BANGLADESH FLOOD ACTION PLAN Ministry of Irrigation, Water Development and Flood Control Flood Plan Coordination Organization (FPCO) Environmental Impact Assessment Case Study Surma-Kushiyara Project June 1992 Prepared by Environniental Study FAP 16 ISPAN IRRIGATION SUPPORT PRO.IECT FOR ASIA AND THE NEAR EAST Sponsored by the U.S. Agency for lnternatlonal Development Surma-Kushiyara EIA Case Study .June 1992 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................. xi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................. xv ABBREVIATIONS/ACRONYMS ...............................xvi GLOSSARY .......................................... xvii... EIA STUDY TEAM ..................................... xv111 I . INTRODUCTION ...................................... 1-1 1.1 Environ~nentalImpact Assessment within tlie Flood Action Plan ....................................... 1.1 1.2 Objectives of EIA Case Studies .......................... 1-2 1.3 Criteria for EIA Case Study Selection ...................... 1-3 1.4 Surn~a-KusliiyaraEIA Case Study ........................ 1-3 2 . PROJECT DEFINITION .................................. 2-1 2.1 Outli~ieof Problem aiid Manage~neiitObjectives ............... 2-1 2.2 Alternative Project Consideratio~is ........................ 2-2 2.3 Project Co~nponents................................. 2-4 3 . METHODS .......................................... 3-1 3.1 Review of Previous Project Studies ....................... 3-1 3.2 Field Reconnaissance ................................ 3-1 3.3 Identification of Study Area ............................ 3-2 3.4 Selection of Iinporta~itEnvironmental Co~npo~ie~its(IECs) ......... 3-2 3.5 New Data Requirements .............................. 3-2 3.6 Field Data Collection ............................; .... 3-2 3.6.1 Area Familiarization ............................ 3-3 3.6.2 Traverses ................................... 3-3 3.6.3 Water Resoiirces .............................. 3-3 3.6.4 Land Resources ............................... 3-4 3.6.5 Biological Resources ............................ 3-4 3.6.5.1 Water Quality Analyses ................... 3-4 3.6.5.2 Benthos ............................. 3-5 3.6.5.3 Open Water Capture Fisheries ............... 3-5 3.6.5.4 Closed Water Culture Fisheries .............. 3-6 3.6.5.5 Wildlife ............................. 3-7 3.6.6 Human Resoi~rces........................... : .. 3-8 3.7 Iinpact Analysis ................................... 3-9 4 . IMPORTANT ENVIRONMENTAL COMPONENTS ................ 4-1 4.1 Hydrology ....................................... 4-1 4.2 Agricultiire ......................: ............... 4-2 4.3 Cultivated and Noiicultivated Vegetation .................... 4-3 4.4 Fislieries .........................................4-4 4.5 Wildlife ........................................ 4-6 4.6 Huiiian Resources .................................. 4:6 Surma-Kushiyara EIA Case Stiidy .June 1992 TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued) DESCRIPTION OF THE EXISTING ENVIRONMENT ............... 5-1 5.1 Climate ........................................ 5-1 5.1.1 Temperature ................................. 5-1 5.1.2 Rainfall .....................................5-1 5.1.2.1 Monthly Mean Rainfall ................... 5-2 5.1.2.2 Maximum Rainfall Analysis ................. 5-2 5.1.2.3 Rainfall Variability ...................... 5-2 5.1.3 Humidity ................................... 5-2 5.1.4 Day Length and Hours of Sunshine ................... 5-4 5.1.5 Evapotranspiration ............................. 5-4 5.1.6 Wind ..................................... 5-5 5.1.7 Agro-climatic Evaluation Using AEZ Climatic Data 5ase: ..... 5-4 5.2 Water Resources ................................... 5-5 5.2.1 River Systems and Geomorpl~ology ................... 5-5 5.2.1.1 Barak River ........................ 5-5 5.2.1.2 Lubha River ........................ 5-8 5.2.1.3 Surma and Ki~shiyaraRivers .............. 5-8 5.2.1.4 Other Tributaries ..................... 5-8 5.2.1.5 Longitudinal Profile' ................... 5-8 5.2.2 Flooding ................................... 5-8 5.2.3 Surface Water Hydrology ......................... 5-9 5.2.3.1 Kushiyara River ...................... 5-9 5.2.3.2 Surma River ........................ 5-9 5.2.3.3 Sada Khal ........................ 5-15 5.2.4 Characteristics of Flood Flows ..................... 5-15 5.2.5 LOWFlows ................................. 5-15 5.2.6 Drainage .................................. 5-18 5.2.7 Sedimentation ............................... 5-20 5.2.8 Erosion and Breaching .......................... 5-20 5.2.9 Ground Water ............................... 5-20 5.2.10 Water Quality ............................... 