Research-Into-Use of PN25 Companion Modelling at Sub-Basin

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Research-Into-Use of PN25

Companion Modelling at Sub-Basin Scale

Workshop Report

1st Companion Modelling Workshop 26th to 28th of November, 2012

Prepared by:

Dr. Paolo Campo

Dr. Pongchai Dumrongrojwatthana

Dr. Panomsak Promburom

Dr. Patrick D’Aquino

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Present:

Nam Theun-Nam Kading River Basin Committee Secretariat Mr. Thongma SOUKNAVONG, Director-General

Ms. Sonepeth PHOSALATH, Assistant Director

Mr. Pounyasan SIPHAPHOMMACHANH

Mr. Xailee XAYAXANG

Ms. Souksamone LATSACHANH

Workshop participants (for the full list of participants, please refer to Appendix A of this

document)

RIU-PN25 project team Dr. Patrick D’AQUINO, CIRAD

Dr. Panomsak PROMBUROM, Chiang Mai University

Dr. Pongchai DUMRONGROJWATTHANA, Chulalongkorn University

Dr. Paolo CAMPO

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Table of Contents

I. General Information ......................................................................................................................... 1

A. Date .................................................................................................................................................. 1

B. Venue ............................................................................................................................................... 1

C. Number of participants ................................................................................................................ 1

II. Objectives ........................................................................................................................................... 1

III. Methods and tools ......................................................................................................................... 2

A. Process design ............................................................................................................................... 2

B. Presentations ................................................................................................................................. 2

C. Modelling and models .................................................................................................................. 2

D. Group discussions ......................................................................................................................... 2

IV. Summary of Activities .................................................................................................................. 2

A. Day 1 ................................................................................................................................................ 2

B. Day 2 ................................................................................................................................................ 4

C. Day 3 ................................................................................................................................................ 6

V. Outputs and outcomes ..................................................................................................................... 7

A. Knowledge-gathering ................................................................................................................... 7

B. Role-playing game ......................................................................................................................... 9

C. Impacts of flooding in the basin ................................................................................................. 9

VI. Lessons learned ............................................................................................................................. 9

VII. Suggestions / recommendations for improvement ............................................................. 10

VIII. Appendices ................................................................................................................................... 11

A. Complete list of participants ..................................................................................................... 11

B. Process Design ............................................................................................................................. 13

C. List of effects of flooding as expressed by the workshop participants ............................. 15

List of Figures Figure 1. Simple model of the basin ........................................................................................................... 3

Figure 2. Group discussions on knowledge about flooding ..................................................................... 4

Figure 3. Presentations on the results of the group discussions ............................................................. 4

Figure 4. Model support peripherals: (a) Nam Theun game board, (b) Nam Kading game board, (c)

Rain tokens (white) and Sediment tokens (black), (d) farms plots, (e) road tokens, and (f) Rain sound maker ................................................................................................................................................ 5

Figure 5. Gaming sessions with the participants ..................................................................................... 6

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I. General Information

A. Date

26-28 November, 2012

B. Venue

Pakkading District Administration Office, Bolikhamxay Province

C. Number of participants

A total of 26 participants attended the workshop, with two student interns of NT-NKD

RBCs who observed the workshop proceedings. The workshop participants, aside from the

Nam Theun-Nam Kading River Basin Committee Secretariat (NT-NKD RBCs) and the

Technical Working Group (TWG), are composed of different stakeholders of the NT-NKD

basin both from the public and the private sectors; some of which participated in the

Inception Workshop held on 20 November 2012 at Pakxane District in Bolikhamxay

Province. This time, however, representatives from Pakkading villages were also invited to

participate. The workshop participants were selected based on their close involvement

with the issue, i.e. flooding in the Pakkading District, and the communities that are affected

by the issue.

II. Objectives

The objectives of this workshop are to:

1. Formally introduce the PN25 RIU project “Companion Modelling (ComMod) at Sub-

Basin Scale” and the ComMod Approach to the stakeholders;

2. Co-construct the knowledge about flooding in the Pakkading District and use this

knowledge to collectively build the model support; and

3. Plan for the improvements of the model support, knowledge and stakeholder

involvement in the project process.

