Hydrological Cycle Management to Reduce the Effects of Drought in the Rio Grande Basin

Transcription

1 Hydrological Cycle Management to Reduce the Effects of Drought in the Rio Grande Basin By : Sergio Soto-Priante Mexico March 2010

2 Bravo River Basin (Mexican side) Presa La Amistad Presa Luis L León Presa Francisco I Madero Presa La Boquilla Presa Venustiano Carranza Presa San Gabriel Presa Marte R Gómez Presa Falcón Presa El Cuchillo 2 2

3 DR 009 Main data of the basin Bravo River Basin (Mexican Side) Length* (km): 2,018 DR 090 Area (km 2 ): 379,552 DR 005 DR 006 Average annual rainfall (mm): Number of tributaries **: DR 050 DR 004 Gauged affluents: 6 DR 103 DR 026 Number of Dams: 16 DR 025 Number of Irrigation Dams: 12 International Dams: 2 Irrigated Surface : 999,597 ha * Length of the river as border with the U.S.A. ** Includes the rivers Álamos and San Juan 3

4 Diagram of the Bravo River

5 Surface by Irrigations District Code Irrigation District State Surface (Hectares) 004 Don Martin Nuevo Leon 29, Delicias Chihuahua 86, Palestina Coahuila 12, Valle de Juarez Chihuahua 24, Bajo Rio Bravo Tamaulipas 248, Bajo Rio Bravo San Juan Tamaulipas 86, Las Lajas Nuevo Leon 3, Buenaventura Chihuahua 7, Acuña-Falcon Tamaulipas 12, El Carmen Chihuahua 20, Bajo Rio Conchos Chihuahua 13, Rio Florido Chihuahua 8,964 Total Irrigation Districts 554,597 Total State Surface (Hectares) Irrigation units 4,513 National 445,000 TOTAL SURFACE IN THE BASIN 999,597 5

6 Hydrologic Features Availability Mm 3 Allocation Mm 3 Transfers to USA Mm 3 Total Surface Water 6,857 4, ,252 Groundwater 5,167 4, ,370 TOTAL 12,024 9, ,622 6

7 Monthly normal precipitation in the Rio Bravo Basin 7

8 Climate and hydrological influence Subregion Temperature Annual Average ( C) Evaporation Annual Average (mm) Cuencas Cerradas del Norte ,101 Conchos ,268 Alto Bravo ,386 Medio Bravo ,130 San Juan ,812 Bajo Bravo ,769 Average ,078 8

9 Percentage of storage in major dams in the Río Bravo Basin

10 Overdrafted aquifers in the Rio Bravo Basin Code Aquifer Relation withdrawal / recharge 0507 Monclova Saltillo-Ramos Arizpe Región Manzanera-Zapaliname Ascension Baja Babicora Buenaventura Cuauhtemoc Casas Grandes El Sauz-Encinillas Flores Magon-Villa Ahumada Chihuahua-Sacramento Meoqui-Delicias Jimenez-Camargo Tabaloapa-Aldama Campo Mina

11 Water use in the Rio Bravo Basin 11

12 THE PAST Mitigation Approach Financial support by the Mexican Secretary of Agriculture Financial support for the conservation of irrigation infrastructure Distribution of water in tanker trucks for municipal, agricultural and livestock use. Construction of dams, dikes, wells, etc. Drilling and rehabilitation of wells Supply and installation of pumping equipment Construction of new drinking water lines Creation of jobs for temporary farm labor Campaigns to stimulate rain. 12

13 THE PRESENT Adaptation Approach What we are looking for? Achieve sustainable water use in the basin Mitigate the effects of drought Ensure the needs of water for cities and users Be able to meet the commitments of the 1944 Treaty. 13

14 Objetives Reduce demand of water for agriculture and increase the supply of water, in order to balance the basin. Increase production, land and earth productivity, regional employment, and the income of agriculture water users. Achieve sustainability and balance between different uses of water. Comply with water transfers to the United States, according to the terms of the International Treaty of

15 Guidelines to reduce water demand in agriculture 1. Modernization of the water distribution network. 2. Real time irrigation forecasts. 3. Technical improvement of the irrigation systems. 4. Better sow and harvest practices. 5. Introduction of low water demand crops. 6. Separation of low productive lands and new urban lands. 7. Rain harvest. 8. Healthy dam administration. 15

16 Guidelines to increase water offer 1. Integrated Water Management in the Basin. 2. Exchange of treated waste water for fresh surface water. 3. Make the most of under utilized spring water. 4. Repurchase of water rights and resizing overallocated irrigation districts and units. 5. Cancellation of unused water rights. 16

17 Programs implemented ( ) Program of Sustainable Water Use in the Rio Bravo Basin: Was designed taking into account the water needs of communities and irrigation users, and additionally the need to comply with the provisions of the International Treaty of Program of Adaptation of Water Use Rights and Resizing Irrigation Districts and Units (PADUA) Operates through the allocation of economic support with the objective that civil associations of irrigation users (WUA) or producers involved in the program, voluntarily surrender the volume of water defined in their allocation rights. 17

18 Results from the Upper Bravo River Basin (Conchos River Basin ) Irrigation District Investment (millions of pesos) Annual volume saved (Mm 3 ) Productivity (Kg/m 3 ) Increase (%) 005 Delicias, Chih. 1, Bajo Río Conchos, Chih Río Florido, Chih TOTAL 1,319* Bravo River Basin (Mexican Side) (Average) DR 009 DR 090 DR 006 DR 005 DR 103 DR 050 DR 004 DR 026 DR 025 * Dollars aprox.= 105 million 18

19 THE FUTURE Expand Strategy to others irrigation districts. - Irrigation District N 025 (Lower Rio Bravo) surface: 248,000 ha -Expected water savings by 2012: 500 Mm 3 - Expected water savings in agriculture in the long term: 2,000 Mm 3 Savings in urban water (Aqueduct Falcon-Matamoros). Improved ground water management Exchange of treated water from the cities, for fresh water from agriculture. 19

20 Conclusions: 1. The best policy against drought is prevention. 2. To cope with the effects of future droughts and climate change it is highly desirable to induce a "cultural change" among stakeholders. 3. The negotiations with the farmers are easier on a winwin basis. 4. Trust between the parties can only be built after the first results (the authority had to make the "first move"). 20

21 Conclusions: 5. Water savings and increased productivity are directly related to the amount of investment. (although it is very useful to identify where the greatest results are obtained with lower investment). 6. Significant savings can be made by changing some agricultural practices. 7. The experiences can be applied in other basins that suffer drought and/or which are threatened by the effects of climate change. In Mexico: Lerma, Nazas, Yaqui, Mayo, Mexicali, etc. 8. It is desirable to have an external evaluation of the impact. 9. Balance and sustainability are possible. 21

22 Hydrological Cycle Management to Reduce the Effects of Drought in the Rio Grande Basin By : Sergio Soto-Priante Mexico March 2010