"This book presents a new conceptualization of river related policy issues, using concepts such as the Commercial and Cordon approaches to rivers and their opposite, the Ecological and Open approaches. It draws upon river related experience from across the world to substantiate and illustrate these concepts. This new conceptualization will help to connect the river policy related discussion of the experts and specialists with that of river activists and the public. This shared discussion will allow better river policy formulation. The book argues for replacing the currently dominant Commercial and Cordon approaches to rivers by the Ecological and Open approaches rivers. It shows how such a policy change can be more conducive to achieving sustainable development. Rivers are a vital component of the ecology. The earth's hydrological cycle depends on them. As the world population grows and the demand for freshwater increases, rivers are coming under more stress. Many rivers already get completely exhausted before reaching the seas. Climate change is destabilizing the rivers further. River related conflicts are spreading. The necessity for adoption of right river policies is more urgent than ever. Yet the current disconnection between the river related discussions by experts and specialists, on the one hand, and activists and policymakers, on the other, makes correct river policy formulation difficult. By helping to move the river policy discussion from the confines of experts to the public arena this book will allow formulation of more pro-people and pro-environment river policies. "--

The shortage of fresh water is likely to be one of the most pressing issues of the twenty-first century. A UNESCO report predicts that as many as 7 billion people will face shortages of drinking water by 2050. Here, David Lewis Feldman examines river-basin management cases around the world to show how fresh water can be managed to sustain economic development while protecting the environment. He argues that policy makers can employ adaptive management to avoid making decisions that could harm the environment, to recognize and correct mistakes, and to monitor environmental and socioeconomic changes caused by previous policies. To demonstrate how adaptive management can work, Feldman applies it to the Delaware, Susquehanna, Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint, Sacramento--San Joaquin, and Columbia river basins. He assesses the impacts of runoff pollution and climate change, the environmental-justice aspects of water management, and the prospects for sustainable fresh water management. Case studies of the Murray-Darling basin in Australia, the Rhine and Danube in Europe, the Zambezi in Africa, and the Rio de la Plata in South America reveal the impediments to, and opportunities for, adaptive management on a global scale. Feldman's comprehensive investigation and practical analysis bring new insight into the global and political challenges of preserving and managing one of the planet's most important resources.

This is a fully revised and expanded second edition of Malcolm Newson's acclaimed book. Exploring in greater depth the meaning of sustainability in river basin development this new edition: * highlights the rapid evolution of practical concepts since the Rio Earth Summit * features new illustrations and case studies from Australia, South Africa and Israel * makes the ecosystem model more explicit throughout * strengthens coverage of the linkages between land and water management.

This edited volume adeptly analyzes some of the most salient challenges that face water managers and policy makers: balancing private and public sector roles in water allocation, protecting environmental values and indigenous rights to water, avoiding transboundary water conflicts, and integrating the concept of sustainable development within water policies. . . the chapters in this book are comprehensive and well balanced. . . Kenney and his colleagues have put forth an important contribution to western water policy scholarship. They offer concrete ideas for sustainable water management in the western US informed by international cases, while acknowledging the West s unique political and social context. Tanya Heikkila, Journal of the American Water Resources Association Collectively the papers provide concise, insightful coverage of critical water problems in the US and carefully integrate relevant lessons from international water management into these discussions. Highly recommended. B.F. Hope, Choice Water issues in the American West share many similarities with those seen elsewhere in the world as population growth exacerbates longstanding problems of inappropriate water use and management. The contributors to this timely volume examine the universal challenge of sustainable water management to improve the use of water resources already developed and find ways to moderate our growing collective thirst. The volume begins with an exploration of the opportunities, arguments, and mechanisms for transferring lessons between the American West and foreign nations. Succeeding chapters cover individual issues such as: water allocation and the relationship between market mechanisms and government-based approaches, the challenge of environmental protection, the protection of cultural values with a focus on indigenous water rights, the significance of international and interstate rivers in promoting regional conflict and cooperation, and the role of water management in sustainable development. A comprehensive look at one of our most pressing issues, In Search of Sustainable Water Management will be of great interest to scholars and practitioners in the areas of water management, law, policy studies, economics, planning and public administration.

The Zambezi river is the fourth longest in Africa, crossing or bordering Zambia, Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. The river basin is widely recognised as one of the most important basins in southern Africa and is the focus of contested development, including water for hydropower and for agriculture and the environment. This book provides a thorough review of water and sustainable development in the Zambezi, in order to identify critical issues and propose constructive ways forward. The book first reviews the availability and use of water resources in the basin, outlines the basin’s economic potential and highlights key concerns related to climate vulnerability and risk. Focus is then devoted to hydropower and the water-energy-food (WEF) nexus, sustainable agricultural water management, and threats and opportunities related to provision of ecosystem services. The impact of urbanisation and water quality is also examined, as well as ways to enhance transboundary water cooperation. Last, the book assesses the level of water security in the basin, and provides suggestions for achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6. Throughout, emphasis is placed on entry points for basin-level management to foster improved paths forward.