Based on the outcome of the Inception Workshop, this ComMod workshop will focus on

the issue of floods in Pakkading District because it was determined that drought was a

fairly new phenomenon, in which not much of the participants in the previous workshop

were completely aware or knowledgeable about drought in the area. The first ComMod

workshop was held for three days from the 26th until the 28th of November, 2012. Just like

the Inception Workshop, each workshop day was structured into five parts, namely the

Institutional Scope, Concrete Experience, Observe and Reflect, Analyses and

Conclusion (for the full tentative schedule, please refer to Appendix B of this document).

The workshop was mainly facilitated by Dr. Panomsak Promburom and assisted by Dr.

Pongchai Dumrongrojwatthana.

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III. Methods and tools

A. Process design

Just like in the Project’s Inception Workshop, a Process Design was used to prepare the

content and structure of the 1st ComMod Workshop. In this case the 5 phases of the

workshop, namely the institutional scope, concrete experience, observe and reflect,

analyses and conclusion. However, since the workshop is for three days, these phases were

applied for each day. (Please refer to Annex B of this document for the Process Design of

this workshop).

B. Presentations

Although some participants in this workshop have attended the Inception Workshop the

previous week, there are new participants in this workshop who have yet to be introduced

to the project and the Companion Modelling approach. Therefore, PowerPoint

presentations were done in Thai/Lao language to introduce the project to the workshop

participants.

C. Modelling and models

The participants were introduced to the modelling approach and models with the

presentation of a simple model of the basin, which was gradually made more complex

throughout the workshop with the addition of new aspects/knowledge about the model. At

the beginning, a simple representation or model of the basin, a map showing the basic parts

of the NT-NKD basin. After preliminary discussions, new elements about the basin were

added – rain and erosion; this was shown as a PowerPoint animation. This animation

translates into the model support tool, a basin role-playing game with a paper game board

and various game peripherals (described further in Section IV of this document).

D. Group discussions

Using prepared discussion questions, the workshop participants were randomly grouped

to address the discussion questions. Three members of NT-NKD RBCs staff facilitated each

discussion group. Each group was then asked to present the results of its discussions to the

rest of the participants.

IV. Summary of Activities

A. Day 1

The first day of the workshop was opened by Mr. Thongma Souknavong, and the governor

of Pakkading District, Mr. Bounyu Phommavongsa, made the opening remarks. Similar to

the Inception Workshop held the previous week, the project was presented to the

workshop participants through the presentations of Dr. Panomsak Promburom. To

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introduce modelling, Dr. Promburom guided the participants into a simple model of a basin

(Figure 1) which consisted of the river (light blue lines) and 3 dam cascades (light blue half

circular areas), upland (dark green), lowland (light green), upland farms (yellow).

Figure 1. Simple model of the basin

After the presentation, the participants were divided into groups to discuss and gather

knowledge amongst each other about the basin (Figure 2). To continue the process of

capacity-building, the groups were facilitated by Mr. Pounyasan Siphaphommachanh, Mr.

Xailee Xayaxang and Ms. Souksamone Latsachanh of NT-NKD RBC Secretariat. The groups

were given the task to determine several aspects of the dams, upland farms and lowland

areas:

1) Dams

a. Calendar of power needs

b. Calendar of water level

c. Constraints and difficulties in managing the dams

d. The strategy of water release (how do they decide when releasing water in

the dams)

2) Lowland area

a. Flood impacts

b. Strategies to avoid impacts

c. Constraints and difficulties

d. Land tenure system

3) Upland farms

a. Farming practice

b. Erosion impacts



Figure 2. Group discussions on knowledge about

Each group then presented the results of their discussions (Figure 3) and they were

discussed together by all the participants

Figure 3. Presentations o

B. Day 2

The second day was started with a recollection of the previous day’s activities.

the discussion on three topics relevant to causes of flooding and flood impact

1) How the dam is managed

2) Notification/warning system in case of emergent water release

3) Land title

To move forward with the modelling, discussion and collective learning, a new element

on the conceptual model was added by the project team

rain were presented, i.e. regular and heavy rainfall. With heavy rainfall, not only is there

more rain falling in the basin, but there is also erosion from the upland farms. The

sediments from the erosion in the uplands are then deposited to th

flooding in the basin.

Group discussions on knowledge about flooding


discussed together by all the participants.

