Environmental Flow Policy Analysis for the Tempisque River

Environmental Flow Policy Analysis for the Tempisque River; Costa Rica Employing Stakeholder Driven Data Collection to Inform Water Management Decisions Wesley Henson, Alex Boswell-Ebersole, Molly Carver, Cristian Pacheco Skills Practicum, Summer 2012

Overview �Introduction �Project Scope �Surface Water �Groundwater �Importance of hydrology in ecological systems �Environmental Flow Analysis �Stakeholder Analysis �Law and Policy Framework Analysis �Traditional Ecological Knowledge

Introduction

Scoping Questions �Are 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 Water �Principle flow contributions �precipitation �return flows from irrigation District �groundwater � 72% of rain from June to November �Floods in the wet season �Low/No flow during the dry season �Available data is limited

Groundwater �Often, 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-exploited �Extensive 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 Flow �Environmental flows should consider �minimum amount of flow �variation in flow regimes � low flows � seasonal highs � flood peaks � extraordinary events �Environmental Flows Should be �legally defensible �scientifically defensible �administratively feasible Human Needs Ecological Health

Evaluation of Proposed Environmental Flow

Proposed Environmental Flow 30 20 15 Current Concessions Minimum Environmental Flow 10 Maximum amount for concession 5 Ap ril ch M ar y ar ru Fe b Ja nu ar y r em be D ov e Month ec m be r er N ct ob r O be em pt Se Au gu st Ju ly Ju ne ay 0 M Streamflow in cubic meters/second 25

Stakeholder Analysis � Agriculture Industry � Subsistence Users � Local and Federal Governments � Ay. A � MINAET � MINSA � SENARA � SETENA � ICE � Local communities � Aquaculture � Tourism � Fishing Industry (Gulf of Nicoya)

Current Water Law �MINAET grants the concessions �Concessions (required for all uses except domestic) �Only two criteria �Duration = 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 Framework �The Water Law is old �The hierarchy established is out of date �No institutional coordination �They operate pursuant to their own self-interested regulations �SENARA’s Fee for Irrigation water �No 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 Collection �People have a vested interest in water management �Data is limiting factor in decision-making �Take advantage of Traditional Ecological Knowledge �Train 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 Message �Proposed 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?