TY - JOUR
T1 - May the Odds Be in Your Favor
T2 - Why Many Attempts to Reoperate Dams for the Environment Stall
AU - Owusu, Afua
AU - Mul, Marloes
AU - Van Der Zaag, Pieter
AU - Slinger, Jill
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - The provision of flows for the environment, e-flows, is a means to restore the benefits of naturally flowing rivers. Despite the development of numerous methodologies to determine e-flows and optimize dam releases, actual implementation is relatively limited. Examples of successful e-flows implementation through dam reoperation exist in scientific literature; however, there is a missing narrative on cases where dam reoperation has been attempted but not successfully implemented. This study explores this impasse narrative and presents four hypotheses for further research on this subject: (1) Scientists are important stakeholders in the process of dam reoperation, but should play a supportive role rather than drive the process; (2) In undertaking scientific studies for determination of e-flows, a consensus on the priorities, knowledge gap, and solutions must be reached together with local stakeholders; (3) Local-level legislation and policy on e-flows provide the enabling environment for dam reoperation for e-flows; and (4) Genuine, carefully designed consultations of, and negotiations between, stakeholders can overcome hurdles encountered in the process of dam reoperation for e-flows implementation.
AB - The provision of flows for the environment, e-flows, is a means to restore the benefits of naturally flowing rivers. Despite the development of numerous methodologies to determine e-flows and optimize dam releases, actual implementation is relatively limited. Examples of successful e-flows implementation through dam reoperation exist in scientific literature; however, there is a missing narrative on cases where dam reoperation has been attempted but not successfully implemented. This study explores this impasse narrative and presents four hypotheses for further research on this subject: (1) Scientists are important stakeholders in the process of dam reoperation, but should play a supportive role rather than drive the process; (2) In undertaking scientific studies for determination of e-flows, a consensus on the priorities, knowledge gap, and solutions must be reached together with local stakeholders; (3) Local-level legislation and policy on e-flows provide the enabling environment for dam reoperation for e-flows; and (4) Genuine, carefully designed consultations of, and negotiations between, stakeholders can overcome hurdles encountered in the process of dam reoperation for e-flows implementation.
KW - E-flow implementation hurdles
KW - Environmental flows
KW - Flow restoration
KW - Reservoir operation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85118993358&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1061/(ASCE)WR.1943-5452.0001521
DO - 10.1061/(ASCE)WR.1943-5452.0001521
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85118993358
VL - 148
JO - Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
JF - Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
SN - 0733-9496
IS - 5
M1 - 04022009
ER -