World Rivers Review Volume 21, Number 1/2 • April 2006

Published by International Rivers Network World Bank Financed Dam Draining Victoria by Lori Pottinger

new report by a -based inde- pendent hydrologic engineer con- firms that over-releases from two hydropower dams on the in AUganda are a primary cause of severe drops in Lake Victoria in recent years. The report finds that about 55% of the lake’s recent drop is due to the Owen Falls dams (now known as Nalubaale and Kiira dams) releasing exces- sive amounts of water from the huge lake. Lake Victoria’s natural control at Ripon Falls was removed for construction of the first dam in the 1950s. The second dam was built with World Bank funding in the 1990s. The lake, which has dropped 1.2 meters since 2003, is now at its lowest level since 1951. Nearly 3% of the lake’s total volume has been lost in the past three years. The receding shoreline has affected water supply systems, boat operators, fisheries and farmers. An esti- mated 30 million people depend on the lake Kiira Dam is letting more water out of Lake Victoria than is being replenished naturally. for their livelihoods. The Monitor () reported on February 27, “The low water level nia to discuss the situation and try to come dams on the Nile. As the Kull report states, of the lake is sending shocks in the socio-eco- up with solutions to reverse the trend.” “It is unknown if Lake Victoria will recharge nomic and political spine in the region.” Frank Muramuzi, of the Ugandan group to the high levels and outflow experienced The new report, Connections Between National Association of Professional Environ- during 1961-2000, and if such a recharge Recent Water Level Drops in Lake Victoria, Dam mentalists, said: “This dam complex is now could occur, whether it would be in the Operations and Drought by Daniel Kull, ana- pulling the plug on Lake Victoria, with next years or only in 100 years. Viable non- lyzed recent reports produced for the Gov- implications for millions.” hydro, or at least hydro not on the Victoria ernment of Uganda and other publicly avail- While this is the first time the connec- Nile, power generating alternatives must able information. Reflecting a growing con- tion between the dams and lake levels has therefore be considered for Uganda.” Until sensus of scientists in the region, the report gotten wide international media attention, the recent addition of emergency fossil-fuel concludes that the dams are greatly impact- it is not the first time the issue has been plants, Uganda has been almost entirely ing the lake by releasing more water than is raised. Over a year ago, Hilary Onek, a dependent upon hydropower for its elec- allowed by a legal agreement between Ugan- Ugandan member of parliament and hydrol- tricity needs. da and Egypt. This “Agreed Curve” is intend- ogist, raised the issue of the dams releasing ed to ensure that the releases through the more water than the lake can sustain. In a The World Bank’s Role dams correspond to the natural flow of the March 2005 opinion piece in the Ugandan The World Bank provided funding for the river before damming. newspaper , he stated: “[Dam second dam and repair of the original dam. The government of Uganda has denied operator] UEGCL is currently releasing The project did not undergo an environmen- the charges, but it appears that neighboring above 1400m3/sec to generate 220 MW of tal impact assessment; indeed, the World Kenya and intend to look into the energy … Thus they are releasing more Bank’s 1991 appraisal report for the project matter. In a February 13 article on the dams’ water than is physically sustainable. To stated: “Extension of the existing plant at effect on the lake, the East African Standard politicise electricity issues will only sink Owen Falls will have minimal environmen- reported: “The secretary-general of the East Uganda economically and socially.” tal impact because the project will not affect African Community, Amanya Meshega, said Possible climate change must be a major downstream hydrology or fisheries.” delegates would meet next month in Tanza- consideration in the development of more continued on page 15 World Rivers Review

Spreading the Volume 21, Number 1/2 Water Wealth ISSN Number 0890 6211 Editor: Lori Pottinger s we went to press, thousands of politicians, water bureaucrats, corporate lobbyists and Design/Production: NGO activists were converging on City for the fourth World Water Forum. This Jeanette Madden jamboree aims to tackle perhaps the world’s most pressing problem: how to ensure every Printing: person has access to enough clean water to live a decent life while ensuring sufficient West Coast Print Center Asupplies to water crops and maintain freshwater ecosystems. The grim statistics of water – more than a billion people without access to decent drinking IRN water, more than two million children dead each year due to dirty water and poor sanitation, hun- dreds of millions of farming families on arid lands suffering hunger, and freshwater ecosystems Executive Director: increasingly being sucked dry – point to the need for a revolution in the way we manage water. Patrick McCully The good news is that it is technically possible, affordable and achievable to provide water for Staff: all those who need it in coming years. The bad news is that the big-dam lobby is coming to Mexico Monti Aguirre, Karolo Aparicio, City to press for an aggressive resurgence of investment in water mega-projects. Peter Bosshard, Elizabeth Brink, Big dams and water diversion schemes help development banks make big loans. They provide Riam Firouz, Jamie Greenblatt, prestige projects for politicians and water ministry bureaucrats, and can make big profits for engi- Terri Hathaway, Inanna Hazel, neering and construction firms. But they cannot make a substantial contribution to meeting the Aviva Imhof, River Lune, Carl basic water, food and energy needs of the world’s poorest people. Middleton, Lori Pottinger, The great majority of those living in extreme poverty are small farmers dependent on increas- Elizabeth Sabel,Ann-Kathrin ingly unreliable rains. These farmers also make up most of those without access to decent water Schneider, Jonathan Stein, Glenn and sanitation. Expensive big dam projects can provide water to cities, and to commercial farmers Switkes,Vinya Sysamouth in the relatively limited plains areas close to major rivers and suitable for large-scale irrigation. But Interns & Volunteers: there is no way that they can provide water to the bulk of farming families who live on marginal Selma Barros de Oliveira, lands and could not possibly afford water channelled, pumped and piped from distant . Wil Dvorak, Jeff Vreeland Pro-poor (and pro-nature) water management strategies include rainwater harvesting tanks and embankments, affordable drip irrigation and pump technologies, and farming techniques that Board of Directors: reduce water needs while increasing yields. Paul Strasburg (Chair), Martha Reaching the UN Millennium Development Goals by bringing 100 million small farming fami- Belcher,André Carothers, lies out of extreme poverty through affordable water technologies would cost approximately $20 Angana Chatterji, Gigi Coe, billion over ten years – less than a tenth of developing countries’ investment on large dams in the Anne Fitzgerald, Bob Hass, Milan 1990s. The -based International Water Management Institute estimates the economic ben- Momirov, David Pellow, Leonard efit of lifting these farmers out of poverty as $300-600 billion. Sklar, Brian Smith, Lara Truppelli, In arid Rajasthan in northwestern , rainwater-harvesting embankments and small dams Jim Waring can supply drinking water to people at one-hundredth the cost of water from the notorious Sardar Advisory Board Sarovar Dam on the Narmada River. Sardar Sarovar will provide irrigation at a cost of around Dan Beard, Patricia Chang, Peter $3,800 per hectare; human-powered treadle pumps can irrigate a hectare at a cost of $120. Coyote, Chris Desser, Huey D. Just as the great majority of people without access to water live in rural areas of developing Johnson, Dorka Keehn, Lauren countries, so, too, do most of the 1.6 billion without access to electricity. The energy needs of poor Klein, Juliette Majot, Nion rural areas are most likely to be met by improved cook stoves, mini and micro hydro projects, and McEvoy, Sylvia McLaughlin, other small renewable energy sources such as wind-powered pumps for lifting groundwater. Mas- Mutombo Mpanya, Mayumi Oda, sive hydropower projects that power transmission lines headed to mines, industries and big cities Drummond Pike, Gary Snyder rarely provide benefits to rural people. Contact IRN: Improving access to water and energy in rural communities across the developing world would 1847 Berkeley Way free women and children from the drudgery of many hours spent every day carrying water and Berkeley, CA 94703 USA gathering fuelwood. It would dramatically improve people’s health (especially if coupled with low- Tel:(510) 848-1155 cost sanitation schemes). And it would reduce hunger and increase incomes, not just because of Fax: (510) 848-1008 greater yields, but also because of the greater availability of energy for crop processing. Further- E-mail: [email protected] more, small-scale technologies are just as viable for meeting the water and energy needs of the sprawling slums of the developing world. Intelligent water and energy infrastructure development alone cannot solve the scandal of Printed on Re:Vision global poverty and inequality. Many other policy and institutional changes are also needed. But 30% tree free kenaf/ without a radical realignment of priorities in the water and energy sectors, the hope of water and 70% recycled pcw energy for all will remain a distant dream. Patrick McCully Visit IRN’s Website: http://www.irn.org

IRN has just published a new report, “Spreading the Water Wealth: Making Water Infrastructure Work WRR is indexed in the Alternative Press Index. for the Poor,” which goes into greater detail on this topic. The report is available at www.irn.org IRN members will receive a hard copy by mail instead of the February issue of WRR.

