WORLD WATER ASSESSMENT PROGRAMME LA PLATA BASIN CASE STUDY Final Report April 2007 (UN-Water/WWAP/2007/1) i WORLD WATER ASSESSMENT PROGRAMME LA PLATA BASIN CASE STUDY Table of Contents ACRONYMS .........................................................................................................................viii a. International institutions ..................................................................................................viii b. National institutions (by country)...................................................................................... ix b.1. Argentina ....................................................................................................................... ix b.2. Bolivia ............................................................................................................................ xi b.3. Brazil............................................................................................................................ xiii b.4. Paraguay..................................................................................................................... xvii b.5. Uruguay ..................................................................................................................... xviii PART A: BACKGROUND ................................................................................................ - 1 - 1. General context................................................................................................................ - 1 - 1.1. Location of the La Plata Basin ................................................................................. - 1 - 1.2. General hydrological characteristics of the La Plata Basin.................................... - 2 - 2. Major Characteristics.......................................................................................................... 4 2.1. Topography, Geology and Surface Area ....................................................................... 4 2.2. Climate............................................................................................................................ 5 2.2.1. Dominant Climate Types ......................................................................................... 5 2.2.2. General Climatic Characteristics.............................................................................. 6 2.2.2.1. Precipitation...................................................................................................... 6 2.2.2.2. Temperature ...................................................................................................... 7 2.2.3. Observed Climatic Variation and Long-Term Projections ...................................... 7 2.2.3.1. Mesoscale, synoptic and interannual variability .............................................. 7 2.2.3.2. Decadal Variability and Trends........................................................................ 8 2.2.4. Hydrological Influence of Climate Change on Snow and Ice Cover....................... 9 2.2.5. Regional Changes in Climatic Conditions in Arid and Semi-Arid Zones ............. 10 2.3. Land Use in the La Plata Basin................................................................................... 11 2.3.1. Agriculture and Livestock...................................................................................... 11 2.3.2. Forestry................................................................................................................... 13 2.3.3. Industry................................................................................................................... 13 2.3.4. Settlements ............................................................................................................. 13 2.4. Major Socioeconomic Characteristics of the La Plata Basin..................................... 14 2.4.1. Demography........................................................................................................... 14 2.4.1.1. Population ....................................................................................................... 14 2.4.1.2. Living Standard and Economic Activities ....................................................... 17 La Plata Basin Case Study World Water Assessment Programme ii 2.4.1.3. Cultural Background....................................................................................... 24 2.5. Education and Health in the La Plata Basin .............................................................. 24 2.5.1. Illiteracy Rate and Enrolment in Schools............................................................... 24 2.5.2. Life Expectancy and Mortality Rate ...................................................................... 25 3. Water resources in the La Plata Basin............................................................................. 28 3.1. Hydrography and hydrology ........................................................................................ 28 3.1.1. Spatial variance of water availability..................................................................... 33 3.1.1.1. Surface water................................................................................................... 33 3.1.1.2. Groundwater aquifers ..................................................................................... 39 3.1.2. Spatial variance of water quality (both surface and groundwater)......................... 43 3.2. Data and information on water resources................................................................... 44 3.2.1. Observed weather variation and long term projections.......................................... 44 3.2.2. Trends of water resources through time................................................................. 46 3.2.3. Extreme events ....................................................................................................... 46 3.2.3.1. Floods.............................................................................................................. 46 3.2.3.2. Low Waters...................................................................................................... 49 3.2.4. Brief data evaluation .............................................................................................. 49 3.3. Human impacts on water resources ............................................................................ 50 3.3.1. Through surface cover............................................................................................ 50 3.3.2. Through dams and other works.............................................................................. 51 3.3.3. Pollutants (organic, heavy metals, chemicals) ....................................................... 54 3.2.4. Non-native species ................................................................................................. 57 3.2.5. Over-harvesting...................................................................................................... 58 4. Governing water wisely in the La Plata Basin................................................................. 61 4.1. Institutions related with water resources..................................................................... 66 4.1.1. International institutions at the basin level............................................................. 66 4.1.1.1. The system of the La Plata Basin Treaty......................................................... 66 4.1.1.2. Satellite organisation ...................................................................................... 68 4.1.1.3. International Projects ..................................................................................... 71 4.1.2. National institutions by country ............................................................................. 73 4.1.2.1. Argentina......................................................................................................... 73 4.1.2.2. Bolivia ............................................................................................................. 74 4.1.2.3. Brazil ............................................................................................................... 77 4.1.2.4. Paraguay ......................................................................................................... 84 4.2.1.5. Uruguay........................................................................................................... 86 4.1.3. Local....................................................................................................................... 88 4.1.3.1. Argentina......................................................................................................... 88 4.1.3.2. Bolivia ............................................................................................................. 90 4.1.3.3. Brazil ............................................................................................................... 92 4.1.3.4. Paraguay ......................................................................................................... 93 4.2. Legislation .................................................................................................................... 94 4.2.1. National .................................................................................................................. 94 4.2.1.1. Argentina......................................................................................................... 94 4.2.1.2. Bolivia ............................................................................................................