Comparison of practices

• Use of water resources
• Use of land resources

• Use of water resources
• Use of land resources
• Environmental protection

Country: Kyrgyzstan

Country: Turkmenistan

Province: Ahal Region

Transboundary river

The settlements are located in the river catchment area; deep ground water occurrence; mountain valleys are under high risk of mudflows and floods.

Start date: 01.04.2012

End date: 31.10.2016

Start date: 01.01.2012

End date: 31.12.2013

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

Water deficit; settlements and agricultural land under flood and mudflow threat during mudflow risk periods

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

IWRM planning technique

Cascading storage pools (reservoirs) accumulating rain and runoff water

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:

• assessment of mudflow and flood risks and surveying local population regarding reservoirs’ locations and water uses (drinking and irrigation water supply);
• designing reservoirs;
• construction of reservoirs with the engagement of local residents;
• training of local residents on servicing reservoirs and corresponding equipment.

Results:

• reduced risks for public life and health;
• enhanced water supply of irrigated land;
• reduced risk of agricultural losses due to drought;
• reduced risk of biodiversity damage caused by mudflows and floods;
• enhanced public access to drinking water.

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.

• Cascading reservoirs provide better cumulative effect at lower cost compared to separate reservoirs;
• Application of modern water-proofing materials during the construction of storage pools (reservoirs) allows to reliably store winter and spring runoff to be used during vegetation period.

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: Moderate

2. Approximate cost of investment per 1 ha: $50-500

3. O&M costs: Low

4. Expert support: Needed at implementation stage

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.

Project title: Responding to climate change risks for dekhan farming system of Turkmenistan on national and local levels.

Project duration: 2012-2016.

Project goal and objectives: build the adaptation capacity to respond to climate change impacts, including variability on local and national levels.

Project beneficiaries: population of Garavul Settlement (about 6,000 people) and Konegumbez Settlement (about 1,000 people).

Project implementer: Ministry of Nature Conservation of Turkmenistan and UNDP

carecnet.org

Government of Turkmenistan

SIC ICWC

SIC ICWC