5-20 Sur~ii;~-KushiyaraEIA Case Study .June 1992 TABLE OF CONTENTS (colllillued) 5.3 Land Resources .................................. 5-26 5.3.1 Soils and Topograpliy ........................... 5-26 5.3.1.1 Soils ............................ 5-26 5.3.1.2 Land Type ........................ 5-27 5.3.1.3 Land Capability ..................... 5-27 5.3.1.4 Pliysical Limitations on Agricultural Improvelnent 5-29 5.3.1.5 Sediment Analysis ................... 5-29 5.3.2 Agriculture ................................. 5-29 5.3.2.1 Lalid Types ....................... 5-31 5.3.2.2 Agriculti~ralLand Use .................. 5-31 5.3.2.3 Cropping Palterns .................... 5-32 5.3.2.4 Crop Produclion ..................... 5-35 5.3.2.5 Crop Da~nage ...................... 5-35 5.3.2.6 Agricultural Inpi~ts ................... 5-37 5.3.2.7 Irrigation ......................... 5-37 5.3.3 Forestry and Homestead Vegetation ...................5-38 5.3.3.1 Natural Forests ..................... 5-38 5.3.3.2 Plantalio~is ........................ 5-38 5.3.3.3 Holnestead Groves ................... 5-39 5.3.4. Otlier Lalid Uses ............................. 5-42 5.3.5 Liveslock .................................. 5-42 5.3.5.1 Impact of Floods .................... 5-43 5.3.5.2 Feed and ~odder'~1iorta~es.............. 5-43 5.3.5.3 Grazing Areas ...................... 5-43 5.3.5.4 Disease and Epide~nics................. 5-45 5.4 Biological Resources . ; ............................. 5-45 5.4.1 Open Water Caplure Fislieries ...................... 5-45 5.4.1.1 Macrophytes ....................... 5-49 5.4.1.2 Pliytoplankton, Zooplanktoll and Macroinverte- brates ............................5-49 5.4.1.3 Fisli Species ....................... 5-49 5.4.1.4 Breeding and Migration ................ 5-49 5.4.1.5 Feeding .......................... 5-53 5.4.1.6 Disease .......................... 5-53 5.4.1.7 Li~nitations........................ 5-53 5.4.1.8 Previous Develop~nent I~ilpacts............ 5-54 5.4.2 Closed Water Culture Fisheries ..................... 5-54 5.4.2.1 Pre-stock Managelnent ................. 5-55 5.4.2.2 Stocki~igMa~iage~nent ................. 5-55 5.4.2.3 Feeding and Manuri~ig ................. 5-55 5.4.2.4 Molii toring ........................ 5-55 5.4.2.5 Production and Marketing ............... 5-56 Surma-Kushiyara EIA Case Study .June 1992 TABLE OF CONTENTS (tolit iriued) 5.4.3 Wildlife .................................... 5-56 5.4.3.1 Terrestrial Habitats ................... 5-56 5.4.3.2 Wetland Habitats .................... 5-58 5.4.3.3 Wildlife Species and Populatiorl ........... 5-58 a . A~iiphibians ................... 5-60 b . Reptiles ..................... 5-60 c . Birds ....................... 5-60 d . Mammals .................... 5-61 5.4.3.4 Migration ......................... 5-61 5.4.3.5 Food Behavior ...................... 5-66 5.4-3.6 Breeding ......................... 5-67 5.4.3.7 Utilization of Wildlife ................. 5-67 5.4.3.8 Endangered and Threatened Species ......... 5-68 5.4.3.9 Wildlife Pests ...................... 5-68 5.5 Human Resources ................................ 5-69 5.5.1 Population and Communities ...................... 5-69 5.5.2 Livelihood and Subsistence ....................... 5-71 5.5.2.1 Agriculture ........................ 5-71 5.5.2.2 Fisheries ......................... 5-73 5.5.3 Gender Relations .............................. 5-75 5.5.4 Land Ownership, Tenancy and Credit Relatio~is .......... 5-78 5.5.5 Distribution of Wealth and Equity ................... 5-82 5.5.6 Education arid Awareness ......................... 5-84 5.5.7 Health and Sanitation .......................... 5-85 5.5.8 Food aid Nutrition ............................. 5-87 5.5.9 Floodingand Local Comrnunities ................... 5-89 5.5.10 Hazard Risks ............................... 5-90 5.5.10.1 River Bank Erosion and Embank~nentBreaching . 5-91 5.5.10.2 Earthquakes ....................... 5-92 5.5.10.3 Hailstor~iis ........................ 5-93 5.5.10.4 Otlier Hazards ...................... 5-93 6 . PEOPLE'S PARTICIPATION ............................... 6-1 6.1 Background ......................................6-1 6.2 Aims and Objectives of tlie Participation Process ............... 6-2 6.3 Approacli ........................................6-3 6.4 Participation Context ................................. 6-4 6.5 Peoples Perceptions of Flooding and Views on Remedial Measures .... 6-5 Sur~lia-KuslyrEIA Case Sludy .June 1992 TABLE OF CONTENTS (conti~iued) ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ............................. 7-1 7.1 Network Analysis .................................. 7-1 7.2 Description of I~iipactsand Pote~itialMitigation Measures .......... 7-1 7.2.1 Water Resources .............................. 7-1 7.2.1.1 Future Without Project ................... 7-1 7.2.1.2 Full Flood Protection