CEPF|Environmental Study of the Lancang-Mekong Development Plan|ICEM Baseline Assessment Report | March 2019 table i CEPF|Environmental Study of the Lancang-Mekong Development Plan|ICEM Baseline Assessment Report | March 2019 This report is one of four in this set on the Environmental Study of the Lancang-Mekong Development Plan: 1. Introduction Report 2. Baseline Assessment Report 3. Impact Assessment Report 4. Mitigation Recommendations Report The report covered in this volume is bold. DISCLAIMER This document was prepared by a consultant team engaged to undertake the Environmental Study of the Lancang-Mekong Development Plan. The project is funded by the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF), a joint initiative of l’Agence Française de Développement, Conservation International, the European Union, the Global Environment Facility, the Government of Japan, the MacArthur Foundation and the World Bank. A fundamental goal is to ensure civil society is engaged in biodiversity conservation. The views, conclusions and recommendations in the document are not to be taken to represent the views of CEPF. Prepared by International Centre for Environmental Management Prepared for Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund Citation ICEM. 2019. Environmental Study of the Lancang-Mekong Development Plan: Baseline Assessment Report. Prepared for Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund. More information www.icem.com.au | [email protected] ICEM - International Centre for Environmental Management 6A Lane 49, To Ngoc Van, Tay Ho, HANOI Viet Nam Front page image ICEM/Petro Kotzé Project Team Jeremy Carew-Reid, Peter John Meynell, Simon Tilleard, John Sawdon, Bryan Stuart, Eric Baran, Tim McCormack, Paul Simcock, Jacques Dezeure, Rory Hunter, Mai Ky Vinh, Tuantong Jutagate, Somphouthone Phimmachak, Oudom Phonekhampheng, Daniel Gilfillan, Luke Taylor, Luong Quynh Mai ii CEPF|Environmental Study of the Lancang-Mekong Development Plan|ICEM Baseline Assessment Report | March 2019 ABBREVIATIONS AIIB Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank ANZECC Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality ATP Asia Turtle Program CEPF Critical Ecosystems Partnership Fund DWR Department of Water Resources DWT Deadweight ton EIA Environmental Impact Assessment EMP Environmental Management Plan ES Environmental Study GMS Greater Mekong Subregion HPP Hydropower project IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural resources (IUCN) JCCCN the Joint Committee on Coordination of Commercial Navigation on the Lancang- Mekong River LMB Lower Mekong Basin LMCM Lancang Mekong Cooperation Mechanism LMDP ‘Development Plan of International Navigation on the Lancang-Mekong River 2015- 2025’ LNMC Lao National Mekong Committee MMMAP Multi-media Monitoring and Assessment Program (MMMAP) MONRE Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) MOPWT Ministry Public Works and Transport (MOPWT) MRC Mekong River Commission NAP Navigation Programme NESDB National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) NGO Non-governmental organisation O&G Oil and grease ONEP Office of Natural Resources Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP) PAT Port Authority of Thailand PCD Pollution Control Department PNPCA Procedures for Notification, Prior Consultation and Agreement SEI Stockholm Environment Institute TFT Tortoise and freshwater turtle TMD Thailand Marine Department TNMC Thailand National Mekong Committee WQCA Water Quality Criteria for the Protection of Aquatic Life (WQCA) WQCH Water Quality Criteria for Protection of Human Health (WQCH) WWF World Wildlife Fund 1 CEPF|Environmental Study of the Lancang-Mekong Development Plan|ICEM Baseline Assessment Report | March 2019 TABLE OF CONTENTS ABBREVIATIONS ............................................................................................................................1 TABLE OF CONTENTS .....................................................................................................................2 LIST OF TABLES .............................................................................................................................4 LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................................5 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................9 1.1 Environmental study rationale .................................................................................... 9 2 BASELINE ASSESSMENT APPROACH ................................................................................. 11 3 HYDROLOGY AND SEDIMENT BASELINE ........................................................................... 15 3.1 Introduction ...............................................................................................................15 3.2 Hydrology current status and trends .........................................................................15 3.3 Sediment transport current status and trends ..........................................................26 3.4 References .................................................................................................................35 4 AQUATIC BIODIVERSITY AND WETLANDS BASELINE ......................................................... 37 4.1 Overview of the river reaches from Chiang Saen to Luang prabang .........................37 4.2 Water quality .............................................................................................................40 4.3 River health ................................................................................................................46 4.4 Aquatic and riparian habitats and Biodiversity .........................................................49 4.5 Macroinvertebrates ...................................................................................................57 4.6 Trends in River health ................................................................................................59 4.7 Drivers of change .......................................................................................................60 5 FISH BASELINE ................................................................................................................ 62 5.1 Summary ....................................................................................................................62 5.2 Introduction ...............................................................................................................63 5.3 Context ......................................................................................................................63 5.4 Methodology .............................................................................................................64 5.5 Results ........................................................................................................................67 5.6 References .................................................................................................................81 5.7 Appendix 1: Species Database Creation ....................................................................82 6 AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES BASELINE ............................................................................. 84 6.1 Introduction ...............................................................................................................84 6.2 Methods .....................................................................................................................84 6.3 Findings ......................................................................................................................85 6.4 References .................................................................................................................94 7 BIRDS BASELINE .............................................................................................................. 96 7.1 Introduction ...............................................................................................................96 7.2 Description of species and status ..............................................................................97 7.3 Description of aquatic habitats and status by river section ....................................106 7.4 Review of existing studies, issues and information gaps for the key themes .........112 7.5 Trend analysis and drivers of change ......................................................................117 7.6 Definition of sustainability objectives and impact assessment parameters ...........123 7.7 References ...............................................................................................................123 8 WATERWAYS AND NAVIGATION BASELINE .................................................................... 127 9 SOCIO ECONOMIC BASELINE ......................................................................................... 131 2 CEPF|Environmental Study of the Lancang-Mekong Development Plan|ICEM Baseline Assessment Report | March 2019 9.1 summary ..................................................................................................................131 9.2 Introduction .............................................................................................................131 9.3 Methods ...................................................................................................................132 9.4 The river ...................................................................................................................132