Presentations on the results of the group discussions

The second day was started with a recollection of the previous day’s activities.

the discussion on three topics relevant to causes of flooding and flood impact

How the dam is managed

Notification/warning system in case of emergent water release


on the conceptual model was added by the project team – rainfall. Two anima



sediments from the erosion in the uplands are then deposited to the river, which aggravate

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The second day was started with a recollection of the previous day’s activities. This led to

the discussion on three topics relevant to causes of flooding and flood impact, which are:


rainfall. Two animations about



e river, which aggravate

At this point, the model support was introduced to the participants. The model support

consisted of 2 gaming boards representing the Nam Theun (Figure 4a) and the Nam Kading

(Figure 4b). The other model support peripherals include rain and sediment tokens (Figure

4c), farm plots (Figure 4d) with the orange paper representing vegetables and the green

paper representing rice, road tokens (Figure 4e) and a rain sound maker (Figure 4f).

(a)

(c)

(e)

Figure 4. Model support peripherals: (a) Nam Theun game board, (b) Nam Kading game board, (c) Rain

tokens (white) and Sediment tokens



support peripherals include rain and sediment tokens (Figure



(b)

(d)

(f)

Model support peripherals: (a) Nam Theun game board, (b) Nam Kading game board, (c) Rain

and Sediment tokens (black), (d) farms plots, (e) road tokens, and (f) Rain

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support peripherals include rain and sediment tokens (Figure



Model support peripherals: (a) Nam Theun game board, (b) Nam Kading game board, (c) Rain

, (d) farms plots, (e) road tokens, and (f) Rain sound maker

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The model support was “played” with the participants (Figure 5) to represent two

situations, i.e. regular rainfall and heavy rainfall, just like in the animation presentation that

was presented earlier. In each situation, there was a game master to control the flow of the

game, two people played as dam managers who are in charge of managing the release of

water in the dams and the rest played as upland farmers or lowland farmers. The farmers

were asked to choose their farm plots in the game boards as well as the types of crops they

would plant, either rice or vegetables. The lowland famers, who have permanent plots,

wrote their names on their plot, while the upland farmers would change their plots after

each game cycle. A game assistant, Dr. Paolo Campo, would signify the coming of rain and

distributed the rain and sediment tokens onto the game board. He was also in charge of

moving the rain and sediment tokens on the game board to illustrate flooding and

sedimentation in the downstream. The participants also shared their knowledge on the

effect of floods on roads in the model.

Figure 5. Gaming sessions with the participants

After using the model support, the participants (in groups) were asked on how to

improve it (Figure 6), such as the representations that are used in the model support. After

the discussion, the workshop day was ended and would be continued the following day.

C. Day 3

The third day was started with the recollection of the previous day’s activities. After which,

the participants were involved in a discussion. The participants were asked to answer

“What are the possible effects of flooding?” and each participant wrote his or her answer on

a paper. Mr. Siphaphommachanh read the answers of each participant and was opened for

discussion. The complete list of answers is provided in Appendix C

To close the workshop, the participants expressed their enthusiasm and support for the

project and the ComMod process.

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V. Outputs and outcomes

A. Knowledge-gathering

For the 1st day, the following was the output from the discussions:

1) Dams

a. Calendar of power needs

• Power generating period starts on December onwards

• Also, depends on the actual power demands

• In the case of Theun-Hinboun Dam, it release waters to the power

house at 110m3/s to generate 100 MW

b. Calendar of water level

• Between June/July-November.

• To get enough volume of water for the dry season, as planned

• During rainy season, the amount of water released depends on the

inflow volume which is varies according to the amount of rainfall

c. Constraints and difficulties in managing the dams

• Releasing too much water would cause negative impacts to

downstream area. (river bank erosion)

• If the amount of the stored water is less than expected level, this

would affect the power generation

• Incomplete knowledge and information on water volume and water

flow speed during the heavy rainfall or storm events

• Poor communication between local people and the dam manager,

especially in cases of emergency (unclear information, not on time,

cannot reach all the target)

• Rainfall/climate variability

d. The strategy of water release (how do they decide when releasing water in

the dams)

• During heavy rain/storm even, if the inflow amount approaches the

threshold (maximum) level, the dam will release the water with

warning in advance.

2) Lowland area

a. Flood impacts

• Crop damage

• Building and infrastructure damage.

