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The Se San and Nam Theun/Nam Kading Hydropower Dam CascadesManaging for sustainability

Jeremy Carew-Reid, Peter Ward and Peter-John Meynell

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Nam Theun/Nam Kading Basins

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Se San Basin

• Vietnam (64%) – Kon Tum and Gia Lai

• Cambodia (36%) - Ratanakiri and Stung Treng

• Catchment of 17,100 km2

Gia Lai Large HP projects (> 30 MW): 6 Small HP projects (<30 MW): 74 Built: 33 projects Planned: 41 Gia Lai authority revoked 9 projects Kon Tum Large HP projects (> 30 MW): 2 Small HP projects (<30 MW): 44 Built: 9 projects Planned: 14 Kon Tum authority revoked 21 projects

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KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF CASCADE AREAS

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Location of cascadesKey characteristics of cascades areas:• Geographically and institutionally isolated and

poorly serviced• Very high proportion of ethnic minority

communities• Very high poverty levels in affected communes• Very high biodiversity importance• Relatively high projected climate change threats

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Poverty and hydropowerCatchment Province Ethnic Minorities

% of population Poverty % Ethnic Minority

Poverty %

Se San

Kon Tum 54 29 74 Gia Lai 45 25 74

Ratanak Kiri 80 44 Very High Stung Treng 15 47 Very High

Nam Theun - Nam Kading

Bolikhamxay 28 52 Very High Xiang Khouang 52 55 Very High

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Poverty and hydropower

Isolated communities with high poverty incidence and ethnic minority populations

Ethnic minorities Gia Lai Kon Tum

45% 54%

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Se San - biodiversity

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Nam Theun/Nam Kading: biodiversity

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Climate Change – Temperature and Rainfall

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Comfort zones

8-9% increase in

rainfall across the Se

San basin

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Comfort zones

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UNWANTED AND UNPLANNED IMPACTS OF THE CASCADES

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Impacts of existing and planned cascade dams in Se San and Nam Theun - Nam Kading

In the affected areas, the cascades have: Reduced agricultural land area and production Required extensive resettlements and dislocation Aggravated local poverty reduction efforts and

quality of life indicators especially in ethnic minority communities

Reduced biodiversity especially habitat complexity and species

Failed to consider the significant implications of climate change

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Ecological impacts of the cascades (all with livelihood and social wellbeing implications)

Alteration of natural water flow regimes has:• Severely modified and reduced channel and

floodplain habitats; • Disrupted timing of reproduction and other life

cycle stages in aquatic species; • Broken lateral and longitudinal hydraulic

connectivity; • Facilitated invasion of exotic and introduced

species

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IMPROVING CASCADE PERFORMANCE

Agree on where we want to go – then we can decide how best to get there

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Where are we going? Sign posts for cascade sustainabilityBroad management goals for dam reoperation:1. Mimicking natural flow conditions2. Reactivating natural flood pulse and flow into floodplain forests,

wetlands and designated agricultural areas to reactivate natural flood storage, nutrient disbursement , water purification benefits and ecological benefits

3. Recovering fish and other wildlife populations valued for livelihoods and biodiversity

4. Regaining habitat complexity by restoring the dynamic balance between river erosion and sedimentation,

5. Restoring watershed condition and enhancing agricultural productivity6. Arresting and reversing losses in ecosystem and social integrity

associated with a) geomorphic imbalances;b) cultural and spiritual uses of rivers; and c) other socially valued products and services.

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Specific reoperation objectivesFor each of the broad goals need reoperation

objectives/tasks which:1. Are specific to the river and cascade2. Have measurable target levels3. Have specific dates for phased achievement, 4. Include target which can be achieved almost

immediately.5. Define monitoring methods and frequency of data

collection6. Define institutional responsibilities

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Regaining habitat complexity and biodiversitySpecific reoperation objectives

• Se San – the most important migratory fish for catch has gone from the river - Henicorhynchus (2 species) – objective: (i) re-establishing upstream migration for spawning of these indicator species (eg by creating natural fish passes) (ii) establishing sustainable populations

• Nam Theun - Nam Kading (fish migration may not be feasible) – objective: establishing natural fish biodiversity in reservoirs (increase spawning habitats and access to tributaries for native species) – need indicator species

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Maintaining social and cultural diversitySpecific reoperation objectives

