IWG-Env International Work Session on Water Statistics Vienna, June 20-22, 2005 Water Statistics in the Mekong River Basin

Ulf Hedlund, MRC SecretariatIWG-Env International Work Session on Water Statistics, Vienna, June 20-22, Presentation outline About the Mekong River and the MRC Water statistics at MRC Sustainability issues Conclusions

Ulf Hedlund, MRC SecretariatIWG-Env International Work Session on Water Statistics, Vienna, June 20-22, The Mekong River Basin Six Riparian Nations in South East Asia

Ulf Hedlund, MRC SecretariatIWG-Env International Work Session on Water Statistics, Vienna, June 20-22, The Mekong River from source to delta Average flow contribution Upper Mekong (18%) China – 16% Myanmar – 2% Lower Mekong (82%) Cambodia – 18% Lao PDR – 35% Thailand – 18% Viet Nam – 11%

Ulf Hedlund, MRC SecretariatIWG-Env International Work Session on Water Statistics, Vienna, June 20-22, The Lower Mekong Basin Four riparian countries Four riparian countries Population Population of 60 million, with rapid increase to 100 million in 2025 poorest countries Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Viet Nam are among the poorest countries in Asia and the World Water is an essential resource for livelihoods: fisheries, agriculture,energy … ecosystems One of the most productive and diverse ecosystems in the world

Ulf Hedlund, MRC SecretariatIWG-Env International Work Session on Water Statistics, Vienna, June 20-22, The 1995 Agreement Cooperation in all fields of sustainable development, utilisation, management and conservation of the water and related resources of the Lower Mekong Basin

Ulf Hedlund, MRC SecretariatIWG-Env International Work Session on Water Statistics, Vienna, June 20-22, JOINT COMMITTEE (Members at level of Head of Department or higher) NATIONAL MEKONG COMMITTEES (NMC) (Member Agencies) DONOR CONSUL- TATIVE GROUP (Donor countries and cooperating institutions) COUNCIL (Members at Ministerial and Cabinet Level) Government of Cambodia Government of Lao PDR Government of Thailand Government of Vietnam Mekong River Commission Secretariat Operational arm providing Technical and Administrative Support MRC Organizational Structure

Ulf Hedlund, MRC SecretariatIWG-Env International Work Session on Water Statistics, Vienna, June 20-22, Irrigated Agriculture Fisheries Hydropower Navigation Watershed Management Flood Management Water Supply and Sanitation Tourism To make optimal use of water in the various sectors

Ulf Hedlund, MRC SecretariatIWG-Env International Work Session on Water Statistics, Vienna, June 20-22, MRC Information System – Databases – GIS - Models Basin Development Plan Water Utilisation Programme Environment Programme Flood Management and Mitigation Programme Decision Makers in Member Countries, Investors and Funding Agencies Project planning and implementation Navigation Programme Fisheries Programme Agriculture, Irrigation and Forestry Programme Tourism Programme Hydropower Programme MRC Programme - towards IWRM

Ulf Hedlund, MRC SecretariatIWG-Env International Work Session on Water Statistics, Vienna, June 20-22, MRC is data hungry! Administration Climate Culture Fisheries Forestry Inundation (flooding) Irrigation Population & Human settlements Socio-economics Soils Topography Transportation Water Hydro-meteo Hydro-meteo time series time series Water Quality Water Quality Water use Water use Some examples of current data holdings…

Ulf Hedlund, MRC SecretariatIWG-Env International Work Session on Water Statistics, Vienna, June 20-22, Historical HM time series data Data typeNo. of stations Water level & discharge242 Rainfall503 Meteorology44 Sediment60 > 16,000 station yrs More WL than Discharge Quality control ongoing Used for many purposes Published yearly

Ulf Hedlund, MRC SecretariatIWG-Env International Work Session on Water Statistics, Vienna, June 20-22, Operational HM time series data ItemFlood season Dry season Water level Data4419 Rainfall Data4419 Delivery intervalDailyWeekly ItemAHNIPM-HYCOS Water Level18< 50 Rainfall Data2< 50 Delivery intervalDailyHourly? Forecasting time-series data Near real-time data (telemetric) 2 stations from China

Ulf Hedlund, MRC SecretariatIWG-Env International Work Session on Water Statistics, Vienna, June 20-22, Use of operational HM data Flood forecasting Flash flood forecasting Navigation More about this on Wednesday!