• Economic disruption

• Diseases outbreak

b. Strategies to avoid impacts

• Move/migrate people and livestock to higher elevations

• Mitigation after the flood

• Reduce/suppress deforestation

• Proper dam management, proper amount of water released

• Dike construction

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• Relocation, resettlement

• Improve warning and communication system


• Flood plain -> flood prone area

• Poor communication / warning system


• Permanent ownership, with land title

3) Upland farms

a. Farming practice

• The main crops in lowland area are paddy rice, maize and others

• Some tree plantation

• Animal rearing

• Swidden agriculture

b. Erosion impacts

• Soil erosion

• Sedimentation in the streams

• Natural resource depletion

• Crop yield declines

• More farm labor required

• Land ownership exists, with land title

• Land allocation has not been well established


• Rainfall variability


• Allocate land to local people and promote soil conservation practice

On the second day, the discussion yielded the following results. In the discussion, it was

pointed out that shifting cultivation in the highland area as one of the factors that cause

flash flood and magnifies the flood impact. In Pakkading district, about 60-70% of land is

titled. This implies that the rest of cultivated lands are in sloping/highland area with

shifting cultivation practice. Regarding dam management, in general during the rainy

season, the dam will try to store water in the reservoir to meet the power generation

requirements. The power generated during the dry season is about 30%-40% of the whole

capacity. During the rainy season, if the inflow of water is about to go over the reservoir

storage capacity, the dam will release the excess water. To do so, the dam would notify the

downstream communities three days in advance to prepare for the incoming water

released from the dam. The communication system consists of sending official documents

from the dam to the district office. In case of emergency, however, the dam will contact the

village head directly by mobile phone. In 2011, this notification system failed; local

communities were not informed on time, and thus faced severe flood impacts. The

participants further added that, nowadays, there are no gauges or water level monitoring

network system along the tributaries that connect to the reservoir and dam. Another

interesting aspect explaining the dynamic link between dam, land use and impact from

floods was that before the dam was constructed, flood was quite a common phenomenon

with less impact because there was not much agricultural land in the flood prone areas.

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Nowadays, people keep expanding and intensifying the cultivated lands, thus they are

exposed to higher risk from floods. But it was also said that dams could help relieve the

occurrence of floods, as well as supply water to cultivated lands. Further discussion

suggested that the knowledge and data relevant to flood and its impacts are not fully

available or known. There should be further investigation/study/data gathering. While

each sector gathers and keep their own data, it can be managed by communicating or

contacting all the relevant sectors through the district authorities. This would make, for

example, the data and information from the dam easier to obtain.

B. Role-playing game

The workshop participants suggested making the following changes and improvement:

1. Instructions of the game and materials should be provided.

2. Better legends e.g. direction, colors (of icons/tokens) of different land use types

(rice, cassava, maize, etc), direction of the stream/river flows.

3. Add tree plantation on the map.

4. Define appropriate proportion of different land use types.

5. Change how flood and sediments spreads in the river, i.e. sediments are deposited at

the bottom of the river and that the water overflows on the banks of the rivers

before slowly spreading to the built-up areas in Pakkading.

6. Change the representations of farms (produce) to something that is more

identifiable instead of using orange and green post its.

7. Real players should be invited to play the game. Additional role/players were

suggested e.g. dam manager, trade and industrial sectors, district / provincial

authorities.

C. Impacts of flooding in the basin

(Listed in Appendix C)

VI. Lessons learned

At the end of the day, it was found out that the number of upland farms in the NT-NKD

basin have increased considerably and are thought to be one of the main factors of the

increase of the severity of floods. It was also found out that the dams are designed such that

some of the sediments that settle in the head ponds of the dams are released downstream.

It was also observed that during the use of the model support, the participants were very

enthusiastic in participating in the activity.

It was clear among all participants that, at the moment, the data/information that are

available and obtainable at the village level and the district offices is about 50% and 60-

70%, respectively. Therefore, this should be improved through collective efforts among all

sectors. During the moment of closing address, all participants agreed to continue

studying/investigating this flood issue using Pakkading as the pilot site.

