Improved Environmental and Socio-Economic Baseline Information for Hydropower Planning - Consultancy for Mekong River Commission on Hydrobiology
Abstract
Hydropower is recognized as an important development opportunity for the Lower Mekong River Basin and the people living within it. As set out in the Mekong River Commission’s Strategic Plan (2011 to 2015) and the MRC Basin Development Plan (BDP, approved January 2011), this basin development is to follow Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) principles. The need to improve the sustainability of the basin’s hydropower developments is a key Strategic Priority in the Mekong Basin Development Strategy. With the significantly increasing scale and prevalence of this energy option, all MRC member countries are taking steps to understand and employ sustainable hydropower considerations. The MRC has established the Initiative for Sustainable Hydropower (ISH) with the aim of seeking to embed sustainable hydropower considerations into the regulatory frameworks and planning systems of member countries and into project level planning, design, implementation and operational activities. The ISH 2011-2015 Strategy emphasizes this requirement as well as the need to take into account the wider development implications, including the development of environmental and socioeconomic baseline information. To date, 12 hydropower projects have been proposed for the LMB Mekong mainstream of which 11 involve dams. The proposed projects are planned in Lao PDR, Lao-Thai and Cambodian reaches of the Mekong River. In addition to the Mekong River development, the LMB tributaries also show a high number of hydropower dams as of 2011. According to the predicted future development (MRC Basin Development Plan, 2011), about 70 hydropower dams are expected to be located in the LMB tributaries by 2030.Both, current and planned development of hydropower schemes in the Mekong mainstream and its tributaries take an important role to contribute to the economic growth and welfare in the Lower Mekong Basin. Large river systems like the one of the Mekong and show complex and multidimensional dynamics within their riverine ecological and the closely connected socio-economic environment. The understanding of the current baseline information is of significant importance when it comes to longterm sustainable and integrated water resources management; linking infrastructure development with environmental sustainability. Topics for Consultancy: Thorough review of the existing data collected in the basin relevant to the hydrobiology of the river at the hydropower sites of interest; Input to the gap analysis and selection of specific Mekong mainstream monitoring locations for the further baseline monitoring taking into account existing sites; Reviewing existing and identifying further relevant biological quality elements (where necessary) relevant to the LMB for baseline information assessment; Review existing methods and then set-up practical sampling and assessment methodologies for each biological quality element according to good international standards and as practically relevant for the LMB and for the selected mainstream areas; Contribute to the design of the network and the implementation methodology in coordination with line agencies and MRC programs; Assist in the setting up of the monitoring network/programme for selected priority Mekong mainstream reaches and supervise QA/QC for the biological elements; Set in place a basin wide long term strategy for baseline monitoring and assessment
Mekong biomonitoring benthic invertebrates dam construction
Publikationen
Inception Report - Improved environmental and socio-economic baseline information for hydropower planning.- Report for MRC Initiative on Sustainable Hydropower (ISH) (not publicly available- restricted access)
Autoren: Locher H., Hortle K, Koehnken L, Sjorslev J, Stubauer I. Jahr: 2013
Forschungsbericht (extern. Auftraggeber)
ISH11 Phase 1 Report - Main Report; Improved environmental and socio-economic baseline information for hydropower planning.- Report for MRC Initiative on Sustainable Hydropower (ISH) (not publicly available- restricted access)
Autoren: Locher H, Hortle K, Koehnken L, Lieber F, Sjorslev J, Stubauer I Jahr: 2013
Forschungsbericht (extern. Auftraggeber)
ISH11 Phase 1 Report - Aqautic Ecology Annex Improved environmental and socio-economic baseline information for hydropower planning.- Report for MRC Initiative on Sustainable Hydropower (ISH) (not publicly available- restricted access)
Autoren: Stubauer I Jahr: 2013
Forschungsbericht (extern. Auftraggeber)
ISH11 Phase 2 Report - Volume 1: Main Report; Improved environmental and socio-economic baseline infromation for hydropower planning, external draft 1.0 – for Member Country review.- Report for MRC Initiative on Sustainable Hydropower (ISH) (not publicly available- restricted access)
Autoren: Locher H, Aylward B, Hortle K, Koehnken L, Sjorslev J, Stubauer I Jahr: 2013
Forschungsbericht (extern. Auftraggeber)
ISH11 Phase 2 Report: Aquatic Ecology Annex, Improved environmental and socio-economic baseline information for hydropower planning.- Report for MRC Initiative on Sustainable Hydropower (ISH) (not publicly available- restricted access)
Autoren: Stubauer I Jahr: 2013
Forschungsbericht (extern. Auftraggeber)
Guiding considerations on transboundary monitoring for LMB hydropower planning and management.-Report for MRC Initiative on Sustainable Hydropower (ISH) (not publicly available- restricted access) .
Autoren: Locher H, Aylward B, Hortle K, Koehnken L, Sjorslev J, Stubauer , Jahr: 2014
Forschungsbericht (extern. Auftraggeber)
Information sources to support LMB hydropower information needs.- Report for MRC Initiative on Sustainable Hydropower (ISH) (not publicly available- restricted access) .
Autoren: Locher H, Aylward B, Hortle K, Koehnken L, Sjorslev J, Stubauer I, Jahr: 2014
Forschungsbericht (extern. Auftraggeber)
Project staff
Ilse Schwarzinger
Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Ilse Schwarzinger
ilse.schwarzinger@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-10118
BOKU Project Leader
01.11.2012 - 31.12.2014
Patrick Leitner
Dipl.-Ing. Dr.nat.techn. Patrick Leitner
patrick.leitner@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-81243
Project Staff
01.11.2012 - 31.12.2014
Robert Vogl
Ing. Robert Vogl
robert.vogl@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-81225
Project Staff
01.11.2012 - 31.12.2014