Page 2 World Rivers Review April 2006 WCD+5: Assessing the “New Order for Rivers and Society” by Ann Kathrin Schneider

he World Commission on Dams’ and communities affected by dams and their recommendations have been con- allies, formed in 1997 in Curitiba, , was stantly gaining acceptance in the enormously strengthened by their participa- five years since the WCD released tion in the WCD process and by ongoing itsT final report. This positive trend was local and national campaigns,” she said. impressively documented at an international Carino reminded the audience that pro- conference to mark the fifth anniversary of gress on the ground for social and environ- the WCD report in November 2005 in mental justice in water and energy resource Berlin, . The conference was orga- development needed to go hand in hand nized by International Rivers Network and with progress at the policy front. She men- the Heinrich Boell Foundation. tioned the importance of the WCD’s support More than 80 decision-makers, activists, for essential policy principles such as free, media representatives, development experts prior and informed consent for indigenous Frank Muramuzi and Deborah Moore in Berlin. and others gathered to discuss progress in peoples, and recognition of sharing benefits the large dams debate in the last five years, with directly affected communities. She said and to identify future action. that the recognition of those principles by great hope for the process to result in the The goal of the conference was to assess the WCD had greatly increased acceptance collective identification of the best solutions the validity and importance of the WCD of those principles worldwide. Carino for the development of the country. report and its recommendations five years stressed that five years after the publication Conference participants applauded these on. In addition, the organizers wanted to of the report, free prior and informed con- developments inspired by the WCD. Howev- provide an opportunity and a space for prac- sent was a feature of national legislation in er, some participants were disappointed about titioners, experts and decision-makers to dis- the , , India, , the lack of fully WCD-compatible projects. To cuss how to overcome the challenges of Venezuela and , and had been pro- this date, such a project does not exist. implementing the WCD recommendations. mulgated by a number of UN bodies. Professor Kader Asmal, former chair of The presentations and debates at the con- the WCD, explained in written remarks for ference moved between high hopes for fast Institutional Acceptance the fifth anniversary of the report: “I believe progress in the near future and the acknowl- Besides the wide adoption of certain policy that the WCD report offers a cookbook of edgment of considerable challenges ahead. principles set forth by the WCD, there are a sorts for how to make the right infrastruc- Representatives of private banks and the Euro- growing number of institutions that have ture choices to meet people’s needs. I say pean Commission reminded the audience of adopted the entire WCD decision-making cookbook, because a good cook adapts the the fact that the WCD recommendations have framework. HSBC, one of the largest private recipe to suit her or his tastes, to match the been adopted by major players. Participants financial institutions, has adopted the WCD ingredients she or he may have available, to stressed that the WCD framework had become recommendations in its new freshwater infra- tweak the methods to fit his or her own cul- the de-facto international standard for dams, structure sector guideline. This guideline tural or culinary preferences. I have said independent of its formal approval. spells out that the bank will “not provide time and again that the WCD report is not a It was recognized that today, the chal- facilities and other forms of financial assis- ‘cookie cutter’ approach that can simply be lenges and opportunities lie as much with tance […] to dams that do not conform to the implanted into national legislation.” policy adoption as with on-the-ground WCD framework.” In Berlin, Ivor Godfrey- Conference participants recognized that it implementation. Deborah Moore, former Davis from HSBC stressed that, for the bank, will take more effort to motivate institutions WCD Commissioner, stressed the advances “the adoption of the WCD decision-making to commit to the spirit of the WCD frame- made and the difficulties ahead for imple- framework was not perceived to be a barrier work and to help them find practical ways of mentation of the recommendations. “Com- to business, but rather an opportunity to seek implementing the recommendations. The munities and grassroots organizations out sustainable and profitable transactions.” goal is not to push for the absolute adher- around the world are using the WCD report Frank Muramuzi, the executive director ence to all recommendations included in the as a tool to change their own situations. On of the National Association of Professional report. The discussions and presentations at the other hand, the lack of on-the-ground Environmentalists in Uganda, reported on the conference suggested that the next step is implementation of new non-dam approach- growing interest in the WCD in his country. to encourage project developers, financiers es recommended by the WCD in specific He explained that in Uganda, the World and governments to comply with the spirit projects is disappointing.” Commission on Dams had inspired a nation- and basic conditions of the WCD framework. Joji Carino, another former Commission- al dialogue process on dams and develop- In the spirit of the Chinese proverb: er and a member of the International ment. Muramuzi said that the collaboration “Those who say it can’t be done should not Alliance of Indigenous Peoples, told those of government, civil society and the private stop those who are already doing it.” The gathered in Berlin that the WCD recommen- sector in this national dialogue on dams was participants of the conference committed to dations had strengthened global networks of a remarkable achievement for the country, utilize the report to continue fighting for the communities affected by dams and gave which has had divisive discussions over interests of project-affected communities and weight to their call for a strong civil society dams in the recent past. He added that the the environment, and to put more effort into role in dam-related decision-making process- quality of the process and the mutual respect promoting water and energy development es. “The international network of peoples displayed thus far in the dialogue gave him options that effectively reduce poverty. ■

World Rivers Review April 2006 Page 3 Damming the Data Flow by Terri Hathaway

IRN’s Terri Hathaway has spent the past six months traveling across Africa to work with local groups on dam and river issues. Here she describes the acrobatics she and local NGOs in Cameroon went through while trying to access the environmental studies for the proposed Lom Pangar Dam.

he information generated when A Chronology of planning a dam is overwhelming. Frustration If it’s difficult for the public to fol- Global Village low a project when information is Cameroon (GVC), a available,T it’s downright impossible when local NGO following there’s a bottleneck to the information in the Lom Pangar Dam, demand. In Cameroon, as in many other and I tried to track African countries, access to project informa- down the project EIA tion is often set up like an obstacle course, over many weeks. It and trying to change the culture of secrecy was unduly compli- and formality is an uphill battle. cated by the fact that An Environmental Impact Assessment the government com- (EIA) is often the first publicly released doc- monly insists that an ument with detailed information about a audience for civil soci- large dam. If, as is often the case, it is the ety concerns will only only document to be publicly released, it be made if the request provides the only opportunity for a public is made in person. response and to ensure that the public Here are the high- interest is protected. An EIA may follow lights: Photo:Terri Hathaway local regulations, or may be held to higher October 12: Global Village Cameroon staff members were diligent in their efforts to get a international standards as required by proj- ARSEL, the govern- dam project environmental study into the public realm. ect funders. The EIA is likely written by ment agency in outside consultants and will include both charge of the EIA, told us during an NGO presentation by the French consultants hired the impacts expected because of the proj- meeting that there would be a workshop in to write the EIA. When the presentations were ect, as well as an action plan to mitigate nine days’ time to hand over the EIA to the over, only 20 minutes were allotted for ques- these impacts. An EIA may be vague or it Ministry of Energy. Although French consul- tions from the public. The facilitator refused may be thorough; its existence alone does tants had been working on the report for to call on the prominent head of a local NGO. not guarantee a high level of quality or two years, little information about it had ARSEL distributed visually tantalizing detail. This is another reason that public been released. Believing that the EIA would (though informationally anemic) pamphlets input is so critical. be the final version adopted by government, about the EIA. The back of the pamphlet we were unhappy with the situation. GVC identified 16 NGOs, including GVC and IRN, Background on Lom Pangar Dam demanded that a draft be released prior to as “critical of the EIA.” However, none of the In his New Year’s Day public address, Came- the workshop so that the public could start 16 NGOs had yet seen the EIA. Worse still, roon President Paul Biya clearly expressed the to read it before the meeting, and thus be 10 of the 16 groups, all from outside national priority status of the Lom Pangar able to formulate critical questions for the Cameroon and as far away as Vietnam, had Dam, and the consequent expansion of the workshop. ARSEL assured us that the EIA not even heard of the Lom Pangar project. country’s aluminum sector. But NGOs had would be available immediately after the October 24: Monday morning after the already spent months fighting just for the workshop, either that afternoon or the next workshop, three of us piled into a taxi and public release of the dam’s 24-volume EIA. day. Since the workshop was being held on a traveled 20 minutes across town to the ARSEL The Lom Pangar Dam is expected to have Friday, we reasoned that maybe Monday office to obtain the promised copies of the many serious impacts. The dam’s would be the best day to try to get a copy. EIA. “Electronic copies of the EIA are ready for will flood a protected forest area. The reser- October 13: A letter, signed by five local you on CD,” an official assured us – but “they voir will also flood farmland and pathways NGOs and two international NGOs, is sent are locked in an office.” Unfortunately, he used by herders, which will place greater to the Minister of Energy, requesting the said, the person we needed to see was not pressures on other area resources. Malaria draft EIA and a clear timeline for public there. A phone call may have saved us the will increase in the reservoir area. comment prior to the “workshop” scheduled trouble, but informal phone calls between The EIA was initially scheduled to be for October 21. There is no reply. government offices and NGOs are not encour- released in May 2005, then, for the next six October 21: The ceremonial “workshop” aged. However, this time, with two interna- months or so, always “next month.” Local took place at the Hilton Hotel in the capital of tional NGOs in the room, we were given the groups were anxious to receive the docu- Cameroon. The event began over an hour late man’s mobile number and instructed to call in ment, and skeptical about government’s – a not uncommon situation here. Many gov- the afternoon, or to come back the next day. pace in releasing the EIA once it was ready. ernment officials attended and listened to the continued opposite