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VII. Suggestions / recommendations for improvement

Towards the end of the workshop, the participants thought that this modelling process

would be most useful if it was brought closer to the ground, i.e. to the communities. It was

then decided that the participants were to select one or two villages in the Pakkading

District in order to study more closely the effects of floods. This task was to be completed

such that it would be the main theme of the second ComMod workshop.

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VIII. Appendices

A. Complete list of participants

Pakkading District No Name Organization Position

1 Mr. Bounyu

Phommavongsa

Pakkading District District Governor

2 Mr. Sukanh Jiengsawang Pakkading District District Vice

Governor

3 Ms. Phimjai Keovongsa Provincial Administration Office Technical

4 Mr. Soulichanh District Administration Office Head of Office

5 Mr. Phatsady Phasykaisone Energy and Mine Office Director

6 Mr. Khammouan Somvong Health Department Technical

7 Mr. Khamphin Phasavath Provincial Administration Office Head of Unit 8 Mr. Saothavysai

Konesavatdy

Natural Resources And Environment Head of Unit

9 Mr. Syphone Xayyaphom Natural Resources And Environment Vice Head of Office

10 Mr. Khamphuvy

Xayyalungsy

Labour and Social Welfare Office Head of Office

11 Mr. Moukdasak Sengsathip Public Work and Transportation

Office

Vice Head of Office

12 Mr. Khamsing

Kenphachanh

Military Headquarters Director Military

Headquarters

13 Mr. Khamdy Thiplamphanh Viengthong District District Vice

Governor

14 Mr. Makeo Nongsong Village Vice Head of Village

15 Mr. Ponesuay Vilavong Phonsy Village Head of Village

16 Mr. Bouavanh Phanokoun Phonxay Village Head of Village

17 Mr. Khamsone Xaysomphou Theun-Hinboun Power Company Director of

Environment

Management Division 18 Mr. Tho Phimmasoen Theun-Hinboun Power Company Coordinator

19 Mr. Farm Sivi Rubber Company Technical

Bolikhamxay Province No Name Organization Position

1 Mr. Sathien Panyanouvong Agriculture and Forestry Vice head of sector

2 Ms. Khamphung Suvongsa Agriculture and Forestry Vice head of sector

3 Mr. Phougphet

keophouvong

Energy and mine Head of sector

4 Mr. Khamwaen Sihalath Meteorology And Hydrology Director

5 Mr. Khamphithoun

Phimmanao

Water Resource Head of sector

6 Ms. Somhak Keomany Women Union Deputy of Women

Union

7 Ms. Vanhnuan Keoxayavong Health department Technical

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Nam Theun-Nam Kading River Basin Secretariat No Name Position

1 Mr. Thongma Souknavong Director

2 Ms. Sonephet Phosalath Assistant Director

3 Mr.Pounyasan Siphaphommachane Technical

4 Mr. Xailee Xayaxang Technical

5 Ms. Souksamone Latsachanh Administrative

6 Mr. Yong Salermxay Administrative

7 Ms. Outhumphone Phienphaivong Administrative

8 Ms. Lammon Vonglueangkham Student

9 Mr. Duangthavoen Chanthavyxay Student

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B. Process Design

TOPIC 1st Companion Modelling Workshop

OBJECTIVES

Day 1: Formally introduce the PN25 RIU project “Companion Modelling at Sub-

Basin Scale” and the ComMod Approach to the stakeholders; Co-construction of

knowledge about flooding in the Pakkading District

Day 2: Use the co-constructed knowledge to collectively build the model support

Day 3: Plan for the improvements of the model support, knowledge and

stakeholder involvement

DURATION

Day 1: 6 hr 25 min

Day 2: 5 hr 45 min

Day 3: 5 hr 30 min

(17 hr 40 min total)

Participants 32

PROCESS/FLOW METHODS

DAY 1

– Registration starts at 8h45 –

INSTITUTIONAL SCOPE (Start at 9h)

• Opening Remarks by the Pakkading District Governor (10 min)

• Remarks from the NT-NKD RBCs (10 min)

• Objectives of the workshop by Project Team (5 min)

• The PN25 RIU project (includes objectives, partners) (15 min)

• Discussion (15 min)

– Coffee Break (30 min) –

PowerPoint Presentations

Materials:

Projector

CONCRETE EXPERIENCE (Start at 10h25)

• The objective of the modelling process case study (5 min)

• Introduction to the flood issue (30 min)

