DAM RE-OPERATION: SENEGAL RIVER CASE STUDY

1. DAM RE-OPERATION:SENEGAL RIVER CASE STUDY Andrew Judd CE 397 – Transboundary Water Resources University of Texas November 3, 2005

2. Potential Benefits& Costs of Dams

3. Circumstances for Re-operation Unforeseen issues and impacts Change in culture, policy, technology, economy Mismanagement Issue: Existing Dam operation not at optimal level Resolution: Change existing dam operation system to achieve more optimal (beneficial) or less harmful results

4. Dam Re-operation Process Re-cognition of deficiency Re-assessment of benefits and costs Re-view management procedure Re-commendation for optimization Re-vise operation strategy Re-alization of increased benefits

5. Examples of Re-operation

6. Source: http://www.waterandnature.org/flow/cases/Senegal.pdf Senegal River: Hydrology Flow supplied by upper basin precip. Upper: ~2000mm/yr Lower: <500mm/yr Wet and Dry Season Wet: April-October High Water: July-October Low Water: Nov-April Bafing Tributary ~50% of Flow in Senegal River Bafing

7. Source: http://www.unesco.org/water/wwap/case_studies/senegal_river/senegal_river.pdf Senegal River: Population ~2 million people live in the Senegal Basin ~85% depend on the river for subsistence • Agriculture • Farming: Irrigation based and floodplain recession • Fishing: Riverbed, delta, floodplain • Livestock: Mostly nomadic grazing in floodplain pastures • All sectors depend on river system (not just water) for production

8. Drought in Senegal Source: http://us.oneworld.net/article/view/114123 Senegal River: Development 1972-73 major drought in basin 1972 Mauritania, Mali, Senegal convene to form Organisation pour la mise en valeur du fleuve Sénégal (OMVS) Propose economic and resource development through construction of Manantali and Diama Dams

9. Source: http://www.omvs.org/fr/realisations/diama.php Source: http://www.unesco.org/water/wwap/case_studies/senegal_river/senegal_river.pdf Diama Dam Finished in 1986 Purpose: Provide barrier to saltwater intrusion, supply for irrigation projects, navigation

10. Source: http://www.omvs.org/fr/realisations/diama.php Source: http://www.unesco.org/water/wwap/case_studies/senegal_river/senegal_river.pdf Manantali Dam Finished in 1988 Purpose: Hydropower Generation, Irrigation Supply, Flood Control, Navigation

11. River as a Resource High Flows Fish spawning, Sediment transport, Soil saturation, Riverine vegetation control Lower Flows Recession agriculture, Animal grazing, Dry Season Species control Variable flow conditions provide a somewhat balanced cycle for different sectors of agriculture and natural ecosystems Changes in the River’s flow regime cause changes in the entire River system

12. Impact of Dams Objective of Dams to increase production, income and quality of life of people of Senegal • Other Issues: • Smaller floods + dams decrease production = less income • Conversion of society from self-sufficient to wage labor based • But, not as dependent on river for production

13. Existing Management • Cooperative ownership • Water allocation not state-based • Divided amongst several sectors: • agriculture, inland fishing, livestock raising, fish farming, tree farming, fauna and flora, hydroelectric energy production, urban and rural drinking water supply, health, industry, navigation, the environment Managing Organization: OMVS Management Philosophy (generalized): Equal distribution of benefits and costs of Senegal River development throughout Mali, Senegal, and Mauritania

14. Re-operation Management • 2002 Senegal River Water Charter • Procedures for water allocation • New water projects • Environmental Protection • Stake-holder Participation 1997 Global Environmental Facility (GEF) project Develop more effective/comprehensive management strategy Include environmental issues Increase stakeholder involvement • Change in management strategy • Mainly facilitated by foreign involvement (NGO’s, World Bank, et al.) • Studies of impacts to population and environment • Communication to OMVS of issues and potential solutions • Funding to implement environmental management projects

15. Re-operation Strategies Controlled Flood Continuation and improvement of irrigation “transition” flooding Restoration of floodplain ecosystems Increase fish population Improve grazing and farmland Provide habitat for bird migration Control invasive species Improve quality of life of local stakeholders Recognition of value of natural environment and traditional livelihood practices Source: http://edcintl.cr.usgs.gov/senegalfeature/air.html

16. Lessons Learned All potential factors and impacts considered in project cost benefit analysis Local stakeholder involvement required for project to provide benefit to Greater flexibility needed in management strategies to achieve optimal system Discussion Question: With the implementation of re-operation projects, regulation and management agencies tend to support operation strategies that have very specific definitions of water allocation volumes and water quality levels. However, river systems tend to react more favorably to a more flexible operation strategy. Through what means can these two opposing management strategies be combined to produce more effective water resource re-operation plans?