This interdisciplinary volume examines how nine arid or semi-arid river basins with thriving irrigated agriculture are doing now and how they may change between now and mid-century. The rivers studied are the Colorado, Euphrates-Tigris, Jucar, Limarí, Murray-Darling, Nile, Rio Grande, São Francisco, and Yellow. Engineered dams and distribution networks brought large benefits to farmers and cities, but now the water systems face multiple challenges, above all climate change, reservoir siltation, and decreased water flows. Unchecked, they will see reduced food production and endanger the economic livelihood of basin populations. The authors suggest how to respond to these challenges without loss of food production, drinking water, or environmental health. The analysis of the political, hydrological, and environmental conditions within each basin gives policymakers, engineers, and researchers interested in the water/sustainability nexus a better understanding of engineered rivers in arid lands.

This book demonstrates an integrated perspective of trends and challenges in sustainable river science and management, as presented by experts in the fields that form its foundations - ecology, economy and sociology. Their contributions integrate current knowledge of the structure, functioning and management of ‘living rivers’. Also included are data and experiences concerning the rivers Allier, Meuse, Rhine, Sava and Tagliamento in Europe and the Illinois River in the USA.

This book discusses approaches to sustainable management of river oases along the Tarim River located in Xinjiang (northwest China).The Tarim Basin is one of the most arid regions in the world. Surrounded by the high mountain of Tian Shan, Kunlun and Pamir, the Taklamakan Desert dominates the landscape. The Tarim River originating from the snow and glacier melt in the mountains is the only relevant source of freshwater in this extreme environment; both for anthropogenic needs in agriculture Sustainable Management of River Oases and urban areas and the natural ecosystems of the Tarim River floodplains.Since the 1960s, the Chinese government has been promoting the development of the western provinces of China. Demographic development and socio-economic changes led to a rapid change of land use, which has substantially affected the quantity and quality of arable land, surface and ground water and impaired natural ecosystems and their ability to provide relevant ecosystem services. In particular, presently there is a conflict between water demand for agricultural irrigation and natural riparian vegetation; a conflict that might intensify in future due to climate change. Against this background, 11 German and 6 Chinese universities and research institutes have formed the SuMaRiO consortium (Sustainable Management of River Oases along the Tarim River) to investigate sustainable water management and land use strategies. Here, the authors of the SuMaRiO project summarize the key results of 5 years of interdisciplinary research conducted by this consortium within the Sustainable Land Management program of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. They present specific results from the different work packages on climatology, hydrology, ecology, agricultural sciences, social sciences and economics. Furthermore, this book introduces the interdisciplinary research approach of the entire consortium, which has resulted in comprehensive policy recommendations for sustainable water- and land management and a decision support system, which represents the results of the study. The authors present an example of how interdisciplinary aspects and international cooperation are able to contribute to sustainable development in complex socio-ecological environments.

Rivers are a vital component of ecology-the earth's hydrological cycle depends on them. However, across the world, rivers are under stress and even in crisis. With rising populations, the demand for river water is increasing. Many rivers fail to reach the sea because of excessive withdrawal of water, and many other rivers are heading toward the same fate. Conflicts over river water are increasing, and climate change is making matters worse. River policies pursued so far are often aggravating these challenges rather than solving them. Yet, sustainable development requires healthy rivers. Urgent change in the approach and policies toward rivers is therefore required. In this book, Nazrul Islam points to the ways in which river policies need to change to ensure sustainable development. He offers a new conceptual framework, using such concepts as the Commercial and Cordon approaches to rivers and their opposite, the Ecological and Open approaches. He shows that while the former generally work against sustainability, the latter are conducive to sustainable development. The book illustrates this reality by drawing upon worldwide experience regarding rivers. Going forward, river policies therefore should be based on Ecological and Open approaches. Islam argues further that the use of the new conceptual framework offered in this book can help to connect the river related discussion of experts with that of activists. It can thus help to move the discussion of river policies from the narrow confines of experts to the wider arena of the public, who should have a greater role in formulation of river policies in order to safeguard public interests and ensure sustainability. The book serves as a valuable guide for those interested in learning about river policy changes necessary to promote sustainable development.

Rivers are a vital component of ecology-the earth's hydrological cycle depends on them. However, across the world, rivers are under stress and even in crisis. With rising populations, the demand for river water is increasing. Many rivers fail to reach the sea because of excessive withdrawal of water, and many other rivers are heading toward the same fate. Conflicts over river water are increasing, and climate change is making matters worse. River policies pursued so far are often aggravating these challenges rather than solving them. Yet, sustainable development requires healthy rivers. Urgent change in the approach and policies toward rivers is therefore required. In this book, Nazrul Islam points to the ways in which river policies need to change to ensure sustainable development. He offers a new conceptual framework, using such concepts as the Commercial and Cordon approaches to rivers and their opposite, the Ecological and Open approaches. He shows that while the former generally work against sustainability, the latter are conducive to sustainable development. The book illustrates this reality by drawing upon worldwide experience regarding rivers. Going forward, river policies therefore should be based on Ecological and Open approaches. Islam argues further that the use of the new conceptual framework offered in this book can help to connect the river related discussion of experts with that of activists. It can thus help to move the discussion of river policies from the narrow confines of experts to the wider arena of the public, who should have a greater role in formulation of river policies in order to safeguard public interests and ensure sustainability. The book serves as a valuable guide for those interested in learning about river policy changes necessary to promote sustainable development.