• Group discussion on the flood issue (60 min)

– Break for lunch at 12h –

Methods:

Mapping of the flood issue;

Group discussions

Materials:

Large white paper for

drawing the 1st map;

the printed maps for the

group discussions;

white large paper for

writing the results of the

discussions;

permanent markers;

small stones to represent

water and soil;

large tables where the

maps and discussion

papers can be rested

OBSERVE AND REFLECT (Group Discussion) (Start at 13h)

• Presentation from each group (40 min)

ANALYSES (Start at 13h40)

• Presentation of the discussion questions (5 min) :

− Are knowledge gathered sufficiently precise, and if not

which way to improve it quickly?

− Is this process (project) relevant to your work or would

Methods:

Open Forum

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this process (project) be of any significance to you,

maybe not now but in the future?

− Are there other groups of people / stakeholders that we

need to involve in this process? Who are they and why”

• Open forum (45 min)

• Synthesis of discussions by project team (30 min)

CONCLUSION (Start at 15h)

Closing of Workshop Day 1

• Introduce Day 2 activities (10 min)

– End of Workshop Day 1 at 15h10 –

- Snacks -

DAY 2



• Review of Day 1 activities (10 min)

• Objectives of Day 2 activities (20 min)


Materials:

Projector

RPG peripherals

CONCRETE EXPERIENCE (Start at 10h00)

• Presentation of the model support (30 min)

• First use of the model support (90 min)

– Break for lunch at 12h –

Basin model support

(blank)

OBSERVE AND REFLECT (Start at 13h00)

• Debriefing of the model support (40 min):

− The relevance/improvements for the goal of the model

− The relevance/improvements for the model map

− The relevance/improvements for the model players

− The relevance/improvements for the model rules

• Presentation of each group (40 min)

Group discussion

(debriefing)

CONCLUSION (Start at 14h20)

Closing of the Workshop day (10 min)

• Introduce Day 3 activities


- Snacks -

DAY 3



• Review of Day 2 activities (20 min)

• Objectives of Day 3 activities (10 min)


Materials:

Projector

OBSERVE AND REFLECT (Start at 10h00)

Group discussion (45 min)

• Plan improvements for the model support

• Plan improvements for the knowledge mobilized

• Plan improvements for stakeholders involvement

Restitution by the groups (45 min)

– Break for lunch at 11h30 –

Group discussion

(debriefing)

Materials: Model support

peripherals

ANALYSES (Start at 13h00)

Summary and assessment/synthesis of all the discussions by the

Materials:

Projector

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project team

• Debriefing of the improvements needed (40 min)

• Planning for next activities (30 min)

CONCLUSION (Start at 14h10)

• Closing of the Workshop (5 min)


- Snacks -

C. List of effects of flooding as expressed by the workshop participants

1. Impacts from flooding and relevant data sources

• Each participant was asked to write down 2-3 impacts from flooding based

on his/her own knowledge and experience.

• The answers were consolidated, to which the participants were then asked to

specify the source of information/data relevant to each impact.

Impacts / problems Data source / data gathering method

agricultural area damage Village committee (agriculture)

Crops damage Village committee (agriculture)

Fishery tools damage Village committee (agriculture)

Fish pond damage Village committee (agriculture),

interview

Destruction of factory Village committee (economic)

Transportation, road damage District office and village committee

(public work)

Livestock lost District office and village committee

(agriculture)

School close, cannot go to school Village committee (culture)

Cannot work as usual interview

Diseases and health problem Village committee (public health)

Drinking water deficiency Village headman, Interview

House damage and assets lost Village committee (economic)

No place to stay � migrate Village headman

No toilet Village committee (public health)

Drinking water sources damage (wells) Village committee (public health)

Public services building damage (school,

hospital)

Village committee (culture)

Tree plantation areas damage Village committee (agriculture)

Natural fish habitat damage Village committee (environment)

People died Village headman, public welfare

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2. Impacts ranking

The participants ranked the important of the flooding impacts by writing vote. The

result is as follows:

1. Death of people (14 votes)

2. Crops and agricultural land are damaged (12 votes)

3. House and assets are damaged (12 votes)

4. Transportation are blocked ( 4votes)

Documents

Research-Into-Use of PN25 Companion Modelling at Sub-Basin