Objectives:1. Identify and maintain sacred places in the river

channels (eg waterfalls, islands, rapids, deep pools)2. Establish community user groups for specific places

(eg fish conservation zones within and outside reservoirs – artificial wetlands and natural deep pools)

3. Establish benefit sharing cascade funds to go long term to effected communities

4. Payment for ecosystem services to upstream watershed management communities

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Reactivating natural flood flowSpecific reoperation objectives

Objectives1. Identify and create flood relief areas on

original flood plain (total area, timing of floods and management precautions)

2. Retain wetland ecosystem functioning3. Mimic natural flood seasonality (eg for

triggering fish migration)

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Restoring geomorphic imbalancesSpecific reoperation objectives

Objectives: 1. Increase sediment and nutrient mobilisation for

maintaining habitats and conditions for productive use (habitat stability, access, navigation) (restoring natural conditions not feasible)

2. Mimic natural seasonal sediment/nutrient content conditions

3. Maintain channel morphology and flushing by coordinated seasonal short high intensity flow releases (eg confluence of Nam Kading with Mekong)

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Increasing agricultural productionSpecific reoperation objectivesObjectives Dam reoperation:1. increase area of irrigated land (eg total potential irrigable

area in Se San is estimated at 28,348 ha)2. Increase productivity from existing agricultural land

through appropriate irrigation regime (eg Se San needs wet season irrigation)

3. Reservoir routing – reducing reservoir height prior to floods (to mimic river flood conditions within reservoir)

Enhancing life of cascade reservoirs:4. Reducing agricultural cultivation from unsuitable uplands5. Increase forest cover and reduce soil erosion in uplands

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INSTITUTIONAL PREREQUISITES FOR CASCADE SUSTAINABILITYAchieving the reoperation objectives

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Institutional and management challenges

• Need to move towards realising one foundation principle:

One river, one plan, one authorityMain obstacles:1. Many plans and policies (with inconsistent and

competing objectives)2. Many agencies (with defuse and overlapping

authority)3. Single project orientation

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Nine obstacles to sustainability1. A single project by project approach to development2. No plans by river basin including all small, medium and large scale

projects3. Limited cumulative and strategic environmental assessment4. Too many agencies with overlapping and inconsistent mandates and

limited coordination and regulatory control5. Private sector companies dominate river management6. Lack of transparency in planning and decision making7. Limited enforcement of environmental plans and safeguards8. Lack of community participation in planning, assessment and

management9. Short term perspective on financial and technical support to affected

communities and ecosystems

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Nine management responses for sustainability1. A river basin agreement2. A river basin management plan3. A river basin regulatory authority to ensure:

a) Predictability of flows b) Rigor and competence in strategy and techniques in managing flood flowsc) Adherence to environmental and benefit sharing plans

4. A conservation off set arrangement and investment fund5. A benefit sharing arrangement6. A long term horizon in financing and support7. An ongoing monitoring and response program to meet local

community and ecosystem needs8. An open and transparent appeals mechanism9. Expanded flood and flushing arrangements and environmental flows

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River Basin agreements1. Se San River Basin Management International

agreement between Vietnam and Cambodia2. Nam Theun/Nam Kading River basin management policy • Setting out broad management goals and specific

reoperation objectives covering: 1) power production; 2) ecological restoration and maintenance and 3) social diversity and benefit sharing

• An iterative process including design, negotiation and redesign to achieve the agreed objectives

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River basin management plansSetting out:1. The goals and objectives2. What will be constructed, when and where3. Managing and regulating arrangements4. The tasks for to achieve a balance in the three main

objectives – power production, ecological maintenance and social equity

5. The distribution of financial benefits6. Monitoring and evaluation program7. Institutional arrangements, responsibilities and timing

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Cascade plan governing principles• Net provincial economic gain: Provincial economies should not be left

worse off by the plan• User pays: HP operators should contribute to meeting all direct and

indirect environmental and socio-economic costs of the plan implementation in the long term

• Multiple use: HP projects with reservoirs should be designed and managed for multiple use of water resources

• Safe operations: Implement operational regimes and institutional arrangements to reduce droughts and floods and prepare for disasters

• Net biodiversity gain: Avoid and minimize harm to biodiversity and introduce conservation offsets

• Net gain in minority well being: Reduce poverty and increase food security in affected minorities

• The precautionary principle: Take care to avoid permanent loss of provincial assets

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Thank you