Page 4 World Rivers Review April 2006 Environmental Assessment Flying Blind: Consultants Ignore Sudan Dam’s Environmental Flaws by Peter Bosshard

ive years after the World Commission supplying the electro-mechanical equipment Dam, have carried out any kind of technical on Dams documented the negative of the power plant. Swedish-Swiss ABB is studies reasonably expected to evaluate envi- environmental impacts of large building the transmission lines. ronmental impacts for such a major project. dams, international contractors are The Merowe Dam will seriously impact the Key environmental issues such as sedimenta- Fstill building major hydropower projects ecosystem of the Nile valley and affect all of tion, irrigation, water quality, reservoir and without properly assessing environmental Northern Sudan, yet it is being built without downstream ecological impacts resulting impacts. A new report reveals the serious a full environmental impact assessment. Lah- from water regulation were ignored or sim- environmental impacts of a large dam in meyer International only summarized some ply predicted not to occur.” Sudan, and the inadequate analysis of these likely impacts in a brief report. According to Important environmental data regarding impacts by the project managers. Sudanese law, the Environment Ministry the Merowe Dam have never been compiled, The Merowe Dam on the Nile is the needs to review all environmental assess- or have not been disclosed to the public. In largest hydropower project that is currently ments of major development projects. Yet the spite of this limitation, EAWAG was able to under construction in Africa. Once it is com- dam authority never shared the Merowe predict that the dam would have the follow- pleted in 2008/09, the dam’s reservoir will be assessment with the Environment Ministry. ing environmental impacts: 200 kilometers long, and have the capacity In February 2005, International Rivers Net- Fluctuating water levels: Dam opera- to produce 1,250 megawatts of power. The work received a copy of the environmental tions will cause the downstream water level project will displace 50,000 people from the assessment prepared by Lahmeyer Internation- to fluctuate by 4-5 meters every day. On an fertile Nile valley to arid desert locations. al. IRN shared the document with the Envi- annual basis, the reservoir surface will fluctu- The Merowe Dam is being built by Chi- ronment Ministry and civil society in Sudan. ate between 350-800 square kilometers. The nese and Sudanese companies, and is a We also encouraged the Swiss Federal Institute strong daily and seasonal fluctuations will prominent example for the expanding role of Aquatic Science and Technolog (EAWAG) to erode the river banks, and make it difficult of ’s dam builders around the world. critically review the Merowe assessment. for farmers to draw water from the river and Large Western contractors are also involved EAWAG’s review is very critical of the reservoir for agriculture. in the project. Lahmeyer International, a Lahmeyer report. EAWAG comments: Sedimentation: Up to 130 million tons German engineering company, is managing “It does not appear that Lahmeyer, the of sediment will be deposited in the reservoir project construction. Alstom from France is author of the EIA report on the Merowe continued on page 7

Data Flow continued from page 4 A few hours later, we call the ARSEL offi- response, the Ministry of Energy invites the EIA. And now, an unacceptably short- cial. “Next Monday,” he tells my colleague them to a meeting. But when GVC staff ened period of less than two months is given over the phone. Not this afternoon, not arrive, they are left waiting for two hours, by the authorities for NGO comments. tomorrow, but in one week. Hmm…If we only to be told to return later. That after- The battle for documents is not only were assured that the study is available in noon, they wait again, and are instructed to waged in the offices of power-hungry admin- his office NOW, why wait one week? No return at a specific time later in the week. istrators. Other hurdles to effective advocacy explanation is given. Again, they return, but are never received. are everywhere: hours spent preparing and October 31: Two of us climb back into December 27: Most offices are closed delivering a formal request for a meeting with a taxi for another trip across town to the for the holidays. Ring, ring. “Terri Hathaway, officials; public holidays declared only a day ARSEL office. This time, the official states I have a CD copy of the Lom Pangar EIA for in advance; internet connections that slow that he did not, in fact, have the final ver- you. You can pick it up today.” It is the local down or stop. For anyone trying to get some- sion of the EIA. “Only two print copies were IUCN office, which had been marginally thing done, waiting seems to consume half of made,” he confides, “and given to the Min- involved with the EIA. Their office has been the work day: at an office, at the bank, for a istry of Energy and Water.” He has one elec- outsourced by government to publicly dis- taxi, for copies, for a free computer at the tronic copy of a non-final version and had seminate the EIA. They seem to believe that internet café. Patience is mandatory and per- asked the French-based consultants to please giving me one copy fulfills their duty; I sistence an absolute for any activist in send the final version to him. With a broad assure them that it does not. A series of Cameroon. smile, he assures us that he will call the next phone calls commences the process of dis- GVC has joined many other African day. While I made sure that he had our tributing the EIA to concerned groups. And groups in pressing for the kind of trans- mobile numbers before leaving his office, this was the easy part. parency and inclusive processes for dam we never receive the call. planning as recommended by the WCD. November 2: GVC hand-delivers a letter Lessons Learned The WCD states: “Public acceptance of key to the ARSEL office demanding the immedi- After two months of visiting offices, writing decisions is essential for equitable and sus- ate release of the EIA. The man in charge is letters, and trying to apply pressure to a tainable water and energy resource develop- not there. No response is received. stubborn authority, NGOs have the prized ment.” When governments and dam November 15: GVC publishes an open document. But this two months of jumping builders withhold information and leave letter to the Prime Minister, criticizing the through hoops could have been devoted to civil society out of the process, they are ulti- lack of transparency on the project. In critical review and substantive analysis of mately shooting themselves in the foot. ■

World Rivers Review April 2006 Page 5 Voices from the Frontline Asian Activists Speak Out by Melanie Scaife

n November 2005, more than 120 peo- conservation pools or replanting the forest. under construction downstream on the ple from across east and southeast Asia The local and provincial governments accept Sesan River in Vietnam. gathered in Siem Reap, Cambodia for the results and are joining in the process. the third meeting of Rivers Watch East Just a few months ago there were people Sai Bunlamb, villager from Ta Lao village, Iand Southeast Asia (RWESA), a regional net- from government institutions and local Ratanakiri Province, Cambodia work of affected people and activists that NGOs joining together with the villagers to “At the early stages of the Yali Falls dam con- works to stop destructive river development replant the forest. struction, people living on the Sesan River in the region. Here some RWESA members “At the end of the project the local peo- didn’t know a dam was being built upstream. talk about their struggles for free-flowing ple not only have the information, but they People used to be very happy. They were able rivers. have also learned how to work together and to catch fish from many places. have developed a good process for conserva- “At first, my community didn’t know why Songkhram River Basin tion. The process is dynamic – it does not the flooding happened – the water flooded From 2003-04, the World Conservation stop, it keeps going, and in the future the our rice fields, destroying our rice. When we Union and the Southeast Asia Rivers Net- villagers have a plan.” returned to our work, in partnership with the Nakhon village after the Phanom Environmental Conservation Coop- H.E. Mr Ly Thuch, Chairman of Commission on flooding, we saw eration, helped villagers from four Lower Planning, Investment, Agriculture, Rural Develop- that our chickens Songkhram River Basin villages conduct Thai ment, Environment and Water Resources of the were washed Baan research. Thai Baan – meaning Thai vil- National Assembly of the Kingdom of Cambodia. away. Villagers lager – is a form of participatory resource “Rivers can tell the history of human beings. are scared now of research that turns the tables on traditional We inherited the rivers from our forefathers, the water fluctu- western academic research methods. The vil- and these rivers are still feeding us. These ations. Many lager assumes the role of researcher and is rivers provide water for food, water for agri- people have the owner of the knowledge, while the acad- culture, water for living, and waterways for moved away. The emic works as the research assistant. transport. Moreover, we are getting fish from Sai Bunlamb vegetable gar- aquaculture systems. Rivers create fertile soils dens on the river Suriya Kotamee, Thai Baan researcher from the on which our agriculture systems have been banks have been badly affected. Songkhram River Basin developing. Rivers provide water power for “Our community asks us to do whatever “Villagers have benefited from their Thai energy. we can to return back the natural flow of the Baan research. Now they understand their “Water is life. Without water, there will river. We request that the government and own natural resources better than before. not be any kind of life on earth. Without the dam builders compensate us for what They are able to take the research results to rivers we will not have sustainable water we have lost so far. We ask them to stop new other forums, whether it is with the govern- sources for human beings. Without proper dam construction – these are the requests of ment or other groups, and share the results. watch or care, our rivers are in danger. the community.” They have also started using the research for Therefore the ‘River Watch’ is concerned managing natural resources, like making fish with everybody – not only us, but all The Srepok River human beings.” The Srepok River begins in Vietnam’s Central Highlands’ province of Dac Lac before flow- The Sesan ing into Northeast Cambodia. The Viet- The Sesan River is one of the largest Mekong namese government is currently construct- tributaries, flowing westward from Vietnam’s ing three more hydropower dams on the Sre- Central Highlands through Northeastern pok River (the Dray H’Linh 1 dam was com- Cambodia before joining the Srepok and pleted in 1990). There are also plans for Sekong Rivers. In 1993, Vietnam began three more dams on the Srepok River to be building the first and largest of several built in both Vietnam and Cambodia. hydropower dams planned for the Sesan in In 2005, Cambodian villagers joined Vietnam’s Central Highlands, about 80 kilo- together to form the “3 S Rivers Protection meters from the Cambodian border. The 720 Network,” which aims to protect the rights MW Yali Falls Dam was completed in 2001. of communities living along the Sekong, Despite the dam’s adverse impacts on the Sesan and Srepok Rivers. The three rivers Sesan’s downstream hydrology, fisheries, together form the most important tributaries water quality and livelihoods, no notifica- of the Mekong River in Cambodia, and con- tion was given to the villagers living along tribute about a fifth of the Mekong’s flow. Suriya Kotamee the river. Four more dams are currently continued opposite

