Connecting Flow and Ecology in the Koshi Basin (and beyond) to aid Integrated Water Resource Management – Workshop 4‐5 February 2016

A workshop was held to better understand the relationship between flows and ecology at Kathmandu, Nepal. This workshop was organised by CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization), BCN (Bird Conservation Nepal) and ICIMOD (International Center for Integrated Mountain Development). The organizers of this workshop shared shared their thoughts about this program and they hoped to,

1. Have this workshop as a knowledge base to understand further about the relationship between flow ecology in the Koshi River Basin in particular. 
2. Discuss among the different experts of Aquatic Ecosystem present and hopefully, bring a scientific evidence to pledge the Government of Nepal to change the policy.

Key questions:

What else do we need to know to maintain the flow and ecological assets? 

Conceptual models have been created and it was discovered that scientists liked the conceptualization as they gave current understanding of the relationship between flow and ecology. What are some of the ideas that can help in influencing the policy development related to eflows in Nepal?

Participants: The participants were mostly experts in Aquatic Ecology such as macroinvertebartes, fisheries, aquatic mammals, riverine birds, flora etc. 

Presentations were made by these participants followed by a question answer and discussion. Each experts showcased the work being done so far in their arena highlighting the biodiversity of Koshi River Basin and how future construction of Koshi High Dam would impact upon these species ultimately causing severe impact on livelihood. The participants were concerned about the new hydropower stations that are in the pipeline, which were nearly about 100 in number. Discussion was also made regarding the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the different Hydropower Projects or other developmental projects being done and how companies would "skip" it. 

Discussion on eflow methodology was also done.

• Hydraulic Rating
• Hydrology Based
• Habitat Simulation
• Holistic Methodology – all issues and takes into account the social and livelihood component

Building Block Methodology and eflows calculator was being used at Gandaki Basin - Kaligandaki River stretch. 

Some Important Quotes

Eflows is not about minimum flows – also analyzing wet and dry flows, normal flows, extreme low flows, floods and inter annual variability.

There must be scientific analysis on impact on livelihood changing flows can make – we need to come up with concrete, scientific validation and proof to convince the government saying that “These are the potential threats because of eflows as in species that can probably degrade”. That would be the right thing to hit the government. We need to work collectively and be able to come up with simple language based on complete science to convince the Nepalese government.

10% rule (Riparian Flow) is not backed up by science. In every EIA they call 10% rule but there is no scientific backing as such. This is a kind of “word of mouth” thing. 10% thing varies from river to river, habitat to habitat.Many of the EIAs are the replication of the previous reports. Problem lies within the government and donor agencies – EIA budget is usually less than 1% - how can it be a well-researched?

Fish ladder in Aandhi khola which has become killing ground of the fish. The fish ladder is left open and poor people simply cannot resist killing them as the fishes migrate. Hence appropriate technology should be made that can doesn’t make the fish visible to the locals. On a positive note, Kaligandaki Hydropower has a hatchery constructed by NEA and operated by NEA. New experiment – has to be evaluated to know how far this practice is useful for people and livelihood.

Skewed sex ratio of gharials is one of the main barriers of its conservation. Out of 664 gharials raised at Kasara, there were only 2 male confirmed. Manual method of sex determination was done before sending these species to Koshi River. This means that chances are there that that sex determination was reported wrong meaning only females could have been sent to the river. No one has mentioned the observation of hatchling or a sub adult which leads to the conclusion that there is no occurrence of Gharials in Koshi River.

For biomonitoring of rivers, bioindicators can be used.Bar coding and Environmental DNA are the two advanced technologies for biomonitoring.

Locals from Koshi Tappu Area preferred fishing as their source of income despite the fact that selling mats made from local grass product fetched them more money. According to the locals, they cannot eat mats if it doesn't get sold, unlike the fishes.

  The workshop also had several discussion session where a member from each group would pitch their ideas. A report on this workshop is going to be published somewhere around June/July 2016. I will share the link of the report as soon as I get it.

Group Photo of the Participants