Название практики |
Introduction of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) principles on the Isfara small transboundary river |
Land reclamation via vertical drainage wells |
Category |
Water resources |
Water resources |
Tool |
Public participation principle |
Collector-drainage system |
Field of application |
- Use of water resources
- Use of land resources
|
• Use of water resources • Use of land resources |
Usability of practice for adaptation to climate change |
High |
Moderate |
Implemented by |
USAID/CAREC
|
Ministry of Reclamation and Water Management of the Republic of Kazakhstan
|
Used by |
Country: Kyrgyzstan
|
Country: Kazakhstan
Province: South Kazakhstan Region
District: Maktaaral District
|
Local specifics |
Transboundary river |
• Upstream (Ferghana) and midstream (Syr Darya) of the Syr Darya River • Ebb occurrence of highly mineralized ground water |
Practice usage period |
Start date: 01.04.2012
End date: 31.10.2016
|
Start date: 01.01.1965
End date: 31.12.1975
|
Problem solved through this practice |
Imperfections of the water management mechanism in the Isfara small transboundary river basin |
Deterioration of reclamation situation: rising of ground water, land salination |
Tools used in the practice |
The principle of stakeholder engagement in decision-making associated with water management of small transboundary river;
IWRM planning technique |
Technique and technology of land reclamation via a system of vertical drainage wells (VDW) |
Description of the practice and its results |
The river originates in Kyrgyzstan in Ak-Suu Glacier on the northern slope of the Turkestan Ridge 3,193 m above sea level. The Ak-Suu ruins are located close to the river source. Near the settlement of Karavshin, the river is called the same name. Crossing the national border, the river merges with the Kshemysh River (Kshemyshsai) and, further on, the river receives the name of Isfara.
Actions:
Establishment of stakeholder groups, i.e. Small Basin Councils (SBC) representing local authorities, NGOs, water users and local communities. SBC secretariats independently hold internal semi-annual meetings. Thus, the SBCs serve as platforms to exchange opinions and information as well as take joint decisions associated with the enhancement of the overall situation in the river basin.
Results:
Creation of national Small Basin Councils (SBC) on the Isfara River allowed a platform for exchanging opinions and information as well as for drawing joint decisions to improve the overall situation in the Isfara River Basin, including the development of the IWRM basin plan for the target basin. |
Actions:
A VDW system set up. Prior to its installation, the area was drained via a horizontal open-type drain-age network ineffective as to reducing the mass of salinized land.
Comprehensive VDW efforts significantly enhanced drainage.
However, currently due to the absence of a single organization responsible for VDW operation, maintenance and repair, the VDW systems recon-structed under World Bank and Asian Development Bank projects do not perform as effectively as ini-tially.
Results:
Financial and economic: Increased cotton yields (from 10-15 up to 30-35 dt/ha).
Technical: Successful response to land salination in 3 districts: ground water table steadily kept at 2-3 m depth leading to a sharp contraction of salinized land area. |
Lessons learnt and recommendations made |
Lessons learnt:
Introduction of IWRM principles is the pre-requisite of stable and fair water supply irrespective of a given water user’s location.
Recommendations:
Currently, when local stakeholders are represented in SBCs and are engaged in joint water management, it is necessary to hold thematic seminars to ensure sustainability of SBC operations in the future. In the long term, it might be possible to establish a joint body to manage the whole river basin. |
Lessons learnt:
In due time, the model proved useful and timely, as the country urgently needed to increase its cotton yields. The practice demonstrated high efficiency of VDW in combatting land salination.
Recommendations:
1. Establish a special VDW System Maintenance and Operation Department; 2. Build personnel capacity: • Continual training of personnel in the Department and Provincial Hydrogeological and Land Reclamation Expedition; • Drafting and distribution of training materi-als. |
Source of practice |
Foreign tools (transfer of foreign experience) |
Domestic tools (outcomes of research by domestic R&D organizations) |
Readiness for implementation |
1. Cost of implementation: High
2. Approximate cost of investment per 1 ha:
3. O&M costs: High
4. Expert support: Not needed
|
1. Cost of implementation: Moderate
2. Approximate cost of investment per 1 ha:
3. O&M costs: High
4. Expert support: Not needed
|
Brief information on the project |
Development and implementation of basin plans constitute principal elements of integrated water resources management. Multi-agency coordination mechanism via basin councils or coordination groups is an important advantage of IWRM. This approach allows streamlined coordination and synergy of actions on all levels of management hierarchy.
Project title: Stakeholder partnership in joint policy-making: assistance to transboundary cooperation in small watersheds of Central Asia.
Project duration: Apr 2012-Oct 2016
Project goal and objectives: introduction of the integrated water resources management (IWRM) practice in three transboundary watersheds and its scaling-up in Central Asia.
Project beneficiaries: communities of the Isfara small transboundary river basin, specialists of water and environmental agencies, farmers.
Project implementer: USAID/CAREC. |
|
Funding source |
USAID |
Ministry of Reclamation and Water Management of the USSR |
Information sources |
carecnet.org |
Reshetkina N.M. et al. “Vertical Drainage”, Moscow: Kolos, 1978. – 319 p. |
Contacts of a person, who filled this form |
SIC ICWC |
SIC ICWC |
Form submission date |
02.04.2018 |
26.03.2018 |