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Cologne University of Applied Science Vietnam Academy for Water Resources Faculty: ITT - Institute for Technology and Resources Management in the Tropics and Subtropics Module “Watershed Management” Lecturers: Prof. Dr. Lars Ribbe and Ass. Prof. Dr. Bui Cong Quang Assignment H H u u o o n n g g R R i i v v e e r r B B a a s s i i n n I I n n v v e e n n t t o o r r y y (Deadline for submission: 06 January 2012) Prepared by Tran Minh Phuong (Mrs) TERMAVN intake 2010
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WSM_Huong RB Inventory _Tran Minh Phuong

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Page 1: WSM_Huong RB Inventory _Tran Minh Phuong

Cologne University of Applied ScienceVietnam Academy for Water Resources

Faculty: ITT - Institute for Technology and Resources Managementin the Tropics and Subtropics

MMoodduullee ““WWaatteerrsshheedd MMaannaaggeemmeenntt””LLeeccttuurreerrss:: PPrrooff.. DDrr.. LLaarrss RRiibbbbee aanndd AAssss.. PPrrooff.. DDrr.. BBuuii CCoonngg QQuuaanngg

AAssssiiggnnmmeenntt

HHuuoonngg RRiivveerr BBaassiinn IInnvveennttoorryy(Deadline for submission: 06 January 2012)

PPrreeppaarreedd bbyy TTrraann MMiinnhh PPhhuuoonngg ((MMrrss))TERMAVN intake 2010

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... 3

CHAPTER 1: NATURAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS OFHUONG RIVER BASIN...................................................................................................... 4

1.1. NATURAL CHARACTERISTICS.......................................................................... 4

1.1.1 Topography characteristics ............................................................................... 4

1.1.2 Areas of territory .............................................................................................. 4

1.1.3 Characteristics of geology and soil.................................................................... 5

1.1.4 Characteristics of climate.................................................................................. 6

1.1.5 Characteristics of hydrology and water resources.............................................. 7

1.1.6 Dams and Reservoirs ........................................................................................ 8

1.1.7 Ecosystems....................................................................................................... 8

1.2. SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS ...................................................................... 9

1.2.1. Population ........................................................................................................ 9

1.2.2. Economic development..................................................................................... 9

1.2.3. Institutional arrangements regarding river basin management ........................... 9

CHAPTER 2: ANALYSIS OF THE EXISTING SITUATION ....................................... 11

2.1. NATURAL DISASTER HAZARDS ..................................................................... 11

2.2. SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOOPMENT PRESSURES....................................... 11

2.2.1 Conflicts among water users ........................................................................... 11

2.2.2 Illegal exploitation .......................................................................................... 11

2.2.3 Deforestration................................................................................................. 11

2.2.4 Sand and gravel exploitation ........................................................................... 12

2.3. MANAGEMENT ISSUES..................................................................................... 12

CHAPTER 3: CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS..................................... 13

3.1. CONCLUSIONS ................................................................................................... 13

3.2. RECOMMENDATIONS ....................................................................................... 13

REFERENCES................................................................................................................. 14

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INTRODUCTIONThe paper of “Huong River Basin Inventory”, prepared by Tran Minh Phuong,TERMA student – intake 2010, is an assignment of the Module “WatershedManagement” lectured by Prof. Dr. Lars Ribbe (Cologne University of AppliedSciences, Germany) and Ass. Prof. Dr. Bui Cong Quang (Hanoi University of WaterResources).This is a desk study on the natural, social-economic, hydrologic conditions ofHuong riverbasin and then discussion about the interaction among these factors,finally recommendations for a better water resources management of the basin.Thua Thien Hue Province is located in the central region of Viet Nam, between16º00’ and 16º45’ N (latitude) and 107º00’ and 109º15’ E (longitude). Theprovince is divided into nine administrative units including the major city of Hue,six districts in the plains area (Quang Dien, Huong Thuy, Huong Tra, PhuVang, Phu Loc, Nam Dong) and two districts in the mountainous areas (A Luoiand Phong Dien). The province lies on the traffic-way and the important north-south railway, between the two hubs of Viet Nam: Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City. Itis found at the intersection of the natural economic and social conditions ofnorthern and southern Viet Nam. The Huong River Basin has an internationalroad that connects Hue City with Saravan Province of Laos, Thuan An seaport anda coastline hundreds of kilometres in length.Huong (Perfume) river basin is the largest basin of Thua Thien Hue Provincewith an area of 2830km2, elevation ranging from 200m to 1708m and theaverage slope varying from 15 to 35. The basin, located on the East of Truong Sonmountains and on the North of Bach Ma range, covers the majority of theprovince territory. The main segment of the Huong river originates from the highmountain area of Bach Ma range at an altitude of 1318m and runs from South toNorth for about 104 km. The river has three main tributaries and relatively sub-drainage basins: the Ta Trach (51km long with a drainage basin of 729km²), theHuu Trach (70km long with a drainage basin of 691km²), and the Bo river (94kmlong with a drainage basin of 938km²).Otherwise, Huong river basin is famous with the beauty of Hue Ancient Citadel –a World Cultural Heritage, the cultural diversity of many minor ethnic groups andwith the biodiversity of aquatic ecosystem, mangrove ecosystem, wetlandecosystem, forest ecosystem and lagoons.Why is Huong river basin?Inventory of Huong river basin will be inputs for the case study site descriptionchapter under the master thesis on “The roles social and cultural values of waterin integrated water resources management approach - Case study in Huong riverbasin”, carried out by Tran Minh Phuong.

