LAKE TURKANA WIND POWER PROJECT ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT STUDY REPORT July 2009 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ....................................................................................... viii ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ...................................................................... ix 0. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................... 1 0.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 1 0.2 Project Description ........................................................................................... 1 0.3 Project Rationale and Justification .................................................................... 2 0.4 Policy, Legal and Administrative Framework .................................................... 2 0.5 Description of the Project Environment ............................................................. 4 0.6 Project Alternatives .......................................................................................... 9 0.7 Potential Impacts and Mitigation/Enhancement Measures.............................. 10 0.8 Environmental Hazard Management .............................................................. 13 0.9 Environmental and Social Management / Monitoring Plan .............................. 14 0.9 Public Consultations and Disclosure .............................................................. 15 1.0 Complementary Initiatives .............................................................................. 16 1.1 Carbon Potential ............................................................................................ 16 1.2 Resilience to Climate Variations Risks ........................................................... 17 1.3 Impact of the Dam Construction (GIBE Project) on the Project Area .............. 17 1.4 Conclusion ..................................................................................................... 18 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................. 19 1.1 Project Background ........................................................................................ 19 1.2 The Need for the Project ................................................................................ 19 1.3 Project Objectives .......................................................................................... 20 1.4 Study Objectives ............................................................................................ 21 2. LEGAL, REGULATORY AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK ...................... 22 2.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 22 2.2 The National Environmental Action Plan ........................................................ 22 2.3 Environmental Management and Co-ordination Act........................................ 22 2.4 National Environmental Management Authority .............................................. 23 2.5 Environmental Impact Assessment ................................................................ 23 2.6 Other Relevant Legislation ............................................................................. 24 2.7 Relevant International Conventions and Agreements ..................................... 24 2.7.1 Convention on Biological Diversity ........................................................... 25 2.7.2 Wetlands of International Importance as Waterfowl Habitats ................... 25 2.7.3 Conservation of Migratory Species of Wildlife Animals ............................ 25 2.7.4 Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species ..................... 25 2.7.5 United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification ............................. 25 2.7.6 Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources ......... 25 2.7.7 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change .................... 26 2.7.8 The Kyoto Protocol .................................................................................. 26 2.7.9 Millennium Development Goals ............................................................... 26 2.7.10 Convention for the Protection of World Cultural and National Heritage .. 26 2.8 The Equator Principles ................................................................................... 26 2.9 The Environmental and Social Impact Assessment ........................................ 27 3. APPROACH AND METHODOLOGY ................................................................... 28 3.1 General Methodology ..................................................................................... 28 3.1 Stakeholder Consultations .............................................................................. 28 3.2 Meetings with the Local Community ............................................................... 28 3.3 Plant Identification and Water Analysis........................................................... 29 3.4 Information Disclosure .................................................................................... 29 4. BASELINE INFORMATION OF THE PROJECT AREA ...................................... 30 4.1 The Location of the Project Area .................................................................... 30 4.2 Climatic Conditions......................................................................................... 30 4.2.1 Rainfall ........................................................................................................ 30 4.2.3 Temperature ............................................................................................ 34 4.2.4 Wind conditions ....................................................................................... 34 4.3 Topography .................................................................................................... 34 4.3.1 Plains ...................................................................................................... 35 4.3.2 Hills and minor scarps ............................................................................. 35 4.3.3 Plateaus .................................................................................................. 35 4.3.4 Foot slopes .............................................................................................. 35 4.3.5 Footridges ............................................................................................... 35 4.4 Geology .......................................................................................................... 35 4.4.1 Precambrian rocks................................................................................... 35 4.4.2 Volcanic rocks ......................................................................................... 36 4.4.3 Sedimentary rocks ................................................................................... 36 4.5 Soils ............................................................................................................... 36 4.5.1 Soils of the hills and minor scarps ........................................................... 36 4.5.2 Soils of the plateaus ................................................................................ 37 4.5.3 Soils of the foot slopes ............................................................................ 37 4.5.4 Soils of the footridges .............................................................................. 37 4.5.5 Soils of the plains .................................................................................... 37 4.6 Hydrology ....................................................................................................... 38 4.7 Water Quality ................................................................................................. 38 4.7.1 Water quality of Loiyangalani Springs ...................................................... 40 4.7.2 Water of Lake Turkana ............................................................................ 40 4.7.3 Water from other sources ........................................................................ 40 4.8 Environmental Degradation ............................................................................ 40 4.8.1 Natural degradation ................................................................................. 40 4.8.2 Human induced degradation .................................................................... 41 4.9 Biological Environment ................................................................................... 41 4.9.1 Flora ....................................................................................................... 41 4.9.2 Fauna ...................................................................................................... 43 4.9.3 Aquatic life ............................................................................................... 45 4.5 Socio-economic Environment ......................................................................... 45 4.5.1 Existing services ...................................................................................... 45 4.5.2 Population ............................................................................................... 47 4.5.3 Education ................................................................................................ 47 4.5.4 Health conditions of the project area ......................................................