Page 6 World Rivers Review April 2006 They are under threat from numerous dam Wang Yongchen, journalist and member of than 450 individuals signed a letter to call plans in Vietnam and Laos. Green Earth Volunteers, China for the public disclosure of environmental “Before I visited the Nu River I had just heard impact assessments of the Nu River dam Sin Tong Lao, about the area and that 13 dams were going development. This really is a landmark for villager from to be built. Immediately I told myself go! – NGOs to join hands together and call for Lumpait town, then share this information with more peo- more public participation in the decision Ratanakiri Prov- ple, because something is happening to making process.” ince, Cambodia nature. In 2004, together with 20 journalists, “I’ve lived by I conducted interviews there. I found not Houay Ho Dam the Srepok River only is nature so beautiful, the cultural diver- In 1994, Korean company Daewoo made an since I was sity is so rich and I understood why this area agreement with the Lao government to build young. It used to is so special – there are so many cultures, so the Houay Ho Dam in Southern Lao PDR. be easy for my many traditions. Everyone in China is think- The dam was completed in 1999 and has family to earn ing we are developing economically so quick- since been bought by Belgian company money; we ly but we have forgotten sustainable develop- Tractebel. As part of the dam development Sin Tong Lao fished and had ment, we have forgotten nature. process, 12 villages were targeted for resettle- a small vegetable “China’s NGOs and civil society are ment: 1,895 people were relocated, or 40% garden close to the river. Every day I collect- increasingly showing their strength in terms of the ethnic Nya Heun population. The ed vegetables and fish to sell in the market. of encouraging the general public to partici- Nya Heun were resettled on the west side of Now the water levels always change – some- pate on important issues such as dam build- the Se Namnoy river, an area owned by the times up, sometimes down – making it diffi- ing and environmental degradation in J’rou ethnic group, about 30 kilometres or a cult to grow vegetables along the river or to China. Just recently, 92 NGOs and more day’s walk from their homeland. (See p. 12 catch fish. The water quality has changed as for an article about this dam.) well. We have set up a village working group with support from the 3 S Rivers Protection Ethnic Nya Heun man from Paksong district, Network and we organize meetings with vil- Champassak province, Laos lagers in the district to discuss how to over- “We want to hold accountable those compa- come these problems.” nies that built or profited from the dam – the Korean company that built it or the Belgian The Nu River company that owns the dam now. There In April 2004, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao should be letters sent saying, ‘You are making suspended plans for dams on the Nu River money from this, why don’t you take some after an unprecedented outcry by NGOs, aca- responsibility and help all those people demics, government officials and the media impacted by this project – allow them to in China and internationally. While the proj- move back?’ We need to have enough land ects may still be approved, the campaign by for us to be able to farm, which means mov- Chinese journalists and NGOs has inspired a ing to areas we consider our old territory, and national movement to protect and restore we need to be given the right to live there China’s rivers. with self respect and independence.”

Wang Yongchen The author is with Oxfam Australia.

Flying Blind continued from page 5 every year. As a consequence, the storage health hazards for people drinking water or 450,000-1,000,000 tons of carbon dioxide capacity of the reservoir will be reduced by eating fish from the reservoir.” In addition, and 38,000-88,000 tons of methane, a partic- 34% within 50 years. This will make tradi- the stagnant water of the reservoir can “cre- ularly potent greenhouse gas, per year. tional flood recession agriculture along the ate perfect breeding conditions for mosqui- The Nile valley is the lifeline of Sudan. river course impossible, and will seriously toes, vectors of malaria and yellow fever and Building Africa’s largest hydropower project diminish the capacity of the project to gen- the water flea host of the guinea worm.” The on this lifeline without a comprehensive, erate electricity. reservoir will also evaporate a lot of water: thorough environmental impact assessment Aquatic ecology: Baseline data on the EAWAG estimates about 14% of the reservoir amounts to flying blind. The involvement aquatic ecology in the region are scarce. The volume (or 2% of the Nile flow) will evapo- of major international contractors in this dam will certainly block fish migration. The rate every year. project shows that in spite of many rhetori- fluctuation of the water levels and erosion Climate change: According to Lahmey- cal commitments, these companies have no of the river’s banks will destroy the spawn- er, “the greenhouse gas emissions from the minimal standards of environmental ing areas of fish and the habitats of other Merowe project are considered to be non-sig- responsibility. ■ organisms. nificant.” Yet the EAWAG review points out Water quality and health: Pollution that large amounts of plants, algae and soil The EAWAG review can be downloaded at and the decomposition of organic matter will be produced or deposited in the reser- http://www.irn.org/programs/merowe/ could, according to EAWAG, “create public voir, and will decompose. This will emit

World Rivers Review April 2006 Page 7 Disconnected River The book Disconnected Rivers by Ellen Wohl (Yale University Press, 2004) reveals how human activities have impoverished A Geologist US rivers and impaired the connections between rivers and other ecosystems.The following excerpts describe the natural Explains the interactions that make for a healthy river, and an effort to restore the channelized Kissimmee River in Florida. Consequences of Reshaping ivers reflect a continent’s history. The form or physical appearance of a Where forces far beneath the river can be readily perceived. People com- Earth’s crust force up mountain monly expect a “healthy” river to be pretty; Rivers ranges, rivers flow swift and cold to have clear water, stable banks and bed, Rdown steep, boulder-strewn channels. Where and perhaps a fringe of trees along the banks the Earth is still, rivers meander broadly, or fish in the pools. These expectations of a recede. Disconnected rivers become impov- depositing thick plains of sand, silt, and clay. healthy river’s appearance may be mislead- erished in form and function because the Rivers also reflect a people’s history. ing in that they ignore loss of function. It is processes maintaining form and function no Where people clear the forests for agricul- difficult to assess a river’s function, however, longer operate. ture, river valleys retain sediments, recording with only a casual examination. River chan- the transitional period when the soil washes nels are fundamentally conduits for water Rivers in Chains down from the hill slopes, and rivers and sediment, but the specific processes of Channelization is the widening, deepening, become broad and shallow. Where people water and sediment movement vary widely clearing, and/or straightening of river chan- mine metals from hills or build factories, among channels. These processes create nels. Such activities are undertaken for sever- river valley sediments contain the toxic by- unique habitats and patterns of nutrient al purposes. Channelization drains wetlands products of these activities. People build exchange to which the local in-channel and by speeding the passage of water through canals, roads, and railroads along river corri- floodplain communities of plants and ani- the wetlands and lowering the groundwater dors, following river passages through dense mals are adapted. table. It reduces flooding of adjacent lands forests or steep mountains. A functional river ecosystem is connected by increasing the river’s capacity to transport The organisms living in and along rivers to everything around it: the atmospheric flood flows, or enhances navigation by also reflect this history. Along a river down- and oceanic circulation patterns that control increasing the natural depth of larger rivers. stream from a site where mining occurred in precipitation over the drainage basin; the It also controls erosion by substituting artifi- the 1890s, there are fewer individuals and soils developed on the slopes adjacent to the cial canals for gullies or other eroding natur- species of aquatic insects and fish in the 21st river during thousands of years of weather- al channels. Individuals or local communi- century because toxic metals still leach from ing of the underlying bedrock; the plant ties have undertaken channelization for two the mining site. Where a river repeatedly communities growing on these soils, and the centuries in the US, but the practice became shifted its course back and forth across the animals that pollinate and consume the much more extensive under the supervision valley bottom during floods spread across plants; the processes by which precipitation of the federal government during the 1940s. 200 years, cottonwood seedlings have sprung filters down to the groundwater and raises or More than 34,000 miles of waterways were up on each new sandbar created by a flood. lowers the water table that is intimately con- channelized by the Army Corps of Engineers Now the river has groves of cottonwoods nected to most streams, and on and on. By and the Soil Conservation Service after 1940. aged 10, 40, 80, and 175 years, and these altering our river systems we have, in many It became apparent within 30 years that trees map the changes in the river’s course. cases, severed these vital connections. Dams channelization had some unanticipated con- The physical forms of rivers and river interrupt the upstream-downstream passage sequences. A 1973 congressional report ecosystems are our historical archives, yet of fish, the downstream flow of seeds that noted that most of the open ditches con- these archives are challenging to interpret. replenish riverside forests, and the down- structed before 1940 to drain wetlands were Gaps may be present in the physical record stream movement of water and sediment. poorly engineered, poorly maintained, and where sediments deposited during an earlier Timber harvests short-circuit the gradual poorly designed in relation to their larger period of river history were subsequently downslope flow of rainwater below the watersheds. Consequently, the local entities eroded. Because of the gaps we can seldom ground, instead sending masses of water and constructing ditches solved the flood prob- decipher a complete and continuous record sediment quickly into nearby rivers. Artificial lem by dumping it downstream. The federal- of a river’s history. But by assembling the levees keep young fish from the rich nursery ly financed channelization projects of the records from many rivers we can piece habitats created by warm, shallow waters 1940s to 1970s were not much better. The together regional and continental syntheses spreading across a floodplain during high 1973 report on these more recent projects is of history. flows and prevent the pulse of nutrients damning. The report emphasizes that “inad- returned to the channel as floodwaters equate consideration was being given to the

