Comparison of practices

• Use of water resources
• Use of land resources

• Use of water resources
• Use of land resources

Country: Kyrgyzstan

Country: Kazakhstan

Province: Kyzylorda Region

District: Karmakshy District

Other settlement: a/o “Aktobe”, a/o “III International”

Transboundary river

The site is located in the lower reaches of the Syr Darya River (inter-riverbed depression strip)

Start date: 01.04.2012

End date: 31.10.2016

Start date: 01.01.2010

End date: 31.12.2011

Imperfections of the water management mechanism in the Isfara small transboundary river basin

Increasing secondary land salination, deterioration of col-lector and drainage system (CDS)

The principle of stakeholder engagement in decision-making associated with water management of small transboundary river;

IWRM planning technique

A set of measures to enhance land reclamation condition (collector cleaning using special equipment, reconstruction of hydraulic engineering installations, etc.)

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:
The capital repair of inter-farm West Karmakshi Collector (WKC) is necessitated by the fact that in its current condition the Collector didn't provide for timely drainage of drainages and discharge water from cropland in the Left-Bank Massif.

Results:

Financial and economic:
Increased crop productivity, mainly rice and forage crops

Technical:
Enhanced reclamation condition of land in the Left-Bank Massif

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:
Allocation of resources for cleaning CDS proved more efficient than other target actions

Recommendations:
Regular and timely execution of running and capital collector cleaning is necessary to ensure its proper operation

Foreign tools (transfer of foreign experience)

Domestic tools (outcomes of research by domestic R&D organizations)

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: High

2. Approximate cost of investment per 1 ha:

3. O&M costs: High

4. Expert support: Not needed

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.

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SIC ICWC

SIC ICWC