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CHAPTER 1: NATURAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICSOF HUONG RIVER BASIN

1.1. NATURAL CHARACTERISTICS

1.1.1 Topography characteristics

The Huong River has a basin area of about 3,000km² and is located between 107º09’ and107º51’ E (longitude) and between 15º59’ and 16º36’ N (latitude), and is bounded by O LauRiver in the north, the Dong Sea in the east, Bach Ma Mountain in the southeast and theTruong Son mountain ranges in the west and the southwest. The Huong River originates in asteep mountainous range in the west and flows through a narrow and low delta beforeemptying into the Tam Giang – Cau Hai Lagoon. It has a total length of 190 km, including itsthree main tributaries: Ta Trach, Huu Trach and Bo Rivers.

1.1.2 Areas of territoryOn the territory of Thua Thien Hue and Huong River Basin in particular, there is theformation of areas in West – East direction: mountainous area, hilly area, plain and coastallagoon and sand dunes.

Mountainous areaOccupying 70% the West and South area of the province; the Western mountainous area is apart of the Truong Son Mountain Range with many high peaks, of which, Dong Ngai peak is1,774m and Dong Pho peak is 1,346m. The Southern mountainous and hilly area is Bach MaRange starting from the Truong Son Mountains protruding to the sea with the peaks higherthan 1000m, separating Thua Thien Hue from Da Nang. The distance from the highmountainous area down to the coastal plain is only less than 50km, creating a relatively great

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slope for Huong River basin. The land with slope above 250 making up 55.4% of the area, somost of land in mountainous and hilly area is eroded and degenerated (NCAP, 2008).

The plainThe plain of Huong River has an area of about 500km2 accounting for around 17% catchmentarea divided into two parts: Northern Huong River and Southern Huong River. The SouthernHuong River is a hollow area and gradually sloping from Huong River to Cau Hai Lagoon,with many small rivers and streams. In comparison to Northern Huong River, the SouthernHuong River is more depressed, with many “hollow areas” (NCAP, 2008).

The area of lagoon, inland and coastal sand dunesTam Giang–Cau Hai Lagoon has an area of 22,000ha, the widest place is 8- 9km, thenarrowest 0.5 – 0.7km, it connects to the sea mainly by Thuan An and Tu Hien Estuaries. Allbig rivers in the area such as O Lau, Huong, Nong and Truoi Rivers pour into Tam GiangLagoon before going to the East Sea.

The coastal sand area is mainly a series of sand dunes from Huong Dien (the limit betweenQuang Tri and Thua Thien Hue) to Tu Hien Estuary (Phu Loc District) which is 71km longand about 2.5km wide.

1.1.3 Characteristics of geology and soil

Soil and rock are mainly Paleozoic and Mesozoic sediment, widely distributed in the area.Paleozoic sediment includes A Vuong formation, distributed on a limited area in theSoutheast of area, formation Dai Long distributed widely with two sub-formations.

Thua Thien Hue has 49,107ha agricultural land and 180,412ha forest land. Other districts inplain are often flooded except for Nam Dong. The plain of Huong River is lower than the sealevel and flood level so mostly is inundated in the alert level 3 (the alert level 3 is 3,00m inHue), and up to 2/3 population and 2/3 houses in the catchment are inundated when big floodoccurs (NCAP, 2008).