Page 8 World Rivers Review April 2006 water table declines, the rocks honeycombed with water-filled caves water-holding capacity and and sinkholes. the capacity for groundwater Once the carbonate rocks of southern rs recharge also decline. Florida lost the protection of the ocean in Periodic flooding and lat- which they formed, the rocks slowly began eral channel movement are to dissolve. Most rainwater is slightly acidic, natural disturbances that cre- and it reacts with carbonate rocks, dissolving ate spatial variability in bot- the calcium from the rock and carrying the tomland forests. Stabilizing a calcium away in solution, leaving sinkholes. river reduces variability Water fills the sinkholes to create and through time and across the spills across the lowlands to form rivers and bottomland. Eventually, the adjacent wetlands. Before European Ameri- bottomland forest shifts cans intervened, the different components toward a homogeneous com- of this giant sponge were subtly but intri- munity of species less toler- cately connected. Rain that fell on the interi- ant of flooding, which occu- or was carefully used, soaked up, and filtered pied the outer floodplain through a huge landscape and passed on before channelization. from organism to organism, nourishing the Direct cutting of riverside rivers, lakes, prairies, and wetlands. Black, trees during channelization organic-rich water drained slowly into Lake eliminates shading and the Kissimmee in the middle of Florida and then input of organic matter such down into the Kissimmee River. as leaves and twigs to During wet periods the waters flowed streams. With the trees and south in a broad band, inundating a flood- their binding roots gone, the plain up to three miles wide. Eventually, streambanks are more sus- the waters coalesced into Lake Okeechobee ceptible to erosion. Flow (“big water” in Seminole) and then spilled velocity is not as effectively out once more to filter down through the reduced along the now- Everglades in broad sheets. Rains during the smooth streambanks, and summer and autumn covered the floodplain sediment is less likely to be for 3 to 9 months each year, and periodically deposited in natural levees. for the entire year. This flooding supported Cutting of bottomland hard- an annual invertebrate production on the woods eliminates vital habi- floodplain up to 100 times greater than the tat for many animals and production in the stream channel. As water can increase nutrient and levels declined each year, the invertebrates sediment concentrations in were carried into the river, where they served adjacent stream channels. as food for many other animals. The life cycles of water birds and fish were also The Kissimmee linked to flooding. Wood storks ate fish The Kissimmee River of Flori- concentrated at water holes during the win- da, now the center of a mas- ter, and snail kites fed on apple snails whose Florida's Kissimmee River. Photo: Brent Anderson/SFWMD sive restoration effort, fur- egg laying was tied to seasonal water fluctua- ther illustrates the conse- tions. Fish used the floodplain habitat for adverse environmental effects of channeliza- quences of channelization and the steps nec- spawning and nursery areas. Years with a tion. Indeed, there is considerable evidence essary to rehabilitate channelized streams. smooth increase in water level, and with that little was known about these effects Florida is flat. Along the course of the large floods that lasted a long time, were and, even more disturbing, little was done to Kissimmee River in southern Florida, the good for the 35 species of fish in the region. ascertain them.” adjacent “uplands” are only 6 to 10 feet Human population and infrastructure Scientists have demonstrated the adverse higher than the floodplain. The Kissimmee began to increase more rapidly in the Kissim- environmental effects of channelization to River once meandered in broad arcs across mee River drainage basin after World War II. be many and various. In addition to loss of this floodplain, dropping 6 to 9 feet for every A major hurricane in 1947 resulted in exten- upland soil, adverse lowland effects include 100,000 feet traveled along its 100-mile-long sive flooding and property damage, and the impacts to wetlands, riverside vegetation, drainage basin. Native Americans named the Army Corps of Engineers stepped in. Con- river form and flood flow, and aquatic Kissimmee for its “winding waters.” gress authorized the Kissimmee River Flood organisms. From the air, the Kissimmee drainage Control Project in 1954. Between 1962 and Drainage of wetlands lowers the local basin looks as though someone had thrown 1971, the corps dredged a trapezoidal canal groundwater table, changing the water cycle a handful of pebbles through a layer of bril- from Lake Kissimmee to Lake Okechobee. and availability of nutrients for wetland liant green pondweed, leaving many little The canal is about ten times the size of the plants. This eliminates or reduces the num- clear holes to the water beneath. These holes natural channel, with six water-control struc- ber and diversity of plant and animal species are karst lakes, for the “pond” beneath the tures that regulate water levels and flow, living in and using the wetlands. As the green of the basin is a vast layer of carbonate continued on page 11

World Rivers Review April 2006 Page 9 The Forgotten People of the Boloven Plateau

The Houay Ho Dam has displaced 2,500 ethnic Heuny and Jrou people from the Boloven Plateau in Southern Laos. Melanie Scaife talked with a local man about the conditions for dam-affected people.

r. Boun is an ethnic Heuny instability for the people (Nya Heun) man. His ancestors of the Boloven Plateau. have lived on the Boloven Mr. Boun was moved Plateau in Southern Laos for to a resettlement area Mgenerations. But Mr. Boun and his fellow vil- about 30 kilometers – or a lagers’ homes now lie empty or submerged day’s walk – from his in water, following the construction of the original home. Houay Ho hydroelectric dam on a nearby The Heuny’s liveli- tributary of the Mekong. hoods – reliant on access “Before the dam was built we used to to forests and rivers – have have enough to eat,” says Mr. Boun. “We been severely affected by The resettlement site at Huay Ho. fished the rivers, collected vegetables in the the move as they now forest and had plenty of rice. We lived on find themselves in what our own without having to depend on aid or has been traditionally the Jrou’s territory. “Mostly we are hired to do weeding in support from anyone else. Now in the reset- “We need enough land – this is the basic neighbouring villages,” Mr. Boun explains. tlement areas, we are totally impoverished problem of our people,” says Mr. Boun. “We “Because we are living in an area with a low and dependent on others.” don’t have access to resources now because demand for labour, and have no other place Houay Ho was built by Korean company we have been moved into an area with no to go, we are hired at very low wages. Some- Daewoo and Thai company Loxley and forest or land to call our own. times we are given a kilo of rice a day for our completed in 1998. From 1997 onwards, “My people used to live in a very big forest work – just enough to eat for one day.” some 2,500 ethnic Heuny and Jrou (Laven) and were used to living in an expansive area The limited amount of land available for people from 11 villages located on the with a lot of natural resources. Now we’ve agriculture and its subsequent impact on tra- Plateau were moved to three resettlement been put in a very concentrated area where ditional livelihoods is a serious problem fac- sites to make way for the dam. all the resources around us are owned by ing the Heuny, but so too is the psychologi- A lack of rigorous planning and absence somebody else and it’s a huge shock for us, a cal impact of being uprooted from their of measures designed to protect the environ- huge change from what we were used to.” ancestral homeland. ment and local communities has resulted in Faced with the loss of their traditional “Some people thought they would get serious water shortages, food insecurity, a livelihoods, many villagers are now forced to sick when they moved and they felt it was lack of land for cultivation and economic sell their labour in order to feed their families. like being moved to a different country,” says Mr. Boun. “This is one of the huge problems with the resettlement – that people have been moved out of the area they con- Holding the Project Owners Accountable sider to be theirs to a foreign land. Their Should the new owners of a dam be responsible for the impacts caused by a former sense of place, their sense of home, has been owner? This is the dilemma being faced by NGOs who are trying to hold Belgian destroyed.” company, Suez-Tractebel, accountable for the impacts to communities displaced by Communities are forbidden from return- Houay Ho. In 2001,Tractebel bought Houay Ho Power Company from Korean com- ing to their former lands, but over the past pany Daewoo. In 2004, Proyecto Gato, a Belgian NGO, filed a complaint to the Bel- few years, villagers have started protesting gian National Contact Point (NCP), a governmental body that oversees compliance with their feet. with the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. Proyecto Gato argued that “We are returning as close as we can to Tractebel – as the dam’s major shareholder – should be responsible for providing our old territory, to land not flooded by the adequate compensation to people forced off their land to make way for the dam. reservoir,” says Mr. Boun. “We are not They also asked Tractebel to make basic health care, education equipment and medi- allowed to move back to our old areas, so cine available to resettled villagers. officially we are living in the resettlement Tractebel argued that it wasn’t responsible as the resettlement was carried out sites but in reality we are hardly there at all. before their involvement.The NCP supported Tractebel’s argument, citing a letter “Last year about half of the families aban- from the Lao Minister of Industry which stated that Tractebel had fulfilled its contrac- doned the resettlement sites – this year it’s tual obligations to the Lao government. up to two thirds. At this point the govern- The complaint did cause Tractebel to invest in repairing and upgrading the water ment has not actively stopped us from mov- systems in the resettlement area, but the essential issues of land and livelihood have ing back but in the future, who knows?” not been resolved. Mr. Boun believes the Lao Government Jan Cappelle, Proyecto Gato, Belgium only chooses to see the benefits of dam con- continued opposite

