Environmental Flow Policy Analysis for the Tempisque

River; Costa RicaEmploying Stakeholder Driven Data Collection to

Inform Water Management Decisions

Wesley Henson, Alex Boswell-Ebersole, Molly Carver, Cristian Pacheco

Skills Practicum, Summer 2012

OverviewIntroduction

Project ScopeSurface WaterGroundwaterImportance of hydrology in ecological systems

Environmental Flow AnalysisStakeholder AnalysisLaw and Policy Framework AnalysisTraditional Ecological Knowledge

Introduction

Scoping QuestionsAre the proposed environmental flows

adequate for maintaining the ecological integrity of the Tempisque River?

What changes in the Legal/Policy framework are necessary to implement an environmental flow?

What tools can be developed to enhance our understanding of the system?

Surface WaterPrinciple flow contributions

precipitationreturn flows from irrigation Districtgroundwater

72% of rain from June to NovemberFloods in the wet season Low/No flow during the dry season Available data is limited

GroundwaterOften, groundwater is the only source of potable water

for population centers Over the last decade, 93% increase in well

construction. Over 9,886 estimated wells

Aquifers over-exploitedExtensive tourism development Municipal Use Agricultural production

Yet… VERY LITTLE IS KNOWN ABOUT THE AQUIFERS

Importance of Hydrology in Ecological Systems

The hydrologic regime:

Shapes the evolution, distribution, and stability of aquatic biota and ecological processes

Retention of sediments and organic matter

Pollutant transport

Water depth and temperature

Available dissolved oxygen for aquatic life.Can alter riparian habitats.

Environmental FlowEnvironmental flows should consider

minimum amount of flowvariation in flow regimes

low flows seasonal highs flood peaks extraordinary events

Environmental Flows Should belegally defensiblescientifically defensibleadministratively feasible

Human

Needs

Ecological Health

Evaluation of Proposed Environmental Flow

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Proposed Environmental Flow

Current ConcessionsMinimum Environmental FlowMaximum amount for concession

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Stakeholder AnalysisAgriculture Industry Subsistence UsersLocal and Federal Governments

AyA MINAET MINSA SENARA SETENA ICE

Local communitiesAquaculture TourismFishing Industry (Gulf of

Nicoya)

Current Water Law

MINAET grants the concessionsConcessions (required for all uses except

domestic)Only two criteriaDuration = 30 years max

Creates a hierarchy of priorities for competing applicants (but – based on values 1940’s values)

Existing users still entitled to use water (even if they cant prove acquisition of use was legal)

Problems with the Current FrameworkThe Water Law is old

The hierarchy established is out of dateNo institutional coordination

They operate pursuant to their own self-interested regulations

SENARA’s Fee for Irrigation waterNo incentive for conservation or efficiency

No procedure for establishing environmental flow

Why Advocate for the Passage of New Water Bill?

Facilitates Institutional Coordination (Creates NDWR)

Decisions made in consideration of hydrologic basin scale

Establishes a hierarchy of uses (like the current law) BUT these uses are determined by standards set by each Hydrologic Unit

Maximum concession duration = 20 years Establishes procedure for setting

environmental flow “flow required to satisfy permanent ecosystem

needs”

Traditional Ecological Knowledge

“All types of knowledge about the environment derived from the experiences and traditions of a particular group of people".

(Esselman, Opperman, 2000)

Citizen Driven Data CollectionPeople have a vested interest in water managementData is limiting factor in decision-makingTake advantage of Traditional Ecological

KnowledgeTrain citizens to collect data about surface

water and groundwater Simple methods

Groundwater levels River Stage Flow velocity

Establish a central data base to store collected data so it is available to stakeholders

Take Home MessageProposed environmental flow methodology is

sound

New water legislation should be passed to facilitate better water management

TEK and Citizen Driven science may be able to fill the huge gaps in understanding of the system

QUESTIONS?