Ulf Hedlund, MRC SecretariatIWG-Env International Work Session on Water Statistics, Vienna, June 20-22, Water Quality Statistics 100 sites Monthly samples Delivered yearly/quarterly 20 parameters Analysis by designated labs QA procedures in place –Round robin analysis –Standard samples Used to examine spatial patterns and trends in WQ

Ulf Hedlund, MRC SecretariatIWG-Env International Work Session on Water Statistics, Vienna, June 20-22, Water Use Data ~ 80% of water abstracted is used in agriculture Measurement of direct water use quite limited in LMB Estimations calculated (estimated) on secondary data Secondary data not always available, complete or accurate Current water use estimations could usefully be improved

Ulf Hedlund, MRC SecretariatIWG-Env International Work Session on Water Statistics, Vienna, June 20-22, Sustainability issues Technical and institutional mechanisms Quantity, reliability and timeliness Continuity: management of data collection networks Availability of resources and capacity These issues applies to all MRC data collection (and other organizations … ?) These issues applies to all MRC data collection (and other organizations … ?)

Ulf Hedlund, MRC SecretariatIWG-Env International Work Session on Water Statistics, Vienna, June 20-22, Institutional and technical mechanisms Improving conditions for data exchange and sharing –Regional forum for D&I exchange and sharing issues (TACT) –Build trust and change attitudes –National data custodianship –Develop procedures, guidelines etc –Support to national agencies The MRC Information System –Integrated databases –Models –Institutional and technical mechanisms –Capacity enhancements

Ulf Hedlund, MRC SecretariatIWG-Env International Work Session on Water Statistics, Vienna, June 20-22, Quantity, reliability, timeliness Improvement of HM network density –Climate data especially Quality Assessment and Assurance –Database review –SOPs, QA procedures, … Timeliness –Delays in validation and delivery to MRC –Data Delivery Schedule & support to countries –Real-time telemetry networks

Ulf Hedlund, MRC SecretariatIWG-Env International Work Session on Water Statistics, Vienna, June 20-22, Continuity: management of networks O&M closely related to sustainability of financial and human resources O&M cost can be quite substantial –Some national budgets very limited –Limited lasting effect of projects Situation not unique to LMB … Gradual improvements expected Support to countries required in foreseeable future

Ulf Hedlund, MRC SecretariatIWG-Env International Work Session on Water Statistics, Vienna, June 20-22, Limitations in resources and capacity Access to skilled staff and sufficient funds two critical elements –Present limitations in both is a challenge Regional HM capacity/skills are in shortage –Big differences between MRC member countries Clear need to build regional capacity –Long-term commitment required In recognition of current limitations … –MRC seeks to establish new DSIM Programme –Donor funding sought –5 year implementation phase

Ulf Hedlund, MRC SecretariatIWG-Env International Work Session on Water Statistics, Vienna, June 20-22, Access to MRC data Internal –LAN/GIS software –Web Portal Interactive maps Metadata catalog External –Requests to MRCS –Data publications (Atlas CDs, Yearbooks … ) –Online ( Flood forecasting/river monitoring Web Portal

Ulf Hedlund, MRC SecretariatIWG-Env International Work Session on Water Statistics, Vienna, June 20-22, ConclusionsConclusions MRC holds substantial amounts of data Improvements needed to provide data required in the future MRC data collection depends on regional and national capacity and resources Lack of resources a limiting factor Sustainability in management of data collection networks a tough challenge Implementation of Decision Support and Information Management Programme will be a good step forward

Ulf Hedlund, MRC SecretariatIWG-Env International Work Session on Water Statistics, Vienna, June 20-22,