WaterWired

Transboundary Twofer! 1) Report: Water as a Potential Conflict Factor in Central Asia; 2) Book: Transboundary Hydro-Governance

1) Water as a Potential Conflict Factor in Central Asia is a 2015 paper by Eva Lackovičová, a student at Prague's University of Economics.  

Download Water_As_A_Potential_Conflict_Factor

Introduction
Water belongs to the most important resources and for human life it is a need and a must. However, even in the 21st century, there are still countries and their citizens which lack water resources for production, consumption, clean drinking water for everyday use. International organizations, such as the UN, try hard to secure this right to all the people in the world and to make water accepted as a public good for the benefit of all. Although they are still not fully successful, the whole international community must continue in these actions. Moreover, the problem is that in some parts of the world, water can become a cause of conflicts and disputes. It can happen for a number of reasons, which will be described later in the paper. In my paper, I decided to take a closer look at the region of Central Asia, because I believe, that this region has a huge potential for future development and water is a crucial element in all the relations in the region for a long time. I have decided to make a hypothesis saying that water is a conflict factor in the region of Central Asia and can lead to conflicts in the future.

In the first chapter, I will define the region from geographical and socio-economic point of view. In order to be able to analyse the region objectively, we need to know these information. Geographical position of the countries in the region determines the climate conditions which consequently affect countries´ relation to water and the whole water situation in the region. Historical and socio-economic background is important for us in order to understand the situation and trace back the origins of the water problem. Furthermore, as all the countries in this region were part of the USSR, it is also an important part of their history and it still has its legacy there. Thus, I will look at the water management during the Soviet times, as well as after the dissolution.

The second chapter provides a theoretical background for this topic, as I try to define some of the important approaches and opinions on the issue of potential water conflicts and water scarcity. The number of researchers and scholars who are dealing with this topic is still increasing as it becomes a more pressing issue. Nevertheless, I tried to provide readers with number of authors, which I find crucial for this analysis and I find their arguments most suitable for the topic. Although, I believe that there are also other works of other authors, which are also relevant, it is not possible to cover all of them. One of the best known authors dealing with water related issues and conflicts is Mr. Peter Gleick and after reviewing his work, I have decided that his approach will provide a cornerstone for the analysis of conflict factors.

Conclusion
In the previous three chapters, I have tried to find out whether water is a potential conflict factor in the region of Central Asia and if it is likely to become one in the future. In the introduction, I have set up a hypothesis that it is such, and it can lead to conflicts in the future. In order to be able to give an answer statement for this hypothesis, I gathered information from many sources about geographical, socio-economic realities and water management structures during the Soviet period and after. To support the analysis with relevant arguments and approaches, I have researched works of scholars dealing with this issue as well as reports and analysis of mostly foreign authors. Since I found one approach talking directly about water related issues and conflict factors of water and water systems, I have decided to take it as a main approach to test in the given region. Then, I tried to show that there is a conflict potential in the region related to water.

Given by the conducted analysis, I conclude that it has been successful in confirming proving the hypothesis given in the beginning. We can say, that water really is a conflict factor in the region and its conflict potential tends to become even stronger in the future. It is important to say that although one can see the main cause of trouble in the scarcity of water resources, it is not right. Countries in the region have enough water theoretically, so the physical scarcity of water is not affecting this region. However, perceived or structural scarcity is the core problem as the distribution and allocation of water is poorly managed, facilities are outdated, and thus large amounts of water do not reach its destination. This mismanagement emerged during the Soviet era and still stays alive in these states. It is mainly connected with high dependency on agriculture in the downstream countries, which are tremendously dependent on waters coming outside of their territory. In order to prevent conflict situation, countries should gradually diversify their economies.

Moreover, the problem is escalated by different power of the downstream and upstream states and nowadays the upstream countries are believed to take measure to even more disadvantage the downstream ones. Relations between states are not good, which is also not helping the situation. There are no other available water resources in the region other than the two main rivers, Syr Darya and Amu Darya, and thus the dependency makes water even more conflictual. Great levels of pollution, salinization and degradation of water sources are also factors troubling the regional water system. Furthermore, it is believed, that climate change will have an impact on the region and it can make the issue even worse in the future, due to unpredictability of the weather, more frequent droughts, higher average temperatures and thus increased demand for water.

There have been several water related disputes in the region before, and now the possibility of conflict is even higher due to plans by the upstream countries. These new dams would ensure energy flow for the upstream countries but would severely damage water flow into the downstream countries. If Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan will continue in these projects a threat of conflicts is certainly there. Incidents of diverting the water flow were present also in the past, but these projects could change the whole water situation in the region. The potential for conflict is even higher as the countries are not on good terms and thus it is hard to negotiate and make new, efficient and reasonable deals. The whole international community needs to take this threat seriously and respond to it, before it will be too late. New agreements, which will be adhered to, more negotiations, which could be facilitated by international actors, and leading to further cooperation and stronger relationships between the states are the key in solving the situation for good and prevent conflicts despite some unfavourable geographical conditions in the region.