Page 10 World Rivers Review April 2006 Disconnected Rivers continued from page 9 creating a reservoir upstream of each struc- by streambed composition, flow depth, flow dechannelization by diverting flow into ture. In most areas of the world, roads go velocity, and diversity, forms a third factor. remnant river channels and floodplains. The downhill into a valley to cross a river. In Hydrology, measured as flow and variability demonstration project had some encourag- southern Florida, the rivers are walled within of water flow through time, is the fourth fac- ing successes. The diverted flows increased levees that sit above the surrounding lands, tor. Finally, biological interactions, including dissolved oxygen levels in the river water. and roads rise up to cross a river. competition, predation, disease, and para- The flows carried downstream the fine sedi- The Kissimmee River Flood Control Project sitism, must be restored. ments that had accumulated in the river did alleviate flooding, but it also largely since channelization and restored the sandy destroyed the floodplain ecosystem. Dredge streambed. The flows also re-contoured the material from the canal buried 6,900 acres of uniformly flat, shallow channel into a chan- floodplain wetlands. Another 35,000 acres We have taken rivers nel with pools and sandy riffles. As the were altered by the loss of seasonal flooding. for granted for centuries, physical integrity of the river was restored, Remaining segments of the natural channel and we continue to do biological integrity also began to recover. carried little or no flow. As several inches of Bottom-dwelling invertebrates became more organic muck accumulated over the sandy so at our peril. numerous and diverse. Game fish became bottoms of these channel segments, the stag- more abundant. But the demonstration nant water became anoxic, with little oxygen project also indicated the limitations to available to aquatic plants and animals. Levels river rehabilitation. More complete restora- of phosphorus entering Lake Okeechobee The Restoration Plan tion of the river’s biological integrity increased from 100 to 500 tons per year as In order to meet the flow criteria set by proj- requires the re-establishment of historical dairy, citrus, ranching, and sugarcane opera- ect scientists, program managers evaluated flow patterns. As cautiously summarized by tions spread through the former wetlands. three plans, each of which proposed a differ- the editors of a special scientific volume on The excess nutrients created algal blooms that ent method to divert water from the canal the restoration effort, “With all our exper- depleted oxygen levels in the lake waters, back to the remnants of natural channels. tise in ecosystem restoration, it is widely destroying the abundance of autumn insects Managers eventually decided to remove two recognized that it is unlikely that the full that had fueled migratory birds on their way. of the existing six water-control structures, spectrum of structural and functional attrib- Almost as soon as channelization was backfill 22 miles of canal, re-excavate por- utes of the system can be restored to the complete in 1971, public outcry galvanized tions of the river channel that were levels existing prior to the disturbance.” All political resolve to restore the Kissimmee destroyed, and purchase about 70,000 acres the king’s horses and all the king’s men ecosystem. The Florida legislature passed the of floodplain through the State of Florida, all couldn’t put Humpty together again … Kissimmee River Restoration Act in 1976. at an estimated cost ranging from $280 mil- Activities are now being undertaken to lion to $422 million. This is one component End Note restore ecological integrity. Ecological integri- of the $7.8 billion Comprehensive Ever- We all live among rivers. They are the sinews ty of the Kissimmee River is to be judged by glades Restoration Plan, a massive experi- that bind our landscapes together. I have five factors. The first of these is the energy ment to determine whether we can in fact come to feel with increasing urgency that as source to fuel the lifecycle, which depends undo our negative impacts. Money is not we unwittingly strain or cut those sinews, we on inputs of organic matter. In other words, everything, but it is a crucial component of threaten the integrity of the whole environ- is there enough mass of plant material to the restoration process. A National Research ment on which we depend. We have taken produce the nutrient-rich muck on which all Council report issued in 2003 noted that rivers for granted for centuries, and we con- other life depends? A second factor is water inadequate funding was hampering Ever- tinue to do so at our peril. We cannot con- quality, judged in terms of temperature, tur- glades restoration efforts. tinue in this manner for much longer. We bidity, dissolved oxygen, and other character- Managers installed three weirs across a need to keep trying to restore rivers, but our istics. Is the water warm and clear and oxy- portion of the canal below Lake Kissimmee efforts must reflect knowledge, patience, and genated enough to support insects, fish, tur- between 1984 and 1989 as a demonstration a willingness to learn from past mistakes. tles, and alligators? Habitat quality, as judged project. The weirs simulated the effects of Our rivers deserve nothing less. ■

Boloven Plateau continued from page 10 struction – the generation of power and For Mr. Boun, the solution is clear. “We bility for the dam’s impacts. Two: help us export income – while ignoring lessons to need to have enough land to farm which return to our home.” ■ be learned from failed dam projects of the means moving in to areas that we consider past. our old territory, and we need to be given For more information about the Houay Ho dam, “The Lao Government is building new the right to live there with self respect and download a field report from a visit to the reset- dams and it claims it’s going to do such a independence.” tlement area at http://www.irn.org/programs/ great job but where’s the effort to solve the Houay Ho dam is now owned by Belgian mekong/Houay_Ho_2004.pdf. problems of the old dams? Meanwhile, the company Suez-Tractebel, together with an Melanie Scaife is a Communications people of the Boloven Plateau have been for- unnamed Thai partner, which bought the Editor with Oxfam Australia and attended gotten, languishing in failed resettlement dam in 2001. Mr. Boun’s message to the new the Rivers RWESA Meeting in Cambodia in sites and living a tenuous existence.” owners is unequivocal: “One: take responsi- November 2005.

World Rivers Review April 2006 Page 11 promised not to decrease the total annual flow into the sea, the water may not be released at the right time. Phytoplankton NEWS BRIEFS need fresh water in the summer flood season to maintain high productivity. Unfortunate- ly, that’s when farmers need the most water for irrigation. “They may try to release more CHILE: Ricardo Lagos, the President of Chile, At press time, Chile’s Superintendent of fresh water during the fall season to com- on Febuary 2 cautioned that decisions on Electricity and Fuels had extended the time pensate for the whole year,” Gong says, “but new hydroelectric projects being proposed limit for citizens to register objections to it cannot stimulate high productivity, so for Chilean Patagonia by the Spanish com- Endesa’s request for the right to enter private there’s no use for it then.” pany Endesa should be deferred until the property to carry out feasibility studies for the The team also found that sediment loads projects’ potential impacts are fully evaluat- dam. Dozens of petitions by property owners at the river mouth have decreased by more ed. In a visit to Aysén, the zone where the and environmentalists have flooded the than half since before the reservoir was filled. dams are being planned, Lagos said, “Here, agency, even as Endesa has begun drilling and Chemical changes in the water have caused a we do not want to destroy nature, and if blasting in the region. Local environmental- shift in the dominant species of phytoplank- that is what the dams will cause, we will ists have accused the company of carrying ton to a type that can kill fish by depleting have to say no. If they are compatible with out unauthorized studies on public lands, oxygen in the water or secreting toxins. progress, we can say yes, but only preserving including protected areas in the region. Gong estimates that annual catches will what we have here. And lots of conditions be reduced by about one million tons would have to be met.” because of the dam. Scientists believe the Lagos’ statement was received favorably problem will only get worse if the govern- by critics of the project. The president of the ment builds the half a dozen more dams it Private Corporation for the Development of has planned for the Yangtze. Aysén, Miriam Chible, said, “This has been our position from the beginning. The project MALAYSIA: Transnational aluminum is not feasible as proposed… Producing smelters have been showing interest in tap- hydroelectricity in Patagonia would mean ping the power that will be produced by the the loss of those characteristics which make problem-ridden Bakun Dam, according to it exceptional.” InterPress Service. Endesa plans to build four dams on the The controversial 2,400MW dam in Pascua and Baker rivers, and a 1,500 km Sarawak, on Borneo island, was originally power line to link these dams with the cen- scheduled for completion in 2003, but is tral electricity grid. The company has only Endesa's dam planners not welcome in Patagonia. now not expected to generate electricity recently applied for permission to begin until late 2009. One of the problems plagu- exploratory activities aimed at completing CHINA: Three Gorges Dam is threatening ing the project has been a lack of demand the projects’ feasibility studies. Dozens of one of the world’s biggest fisheries, according for the power that will be produced by the opponents of the projects – including envi- to a February 25 report in New Scientist maga- dam. Because Sarawak has so little demand ronmentalists, local land owners, ecotourism zine. The dam, the world’s largest, blocks the for electricity, the Malaysian government companies, and salmon farmers – submitted mouth of the Yangtze River about 2,000 kilo- needs to attract an energy-intensive industry objections to the licensing request, and a meters upstream of the East China Sea. such as aluminum in order to justify the decision by federal authorities is pending. Scientists at the National Taiwan Ocean dam’s construction. Despite Endesa’s lack of authorization to University have been monitoring the East “It’s utterly unnecessary,” said one begin studies, local residents say the compa- China Sea ecosystem since 1998. Within two Sarawak-based political analyst of the dam, ny has, in effect, already invaded Patagonia. months of the reservoir’s first filling in June who asked not to be identified for fear of The Group of Defenders of the Spirit of 2003, they detected a massive decline in the repercussions. “The only people who need Patagonia, a local organization of some 200 phytoplankton that forms the base of the the dam are the Sarawak politicians and people who would be directly affected by the food chain. their cronies.” dams, delivered a letter to Lagos denouncing The team measured the amount of car- The government has already invested “unauthorized work by dam contractors car- bon dioxide being absorbed by the phyto- around $500 million in the project. As luck rying out activities in natural protected areas plankton before and after the dam’s con- would have it for the government, rising and on private property.” struction. Areas of high CO2 absorption cor- costs for electricity and raw materials have Chilean Patagonia is considered to be the respond to high levels of phytoplankton, forced many aluminum plants in the US and home of some of the most pristine ecosys- which supports a rich fishery. The Europe to close down in recent years. Major tems on the planet, including glaciers and researchers found that by August 2003, the smelters are now scouring the globe for glacial lakes, wild rivers, temperate rain- 114,000-square-kilometer “high-productivity places where electricity is cheap. Bakun is forests, and steppes, which support many zone” surrounding the mouth of the Yangtze just the latest in the aluminum industry’s endemic species. There is broad concern that had shrunk by about 86%. global “electricity prospecting.” the construction of the dams and power This is probably because of reduced flows Smelters from China, the world’s largest lines could seriously harm the region and out of the Yangtze, says Gwo-Ching Gong, aluminum user, have been showing a partic- eliminate the potential for thriving alterna- who headed the university research team. ular interest in Bakun. Last year, IPS reports, tive economic activities, such as ecotourism. Though the Chinese government has more than 40 smelters stopped production

