you know how much water you will get, encourage
investment
• Environmental outcomes – your river will continue to flow and be
healthy
• Cultural needs – flow for festivals, religious events
• Water quality – the water in your river will be suitable to use and not
lead to health issues or cause problems for your crops eg salinity
• Enable/encourage the adoption of efficient practices- enable enterprise
expansion
• Inter Basin Transfers – identify opportunities as well as trade offs
• Development – opportunity for enhanced agricultural/irrigation
development
• New infrastructure– confidence in the resource base will encourage
investment
• Infrastructure existing – improvements in ‘’rules or operating
procedures’ which generate benefits at no cost identified
• Climate – understand the current and future climate and weather risks

22. Community &
Stakeholder
Engagement
Triple bottom
line decision
making
Project
planning,
governance
and delivery
Site & climate
specific
solutions
(technology)
Science,
knowledge &
monitoring
Policy &
legislation
The Elements

23. Concluding Remarks
• Sustainable Water Management at many scales has generated
considerable policy debate probably as most water resources are at
or close to their sustainable limit which requires reform
• In each case a comprehensive review of science was undertaken to
define the policy agenda (evidence based policy)
• An audit of the water account provided the basis for community
recognition of the risks and support for difficult policy responses
• Water trade enabled communities to respond to drought and
increase development opportunities
• Where the research program is directly linked to the policy agenda,
community acceptance and policy responsiveness is increased
• Community engagement in identifying the development
opportunities and pathways critical for plan acceptance.

24. RIVER BASINS & CRYOSPHERE 24
Thank you
Andrew Johnson PSM
ajohnson@icewarm.com.au