CO-OPERATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF SHARED WATER RESOURCES

This article examines the current status of and recent progress in co-operative arrangements for the development of water resources shared by two or more countries. Such arrangements may range from the simple exchange of data to the design and implementation of major projects and formal resolutions of disputes. Topics which are of growing concern to river-basin organizations include integrated development and management or shared water resources and dealing with the fresh water-maritime interface. The article indicates that optimum co-ordinated development, use and protection of shared water resources is still a distant goal, and that increased institutionalization of co-operation is required. Cet articles passe en reveu l'état actuel et les récents progrés réalisés dans le domaine de la coopération pour la mise en valeur des ressources en eau communes à deux ou plusieurs pays. Cette coopération peut ***revêtir plusieurs formes, allant du simple échange de données à la conception et la réalisation de projects importants ainsi qu'aux règlements officiels de disputes. Les sujets qui intéressent de plus en plus les agences de bassins comprennent la mise en valeur et la gestion intégrées des ressources en eau communes ainsi que les rapports entre les eaux douces et marines. L'article souligne que la meilleure coordination dans les domaines de la mise en valeur, l'utilisation et la sauvegarde des ressources en eau communes constituete encore un but très éloigné et qu'une réglementation accrue est nécessaire. Este articulo examina la situación actual de los acuerdos de cooperación para el desarrollo de recursos hídricos compartidos por dos o más países. Tales acuerdos pueden variar desde el simple intercambio de información al diseño y ejecución de grandes proyectos y la solución formal de disputas. Los asuntos de creciente importancia para las organizaciones encargadas del desarrollo de cuencas comunes incluyen el desarrollo y administración de los recursos compartidos y los problemas de contención de aguas salinas. El artículo indica que la óptima coordinación o utilización y protec-***     

THE ECONOMICS OF CO-OPERATION IN SHARED WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT

This article assesses the various methodologies that have been used to devise equitable approaches in the joint utilization of water resources shared by two or more countries. Noting that no single technique is applicable in all or even most situations, the article first presents a review of the approaches taken in three cases, the basins of the Uruguay, the Senegal and the Yaguaron rivers. Next, the issues raised in these cases are examined, and the three major steps in the sharing of benefits and costs in projects for the development of shared water resources are discussed. The article concludes with a number of observations concerning the present and probable future status of shared water resource negotiations. Cet article évalue les différentes méthodes que l'on emploie pour définir les manières équitables d'utiliser conjointement les ressources en eau communes à deux ou plusieurs pays. Tout en soulignant qu'il n'existe pas de technique qui puisse s'appliquer à toutes ou presque toutes les situations, l'article dans un premier temps passe en revue les méthodes utilisées dans trois cas: les bassins des fleuves Uruguay, Sénégal et Yaguaron. L'article examine ensuite les questions soulevées dans ces cas et discute des trois mesures importantes adoptées dans le partage des coûts et bénéfices dans le cas de projects conçus pour la mise en valeur des ressources en eau communes. L'article conclut par un certain nombre d'observations sur l'état actuel et l'avenir probable des négociations en matière de ressources en eau communes. Este artículo evalúa varias metodologias usadas para establecer formas de la utilización conjunta y equitativa de recursos hídricos compartidos por dos o más países. El artículo señala que no hay una técnica única aplicable a la mayoría de los casos y revisa los procedimientos seguidos en tres casos: las cuencas de los ríos Uruguay, Senegal y Yaguaron. Luego se examinan los asuntos saltantes en los tres casos y se discuten los tres pasos a seguirse en la participación de beneficios y costos de los proyectos de desarrollo de recursos hídricos compartidos. El artículo concluye con algunas observaciones concernientes a las negociaciones presentes y futuras sobre uso de recursos hídricos compartidos.     

FINANCING THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT OF WATER RESOURCES