Page 12 World Rivers Review April 2006 in China due to higher costs and govern- GREEN ENERGY CREDITS: Whole Foods obtained at low cost, local labor and materials ment moves to curb pollution. Market, the American health food giant, has can be used to construct a tower, install a tur- Apart from the questionable need for become the first major US company to con- bine, operate the equipment and perform the Bakun, environmentalists are worried about vert all of its energy to green sources. In Jan- necessary maintenance. the polluting effects of smelters. uary the grocery chain announced plans to According to ESI Africa, Rwanda’s minis- ‘’Communities in the adjacent areas become the largest buyer of wind energy ter of energy has estimated that a wind farm would be affected by its polluting emissions, credits in North America by purchasing cred- of 63 turbines producing 50 MW of electrici- once it is built,’’ said Wong Meng Chuo, a its equal to 100% of its projected energy use ty would cover the basic electricity needs for college lecturer and social activist who spent for 2006. the entire country. many years working among communities in The move will cut carbon dioxide emis- Sarawak. “It is also of concern that the sions by the same amount as taking 60,000 SOLAR: California regulators directed utili- industry would bring changes to the social cars off the road for a year or planting ties in January to spend nearly $3.2 billion structure as well as to the cultural practices 90,000 acres of trees to absorb the gas, on solar systems to help relieve a shortage of of the community.’’ according to the US Environmental Protec- electricity. The solar energy plan, approved tion Agency. on a 3-to-1 vote by the California Public “In the corporate world, this is huge,” says Utilities Commission, will cover roughly A BETTER WAY Kurt Johnson, head of the EPA’s Green Power one-third the cost of solar systems through Partnership. “When a market leader does rebates over 11 years. The program is intend- FUEL CELLS: A South African firm and its US something like this, others will emulate.” ed to encourage both business and residen- partner were awarded a $3 million grant by tial customers to install enough rooftop solar the International Finance Corporation (IFC), WIND: Today, some 12 years after war and energy systems to generate 3,000 megawatts the private-sector arm of the World Bank, to genocide in Rwanda left almost one million of electricity – enough power to serve about help install 400 fuel cells in over people displaced and struggling, a large portion 2.2 million homes and eliminate the need the next three years. The company, IST, said of the population still lacks basic amenities for six modern power plants. The program the project would help reduce the impacts of such as clean water and energy. Rwindalectric will be funded by a new $1.10 monthly fee the nation’s recent regional power shortages, Inc is a new nonprofit focused on bringing on residential power bills. The program will and bring power to areas where grid power electricity to rural villages in Rwanda, with an make the state one of the world’s largest was either not available or unreliable. emphasis on wind energy. ESI Africa reports users of solar power. “The project will represent the largest that Rwindalectric’s goal is to construct small Not to be outdone, on March 1, Arizona number of commercial fuel cells to be wind farms in rural villages, using small-capaci- adopted a plan to require state utilities to get installed in a developing country to date,” ty turbines (50 to 500 kW) that are being 15% of their electricity from renewable said IST spokeswoman Prithinee Naidoo. phased out in the US and Europe as they are resources by 2025. About a third of this The fuel cells, which use fuel such as being upgraded to larger units (up to 3 MW). amount must be energy generated on the methane to produce an electric current, While no longer commercially viable in these customer side of the meter. This could pro- would generate about 2 megawatts – enough countries, these turbines represent a proven vide support for up to 2,000 MW of solar – electricity to power 1,300 households, product that has the potential to bring electric- on a per-capita basis, more than California’s according to Business Day. ity to many remote areas. If they can be new solar initiative. ■

removal mining on communities in the coal- “Kilowatt Ours” follows Barrie on his 18- rich Appalachian Mountains. month journey from the coal mines of West This shockingly crude practice Virginia to the solar panel fields of Florida, as REVIEWS literally blows mountains up he learns about the problems to get at the coal beneath and solutions to Kilowatt Ours:A Plan to Re-energize them.“They use 2,500 tons America’s lust for America, by Jeff Barrie (DVD, available of explosives a day in energy. He inter- from http://www.kilowattours.org/) Appalachia, and that’s why I views energy say we are under attack,” activists, coal-affected Sometimes, the best possible response is to says Judy Bonds, a com- community members, take things “too personally.” Filmmaker Jeff munity activist inter- energy-efficiency Barrie was so offended by the rapacious viewed for the film. experts, medical pro- practice of mountaintop removal coal min- Adding insult to injury, fessionals, and school ing and the impacts of burning coal on the the companies are administrators (remark- environment and human health that he allowed to dump the ably, schools in the US embarked on a national energy-conserva- blasted debris into currently spend more on tion crusade.“Kilowatt Ours” is his delight- waterways; more than energy bills then they do fully personal documentary of what he has 1,500 miles of on computers and text learned, and a tool to bring converts to his Appalachian streams books combined). He asks movement. have been buried by average citizens if they The film starts by graphically illustrating mountaintop know where their energy the horrible impacts of mountaintop removal debris. continued on page 15

World Rivers Review April 2006 Page 13 NGO Profile “Living Lakes” Brings Together Lake Protectors from Around the Globe by Udo Gattenlöhner

ater is the essence of life, but people water issues as they pertain to the manage- he uses 50% of his income for fuel. Against “W need healthy lakes, rivers and wet- ment of the world’s major lakes. Objectives this background, the lands for many more reasons,” says Marion are to optimize water management of lakes and its Kenyan partner organisation OSIEN- Hammerl, President of the Global Nature and river basins, and to further the exchange ALA have launched the solar energy project Fund. “These diverse ecosystems provide of know-how, technologies and experiences at Lake Victoria. The goal of the project is to products from fish to reeds; they help pre- between environmental NGOs and other improve the income situation of the fisher vent floods and reduce levels of pollutants. stakeholders of lake regions in moving Agen- families and reduce environmental stress on But they are also sensitive and vulnerable da 21 objectives from paper to practice. Liv- the lake. habitats for a diverse flora and fauna.” ing Lakes conferences are held annually to This solar project has a micro-financing The Global Nature Fund, a non-profit promote the exchange of experiences, for- system so fishermen can purchase this new NGO, launched the Living Lakes partnership mulate statements, coordinate individual solar technology. Additionally OSIENALA in 1998. The aim of the activities and agree on further steps for com- has developed energy-efficient smoking kilns is to promote sustainable development objec- mon activities. Below is a sampling of some to reduce the deforestation around Lake Vic- tives for the world’s lakes at the international Living Lakes projects. toria, which not only reduces the families’ level. Currently there are 40 member lakes need for fuel, but also reduces erosion and wetlands spread across five continents. Lake Victoria: Solar power for fishers around the lake. More than 50 partner organizations – NGOs The participants of the “African Living and public institutions – provide a fantastic Lakes Conference,” held in October 2005 in Wetlands and Estuaries wealth of experience and expertise. The part- Kisumu, Kenya, witnessed the first public Tangible results have been obtained by the nership comprises lakes and water systems demonstration of a new generation of fish- project “Sustainable Management of Wet- such as Lake Chapala, Mexico’s largest lake; ing tools: solar lamps. Members of the lands and Shallow Lakes” program launched Lake Constance, bordering Germany, Switzer- Kenyan Living Lakes partner organization in 2001. The aim of this EU co-funded proj- land and ; Lake Victoria, Africa’s OSIENALA (Friends of Lake Victoria) ect was to demonstrate that it is possible to largest lake; the Greater St. Lucia Wetland demonstrated the use of the solar lamps, manage wetlands in ways that enhance Park, South Africa’s oldest nature reserve; which were attached to a traditional mini- their nature conservation value while meet- Lake Baikal, the deepest lake in the world, bamboo float. ing the social and economic needs of the and Lake Poyang-hu, China’s largest fresh- Lake Victoria is the most densely populat- local community. The regions that benefited water lake. Another Living Lakes partner, ed area in Kenya. The main source of income from the project were the La Nava and the Columbia River Wetlands in Canada, of the local population is fishing. “Every day Boada wetlands in , and the Nestos was designated as a Wetland of International about 5,000 fishermen spend all night on River estuary in northeastern . La Importance by the Ramsar Secretariat in June the water, fishing sardines,” says Dr. Obiero Nava and Boada are especially important for 2005, on World Wetland Day. Ong’ang’a, Director of Osienala. “The fisher- flora and fauna, as they are situated in very The underlying idea of the international men cast their nets and attract the small sar- arid areas and are an important wintering lake network is to prepare the ground for an dines with bright kerosene lamps. The next place for migratory birds. The Nestos lakes ongoing international dialogue between pri- day they lay out the catch to dry in the and lagoons in Greece are considered to be vate and public stakeholders involved in sun.” Hundreds of lamps flickering in the one of the ten most important wetland darkness offer a fan- areas in Europe, but so far the area has not tastic spectacle at been granted protected status. The three- Lake Victoria every year project resulted in regional manage- night. ment plans being created to deal with the The use of most critical environmental problems facing kerosene lamps, these watersheds. The plans include the however, has many installation of buffer zones around the lakes disadvantages: leak- in order to stop nutrient pollution from ing kerosene threat- agricultural run-off and wastewater entering ens the environment the lakes; and guidelines for the treatment and contaminates of sewage effluent and visitor management, the lake water. Addi- among other things. ■ tionally, the price of this fossil fuel is The author is the executive director of the Global high. Every fisher- Nature Fund (Germany). For more information: man needs about 6 [email protected], or on the web at to 8 litres kerosene www.globalnature.org and www.livinglakes.org Photo: Global Nature Fund Demonstrating solar lamps at a meeting of Living Lakes in Kenya. per night, meaning