Enjoy!

2) Transboundary Hydro-Governance: From Conflict to Shared Management by  
Em. Prof. Jacques Ganoulis and J. Fried.

Here is the blurb from the emailI received.

Dear Colleague,

It is my pleasure that I would like to inform you about the new book publication of Em. Prof. Jacques Ganoulis, UNESCO/INWEB Coordinator, entitled: 

Transboundary Hydro-Governance:
From Conflict to Shared Management,
Springer, July 2018 

It is co-authored with Prof. J. Fried, University of California at Irvine and
 resumes many years of experience on Water Resources Management of the two authors, who have worked in various international institutions, like UNESCO, GEF, UNEP and at the European Commission.

The book reports results of research on transboundary water management, water diplomacy and conflict resolution, and more particularly on Water Governance and how to bridge the gap between science and political decision-making, based on Prof. Ganoulis expertise during the last 3 years, as State Secretary for Water at the Ministry of Environment and Energy, Athens, Greece.

Dr. Ch. Skoulikaris

UNESCO/INWEB Secretary

Enjoy!

"Bad teachers and dying behavioral disciplines caution against using teaching evaluation techniques developed by dying behavioral disciplines." - @ass_deans

Book: 'Power and Water in Central Asia'

I just received a notice about Filippo Menga's (University of Reading) 2018 book, Power and Water in Central Asia. Looks fascinating.

Here is a description from the book's Routledge site:

Water is an irreplaceable and transient resource, which crosses political boundaries in the form of rivers, lakes, and groundwater aquifers. The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, led to the birth of fifteen countries including the five Central Asian republics, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. When the USSR ceased to exist, so did the centralised Soviet resource distribution system that managed the exchange and allocation of water, energy, and food supplies. A whole new set of international relations emerged, and the newly formed Central Asian governments had to redefine the policies related to the exchange and sharing of their natural resources.

This book analyses the role of state power in transboundary water relations. It provides an in–depth study of the evolution of interstate relations in Central Asia in the field of water from 1991-2015. Taking as a case study the planned construction of the Rogun and Kambarata dams in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, the author examines various forms of overt and covert power shaping interstate relations and the way hegemonic and counter-hegemonic measures are put in place in an international river basin. He argues that the intimate correlation between the concepts of power and hegemony can offer key insights to the analysis and understanding of transboundary water relations. While the analytical focus is placed on state power, the book demonstrates that hegemonic and counter-hegemonic tactics represent the ways in which power is wielded and observed.

Offering fresh theoretical interpretations to the subjects of power and counter-hegemony in the Aral Sea basin, this book puts forward the original circle of hydro-hegemony, an analytical framework in which the various forms of power are connective in the function of hegemony. It will be of interest to scholars in the field of water and environmental politics and Central Asian Studies.

Here is part of Chapter 1:

Download Power_and_Water_in_Central_Asia_Routledge

Be sure to read the section, 'Why Central Asia?'

Enjoy!

"Don't be absurd. Your office isn't the size of a veal pen. It's the size of four veal pens -- a solid 5 square meters!" - @ass_deans

Time to Put Democracy on Hold? G. Tracy Mehan III Book Review: 'Can Democracy Handle Climate Change?'

Can democracy handle climate change? Not only is that the $64 question, but it is also the title of a new book by Daniel J. Fiorino.

So who should review this book? Only the best - G. Tracy Mehan III, a frequent contributor to WaterWired, executive director for government affairs at the American Water Works Association and adjunct professor at the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University. He writes great book reviews (and other things) so when he sends me something I post it. He sent me this review, which will be publsihed in the September/October 2019 issue of the The Environmental Forum

Download_Democracy_and_Climate_Change_Review

Here are the first few paragraps:

With the election of President Trump in 2016, and recent setbacks for political parties supporting aggressive action on climate change in Australia and Canada, there is dissension among some environmentalists and academics about the efficacy of democracies in achieving the goal of mitigating emissions of greenhouse gases and the resulting changes to our planet.

“Even the best democracies agree that when a major war approaches, democracy must be put on hold for the time being,” says Gaia theorist James Lovelock. “I have a feeling that climate change may bean issue as severe as a war. It may be necessary to put democracy on hold for a while.”

That old curmudgeon Garrett Hardin (of “The Tragedy of the Commons” fame), believed the world had to relinquish “the freedom to breed, and that very soon.” That was back in 1968. And David Shearman andJoseph Wayne Smith, in The Climate Challenge and the Failure of Democracy (Praeger 2007) stated their firm belief that “authoritarianism is the natural state of humanity, and it may be better to choose our elites rather than have them imposed.” Battling climate change is warfare, and “humanity will have to trade its liberty to live as it wishes in favor of a system where survival is paramount.”

You also might also enjoy Tracy's review of  Beyond Politics: The Private Governance Response to Climate Change. Click here for his review of 1 March 2018.

Enjoy!