This paper first examines the financial requirements for development of water resources in developing countries by 1990. Estimates of requirements for irrigation and drainage, community water supply and sanitation, hydropower, and assessment and planning are presented. In the second part of the paper some measures for mobilizing financial resources to meet indicated requirements are suggested. These include: choosing among available multilateral and bilateral assistance programmes at the international level; budgetary allocations and water pricing at the national level; and community participation at the local level. Dans un premier temps, cet article étudie les exigences financièes de la mise en valeur des ressources en eau dans les pays en développement jusqu'en 1990. Il fait l'évaluation de ces exigences dans les domaines de l'irrigation et du drainage, de l'approvisionnement en eau des communautés, de l'aménagement sanitaire, de l'hydroélectricité, de l'évaluation et de la planification. La deuxième partie du rapport présente des suggestions concernant la mobilisation de ces ressources financières pour répondre aux besoins susmentionnés. Celles-ci comprennent: les programmes d'assistance multilatérale et bilatérale au niveau international, les allocations budgétaires et la tarification d'eau au niveau national et la participation des communautés au niveau local. Este artículo examina primeramente los requerimientos financieros para el desarrollo de los recursos hídricos en los países en desarrollo hasta 1990. Se incluyen los estimados para irrigación y drenaje, suministro de agua potable, saneamiento e hidroelectricidad, así como para la evaluación y planificación. En la segunda parte del artículo se sugieren algunas medidas para la movilización de recursos financieros destinados a cubrir estos requerimientos. Estas medidas incluyen: la selección entre programas de asistencia bilateral y multilateral, a nivel internacional; asignaciones presupuestales para los recursos hídricos y tarificación, a nivel nacional; y participación de las comunidades a nivel local.     

ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS FOR WATER RESOURCES PLANNING

The patterns of organization of water resources planning and management depend to a large degree on the legal regime of water ownership or control, the structure of the existing water administration and the organizational structure of the government. This article highlights the nature and scope of these links and illustrates related problems so that countries planning to modify or substitute new institutions for water resources planning will be able to examine the experience of others.
Les modèles d'organisation de la planification et de la gestion des ressources en eau dépendent dans une large mesure du régime juridique régissant la propriété ou la maîtrise des eaux, de la structure de l'administration actuelle des eaux et de la structure de l'organisation du gouvernement. L'article met en relief la nature et la portée de ces relations et illustre des problêmes connexes afin de permettre aux pays qui se proposent de modifier ou de créer de nouvelles institutions en matière de planification des ressources en eau de se pencher sur l'expérience des autres.
Las formas de organización de la planificación y administración de los recursos de agua dependen en gran parte del régimen legal de la tenencia o control del agua, la estructura de la administración de aguas y la estructura organizativa del gobierno. Este artículo analiza la naturaleza y amplitud de estas formas de organización e ilustra los problemas relacionados de modo que los países interesados en modificar o crear nuevas instituciones para la planificación de recursos de agua puedan examinar la experiencia de otros países.     

THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SENEGAL RIVER BASIN: AN EXAMPLE IN INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION

Joint development by several states of an international river basin requires a high degree of inter-state co-operation for the solution of the political, technical, economic and legal problems involved. In their endeavour to carry out the development of the Senegal River Basin, Senegal, Mali and Mauritania have successfully resolved several of these problems by means of unprecedented co-operation. The purpose of this paper is to provide some highlights on the approach adopted by the three nations in the solution of the problems of joint ownership of hydraulic works on the Senegal River, the allocation of their benefits and costs and their financing. La mise en valeur harmonieuse par plusieurs pays du bassin d'un fleuve qui les traverse nécessite une étroite coopération entre les gouvernements de ces pays de manière à résoudre le faisceau de problèmes politiques, techniques, économiques et juridiques qui se posent. Par une coopération dont il n'existe aucun précédent, le Sénégal, le Mali et la Mauritanie ont résolu avec satisfaction plusieurs des problèmes qu'ils ont rencontré lorsqu'ils ont entrepris la mise en valeur du bassin du fleuve Sénégal. Cet article a pour but de mettre l'accent sur les points saillants illustrant les solutions apportées par les trois pays aux problèmes de la propriété con-jointe des ouvrages hydrauliques sur le fleuve Sénégal, la répartition des coüts et des avantages ainsi que leur financement. El desarrollo conjunto de una cuenca hidrográfica internacional requiere un alto grado de cooperación entre los países rivereños en la solución de los problemas políticos, técnicos, económicos y legales. En el interés de desarrollar la cuenca del río Senegal, los países Senegal, Malí y Mauritania han resuelto con éxito varios de estos problemas gracias a una cooperación que no tiene precedentes. El propósito de este artículo es resaltar algunos enfoques adoptados por las tres naciones en la solución de los problemas derivados de la propiedad conjunta de las obras hidráulicas en el río Senegal, asi como la distribución de costos, beneficios y las responsabilidades financieras.     

INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT OF WATER RESOURCES IN PAKISTAN: A CASE STUDY

The author describes the institutional structure for water planning and management in Pakistan. He goes on to assess its present effectiveness and draws conclusions regarding action needed for future improvement.     

WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT IN THE MULLICA RIVER BASIN1

ABSTRACT: The potential withdrawal of water from the Mullica River-Great Bay Estuary is southern New Jersey prompted a joint study by biologists and engineers to determine the maximum supply of water that could be diverted from the basin without causing undue environmental impacts. The effect of removal of water from the basin over long periods of time was simulated by review of records of a severe drought. Based on analysis of streamflows and salinities during these drought conditions, minimum mean monthly streamflows were determined corresponding to the maximum salinities tolerable by the fish and shellfish communities, important sources of revenue and recreation in the region. A physically optimized, chance constrained linear programming model was developed for the conjunctive use of ground and surface waters. Adjusting water withdrawal from streamflow and groundwater sources according to physical and seasonal criteria would permit maximum use of the basin's resources, with no additional burden on the ecology of the estuary.     

INTERSTATE AND INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION FOR WATER RESOURCES1

ABSTRACT: Federal-state relations over the management and regulation of ground water resources have undergone a number of changes in recent years. There are a variety of reasons that the role of the federal government in ground water management may increase in the future. One important reason federal policymakers may become involved concerns the extent of competition for ground water resources that cross state and national borders. This article summarizes reasons that interstate and international competition for ground water resources may provide the impetus for federal intervention in ground water management and presents the results of a survey conducted to determine the extent of that competition.     

SUBJECTIVE DECISION-MAKING FOR URBAN WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT1

ABSTRACT: Bayesian decision theory provides a procedure for the use of subjective data in a decision-making situation related to urban water resources development. This procedure is effectual in pursuing a set of goals and in transforming individual or group indecisiveness into satisfactory decisions. This approach is highlighted due to its capability to incorporate seemingly unquantifiable, abstract factors into the decision-making process. It is realized that the soliciting of expert and general public opinion is indispensable in making choices for the welfare of the general public from alternative courses of action under uncertainty. The analysis presented here considers engineering alternatives, quality, quantity, cost and the intangible public response in an integrated effort for the selection of optimum strategies in urban water resources development.     

CONJUNCTIVE MANAGEMENT OF WATER RESOURCES IN THE CONTEXT OF TEXAS WATER LAW1

ABSTRACT: This paper examines the critical interaction between existing Texas water law and the state's water resources. Conjunctive use and management of interrelated water resources, though seldom practiced, is generally considered desirable. However, a significant barrier to the coordinated, efficient use and management of water resources is the legal division of water in the various phases of the hydrologic cycle into different classes and recognition of well-defined water rights in the separate phases. Several examples of the problems which relate to, or result from, present Texas water law and which prevent correlated water resource management are discussed. Any substantive revision of Texas law, particularly ground water law, will apparently be difficult to achieve in the immediate future, primarily because of the large number of recognized private water rights and the political power inherent in them. Data necessary for operation of conjunctive management systems are gradually being acquired, and perhaps someday other hydrologic phases can be integrated with surface and ground water. Nevertheless, Texas courts and the legislature have sufficient information on the interrelated hydrologic cycle so that prospective water conflicts should be anticipated and avoided. Great care must be exercised in the recognition of new types of private water rights or extension of existing rights, because this institutional structure, once established, presents a formidable obstacle to desirable revisions of the law.     

OPTIMIZATION OF WATER RESOURCES FOR IRRIGATION IN EAST JORDAN1

The paper describes an approach towards optimal allocation of surface and ground water resources to three agricultural areas in the Jordan Valley under conditions of scarce water supply. The optimizing model allocates water from three main rivers, each with reservoir storage, and from two ground water sources to three irrigation regions. Productivity of irrigation water, expressed as the net present value of the regional agricultural output, but allowing for crop water deficits, is first maximized using nonlinear programming. The allocation process then adopts techniques of linear programming to determine the least cost alternative based on the unit cost of water from each resource at each destination, as it varies with time.     

WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT IN AN ENVIRONMENTALLY-CONSCIOUS ERA1

The Sierra Club, which has long fought selected water resource projects that it believes would be environmentally damaging, has come to the conclusion in recent years that much more basic reforms are required in water resources development activities if the demands for environmental quality now evidenced by the American people are to be satisfied. These reforms should not be limited to those that would have a direct effect on the environmental aspects of proposed projects, but also many others long advocated by the economics profession that would have favorable indirect effects. Among the urgent reforms with indirect effects are those involving revision of the procedures used in evaluating proposed projects. These procedures should be revised so that future evaluations will much more accurately reflect the economic and environmental merits of proposed projects. Basic reforms of tax policies are also needed that will eliminate most of the private profit available to those who can persuade the government to increase the value of their land through the construction of water projects. Finally, some additional actions can be taken that will have a direct impact on lessening the adverse environmental impact of water projects beyond the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.