Page 14 World Rivers Review April 2006 Lake Victoria continued from page 1 This internal World Bank report also claimed that there was very little risk to the project becoming uneconomic because of changes to hydrology. Although it noted that “the hydrologic conditions are the sin- gle most important risk for an extension at Owen Falls,” the Bank and its consultant, Acres International of Canada, used limited and very optimistic hydrological data for the design of the extension project. The Bank’s appraisal report explains: “In the period 1961-62 extra heavy rain, which

Key Findings on Lake Victoria’s Dam Drop The Kull report’s key findings include: ■ Based on the current Lake Victoria hydrology, as well as observations from the past 100+ years, the Owen Falls Dams are likely over-sized. ■ The disturbing lack of public infor- mation on dam releases, dam opera- tions and river flows makes it difficult persisted across much of Central Africa, is saddled with an expensive white elephant for independent experts to soundly raised the lake level by more than a meter. of a dam that not only cannot produce the judge existing and proposed hydro- This high lake level has more or less pre- power that it promised, but is doing serious electric projects on the Victoria Nile. vailed since that time … After a careful harm to Lake Victoria.” ■ Experts conclude that future cli- review of the hydrology of the Nile Basin, a NAPE has long pressed for development mate will likely involve drier condi- reference hydrology data set was selected of energy sources other than more hydro- tions, lower lake levels, and lower based on the best available flow records at power dams for Uganda, arguing that the downstream river flows, which will the Owen Falls site, namely the 1961 to nation’s almost total dependence on exacerbate these problems and make 1989 flow data set. The risk that the hydrol- hydropower in a time of climate change is it increasingly more difficult for Victo- ogy could revert to a condition described unwise. The group intends to hold a public ria Nile dams to produce their pro- by the pre-1960 data is estimated by the meeting with hydrological experts from jected power.This calls into question consultants to be less than 1%.” the region to discuss the issue and ways Uganda’s reliance on hydropower on Frank Muramuzi of NAPE states, “It is forward. the Victoria Nile as its primary source clear that the Bank and Acres were excessive- The World Bank has also been a major of electricity. ly optimistic in their appraisal of this proj- proponent of the proposed Bujagali Dam, The report is available at www.irn.org. ect, and that its risks were greatly underesti- and is at this time considering involvement mated. Uganda is now paying the price, and in the project under a new developer. ■

Reviews continued from page 13 comes from (they do not). In fact, he bills thanks to conservation efforts, a wind explains, it takes six tons of coal a year to farm and a solar-energy lab, and other For another independent filmmaker’s power the average house in the US south- hopeful places. Barrie’s enthusiasm for sav- look at a pressing energy issue, IRN’s east – 30% more than the national average. ing energy is infectious – and what a good own Terri Hathaway produced a By the end of the film, Barrie has thing to catch.This reviewer immediately 28-minute film on the controversial become a crusader, determined to lighten looked into improving the insulation in her World Bank-funded Chad-Cameroon the region’s deadly black habit, house by own house after watching the film. pipeline in 2003.You can order copies house. He begins with his own house. In Barrie’s new organization, the Southern of “Pipe Dreams: People of the a sweetly playful segment, we watch as he Energy Conservation Initiative, is taking Cameroon Pipeline” from Terri and his wife Heather change out regular the film and its message of hope across the ([email protected]).The film is also light bulbs for compact fluorescents; and Eastern US, and signing up homeowners to available from The Film Connection replace an old refrigerator with a more join the crusade to reduce their energy fficient model.The film also visits families use.The film deserves wider coverage than (www.filmconnection.org/), an inter- whose houses are producing more energy just the eastern US, however, and is avail- net-based public lending library of than they use, companies that are saving able for house-party showings (send an films for US residents. hundreds of thousands of dollars in energy email via the website).

World Rivers Review April 2006 Page 15 Non-Profit Org. US POSTAGE PAID Berkeley, CA 94703 1847 Berkeley Way Permit No. 126 Berkeley, CA 94703, U.S.A.

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IN THIS ISSUE : Dams are drain- for Africa’s largest hydropower ing Lake Victoria. Page 1 project reveals serious prob- Commentary: It’s technically lems. Page 5 possible, affordable and achiev- Voices from the Front able to bring safe water to all Line: Asian activists speak out. who need it, but to get there Page 6 we need a revolution in water Book Excerpt: A geologist management. Page 2 explains the consequences of WCD: A report on an IRN- reshaping rivers. Page 8 sponsored conference to dis- Laos: Talking with the forgot- cuss the World Commission ten people of the Boloven on Dams’ fifth anniversary. Plateau, who were displaced by Page 3 Houay Ho Dam. Page 10 Cameroon: Trying to get News Briefs and Reviews: public access to an EIA for a Page 12 proposed dam takes patience. NGO Profile: “Living Lakes” Page 4 brings together lake protec- Sudan: An independent analy- tors from around the globe.

sis of environmental studies Page 15

given an opportunity to participate in com- in participate to opportunity an given US$1 billion. Construction companies from companies Construction billion. US$1

Yet many of these people have not been not have people these of many Yet The project is estimated to cost more than more cost to estimated is project The action/060223laparota.php

tion, agriculture, water and other necessities. other and water agriculture, tion, would flood nearly 17,000 hectares of land. of hectares 17,000 nearly flood would aeAto e ae http://www.irn.org/ page: web Action Take

on the Papagayo River for fish, transporta- fish, for River Papagayo the on kilometers from Acapulco Airport, and Airport, Acapulco from kilometers You can send a letter from IRN’s from letter a send can You

lives of 75,000 more who currently depend currently who more 75,000 of lives rural area near Acapulco City, less than 50 than less City, Acapulco near area rural for meeting Mexico’s energy needs. energy Mexico’s meeting for

would displace 25,000 people and affect the affect and people 25,000 displace would The 900 MW dam would be built in a in built be would dam MW 900 The nents and investigate better alternatives better investigate and nents

the proper procedures. If built, the project the built, If procedures. proper the CECOP. “Our land is not for sale!” sale!” for not is land “Our CECOP. ect, stop repression of project oppo- project of repression stop ect,

through project approval without following without approval project through aquifers,” said Marco Antonio Suastegui of Suastegui Antonio Marco said aquifers,” of Mexico, asking that he cancel the proj- the cancel he that asking Mexico, of

tric dam this year, and is trying to rush to trying is and year, this dam tric “The dam will flood forests and dry up dry and forests flood will dam “The edamsaet iet o,President Fox, Vicente to message a Send

wants to start construction of the hydroelec- the of construction start to wants from the proposed site for La Parota. Parota. La for site proposed the from Take Action Take

violations is that the Mexican government Mexican the that is violations struction of La Venta Dam located upstream located Dam Venta La of struction

violations associated with this project. this with associated violations

One reason for these serious human rights human serious these for reason One

CECOP were already affected by the con- the by affected already were CECOP

helping to call attention to human rights human to attention call to helping

wounding hundreds of farmers. farmers. of hundreds wounding

opposition to the dam. Some members of members Some dam. the to opposition

IRN is working with local NGOs in NGOs local with working is IRN

attacked peaceful community demonstrators, community peaceful attacked protests and other activities to register their register to activities other and protests

What is IRN Doing? IRN is What

this January. In recent months, police have police months, recent In January. this (MAPDER), they have held numerous held have they (MAPDER),

Eduardo Maya Manrique was stoned to death to stoned was Manrique Maya Eduardo Mexican Movement of Dam-Affected People Dam-Affected of Movement Mexican

returned from an organizing meeting, and meeting, organizing an from returned of the dam and for their rights. With the With rights. their for and dam the of

Zamora was killed last September as he as September last killed was Zamora Dam (CECOP) to fight against construction against fight to (CECOP) Dam remains to be seen. seen. be to remains ■

ty leaders have been murdered – Tomas Cruz Tomas – murdered been have leaders ty Council of Communities Against La Parota La Against Communities of Council necessary approvals and financing by then by financing and approvals necessary

the construction of the dam. Two communi- Two dam. the of construction the Affected communities have created the created have communities Affected July 2006, but whether they can obtain the obtain can they whether but 2006, July

police violence because of their opposition to opposition their of because violence police by most of the affected communities. affected the of most by ment hopes to commence construction by construction commence to hopes ment

political persecution of their leaders and leaders their of persecution political C police presence which hindered participation hindered which presence police magazine. The Mexican govern- Mexican The magazine. Forbes by

of Guerrero, Mexico have met have Mexico Guerrero, of by the project, and were marked by massive by marked were and project, the by Slim, ranked the world’s fourth-richest man fourth-richest world’s the ranked Slim,

on the Papagayo River in the State the in River Papagayo the on with communities who will not be affected be not will who communities with company ICA, which is owned by Carlos by owned is which ICA, company

ed by the proposed La Parota Dam Parota La proposed the by ed consultations which have taken place were place taken have which consultations the project, including Mexican construction Mexican including project, the

ommunities who would be impact- be would who ommunities munity forums to discuss the project. Those project. the discuss to forums munity several countries have shown an interest in interest an shown have countries several

by Monti Aguirre Monti by

“Our Land is Not for Sale!” for Not is Land “Our Mexico