“No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare.” - James Madison (thanks to G. Tracy Mehan III)

G. Tracy Mehan III Book Review: 'The Source: How Rivers Made America and America Remade Its Rivers' by Martin Doyle

G. Tracy Mehan III, Executive Director for Government Affairs at AWWA, is back with another excellent book review: The Source: How Rivers Made America and America Remade Its Rivers by Martin Doyle of Duke University'sNicholas School of the Environment. 

Tracy sent his review, which will appear in a forthcoming 2019 issue of The Environmental Forum (Environmental Law Institute):

Download GTM_The_Source_review

Having just spent six days near the banks of the Missouri River the topic resonates with me. 

The first few sentences should whet your appetite:

Your reviewer grew up in St. Louis near the confluence of great rivers; imbibed the lore of Lewis & Clark, Father Marquette,and Mark Twain; participated in sandbagging operations during floods; and worked on legal and policy matters on the Missouri and Mississippi.

One of my mother’s ancestors set the record for the fastest steamboat run from St. Louis to Fort Benton, Montana, before the Flood Control Act of 1944 and the Pick-Sloan plan basically rendered the Missouri a human artifact, with dams, reservoirs, and exaggerated promises of prosperity. The Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation, “in defiance of common sense, economics, and even simple hydrology,” created “an instance where both agencies managed to win,” as described by Marc Reisner in his classic Cadillac Desert: The American West and Its Disappearing Water. See myreview, “A Classic a Quarter Century Later” (May/June 2011).

In my salad days, I would break the winter doldrums by eagle-watching at the big lock and dam at Clarksville, north of St. Louis. It is designed to control the Mississippi River, T. S. Eliot’s “strong brown god-sullen, untamed, intractable.” In winter, the Missouri-Illinois stretch of the river has the largest collection of eagles outside of Alaska. When every pond, creek, and small river freezes over, they come to the big dams to feed on the fish coming through the spillways. It was not unusual to see 200 eagles of all ages and sizes congregating for the feast.

And the ending seals the deal:

The final chapter, on “The Restoration Economy,” illustrates the opportunities to restore the physical, chemical, and biological integrity of rivers and streams and provide environmental amenities for which people, wealthy ones anyway, are willing to pay. These strike the right concluding notes for The Source, an excellent book indeed. The question is, Can we implement these restorative activities sufficiently and at scale to return more value and function to America’s 250,000 rivers over 3 million miles?

We look forward to hearing more from Martin Doyle on these matters.

From reading Tracy's exceptional review I think it's safe to say that his last sentence is spot-on.

You might want to read my review of Mississippi River Tragedies by Christine A. Klein and Sandra B. Zellmer. 

Here is a piece they wrote about the Missouri River that I posted on my blog.

Enjoy!

“I started out thinking of America as highways and state lines. As I got to know it better, I began to think of it as rivers.” — Charles Kuralt

Pubs from the National Judicial College: 1) 'Hydrologic Modeling Bench Book' 2) 'Water Science in the Courtroom'

The following publications are from the National Judicial College's Dividing the Waters (DTW) program. There are more publications but these two are freely available and caught my eye because of their science/engineering focus. Adjudicating Groundwater is another useful topic but it is not freely downloadable from the NJC website (unless you are a judge).

Thanks to Lara B. Fowler for informing me of these pubs.  When I worked in Reno I must have woalked pat the NJC building on the UNR campus a thousand times without ever checking it out.  

The blurbs are from the NJC website.

1) Hydrologic Modeling Bench Book

The bench book describes the kinds of water cases in which hydrologic models often appear, explains why the use of these models is often essential and how the models are constructed (including their data requirements), and reviews various means, both technical and legal, of assessing the models’ quality. The benchbook also reviews some of the literature on model building and testing, describes proposed guidelines on a number of the features of model construction and testing, and presents techniques for case management in the context of handling complex models. Finally, by way of illustration it recaps four cases in which models played a central role: the Arkansas River Compact altercation (Kansas v. Colorado); the Republican River Compact dispute (Kansas v. Nebraska and Colorado); a case from South Platte (In the Matter of the Ap­plication for Water rights of Park County Sportsmen’s Ranch, et al. v. Colorado State Engineer); and a case from the Rio Grande (Rules Governing New Withdrawals of Ground Water in Water Division 3).

Download DTW_Hydrologic_Modeling_Benchbook

2) Water Science in the Courtroom

This publication reflects the new Dividing the Waters Board of Advisors’ first project to advise the Program. The Board of Advisors includes leading water law attorneys from across the country who advocate for Dividing the Waters within the water law community and advise the Program on issues identified by the Conveners. After a spirited discussion at its first meeting, the Board developed this set of recommendations on judicial management of water case science, use of scientific tools, and application of scientific uncertainty in judgments. It also recommended that Dividing the Waters continue its programs on science, focused on the fundamentals, judicial practice, and the questions judges need to ask scientists.

Download DTW-Water-Science-in-the-Courtroom-2013

Enjoy!

"Do you want to make a point or do you want to make a difference?" - @tomfriedman on @smerconish