Table 1: Distribution of land in Huong river basin (NCAP, 2008)

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1.1.4 Characteristics of climate

The diversified and divided topography of Huong river basin are also the cause ofdifferentiating the climate in space that creates many different sub-climate areas. In general,the climate conditions are very severe, every year typhoon, sunshine, heat, drought and floodcause many difficulties for all socio-economic activities.

Wind characteristicsThe prevailing wind direction in Thua Thien Hue changes clearly according to season. Due tomountains surround to the West, the South and many mountain ranges protrude to the seadividing the territory into many parts, the wind direction is significantly dispersed. Maximumwind speed is up to more or less 30m/s in typhoon, whirlwind and 1520m/s in some times ofstrong Northeast monsoon (NCAP, 2008).

Temperature characteristicsThua Thien Hue has relatively rich radiation of a territory lying quite deeply in the solstices ofthe Northern hemisphere. Annual average temperature, including the mountainous area whichhas a decrease in temperature with the height following the gradient of 0.50C/100m, is about17-25.50C, achieves the tropical criteria in general and temperature of high mountain for themountains with height more than 600m (NCAP, 2008).

Rainfall characteristicsThua Thien Hue is one of the provinces with the largest amount of rainfall in the country withannual average rainfall of 2800–3400mm. The rainfall below 2800mm happens in someNortheast plains in the districts Huong Dien, Quang Dien, Phu Vang, and Hue City. Therainfall above 3400mm is in the famous rainfall center Bach Ma. According to observationdata of many recent years, the rainfall of Bach Ma is no less than 5000mm.

Table 2: Monthly rainfall in basin (mm) (Surface water, 2008)

Number of rainy daysIn general, the distribution of rainy days is suitable for rainfall distribution. On average everyyear there are about 200–220 rainy days in mountainous area, 150-170 rainy days in the plain.In rainy season months, each month has 16–24 rainy days, in dry season, each month has 8–16 rainy days.

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In Thua Thien Hue, two areas with different rainy seasons exist:

- In coastal plain the rainy season starts from September and ends in December, lasting 4months and dry season from January to August, lasting 8 months.

- In mountainous area, the rainy season starts from May or June, and ends in December,lasting 7–8 months, dry season from January to April or May, lasting 4–5 months.

Rainfall in Thua Thien Hue has considerably big intensity, especially in rainy season. Therecord of rainfall with the duration of 10 minutes is 19–30mm, 30 minutes 32–54mm and 60minutes 70-96mm, relatively low in the plain and high in mountainous area. The record of dailyrainfall in Thua Thien Hue is 730.7mm, of the highest ones in our country (NCAP, 2008).

1.1.5 Characteristics of hydrology and water resources

Characteristics of runoffRunoff can be under many different forms: Annual discharge Q (m³/s); annual runoff moduleM (l/s–km²); runoff depth Y (mm); annual runoff coefficient @ = Y/x (x is annual rainfall);total runoff W(m³).

With area bigger than the ones of other rivers, Bo River has the annual discharge up to56.0m3/s. Huu Trach River also has annual discharge of 41.1m3/s, bigger than Ta Trach andTruoi Rivers. Between the rivers there are not significant differences in other characteristicsof annual runoff. The runoff is not evenly distributed for various months in a year. In ThuaThien Hue, it is possible to differentiate two seasons: flood season from October to Novemberand low flow season from January to September.

Table 3: Annual runoff of some main rivers in basin (mm) (NCAP, 2008)

The proportion of flood season runoff over annual runoff comes up to 69.1% on the Bo River,66% on Huu Trach River and 64% on Ta Trach River. Flood season only lasts 3 months butflood can happen in many other months, including: 1) Early flood: appears in September withfrequency of 30%, often lasts 1–3 days; 2) Late flood: appears by the end of December toearly January, with small intensity and amplitude. 3) Grain fills flood: appears from the end ofApril to early June, with small intensity in alert level I.

The proportion of low flow season runoff over annual runoff is about 30% inBo River, 34%in Huu Trach River and 36% in Ta Trach River.

Table 4: Monthly discharge in low flow season (NCAP, 2008)7

In Thua Thien Hue, two areas with different rainy seasons exist:

- In coastal plain the rainy season starts from September and ends in December, lasting 4months and dry season from January to August, lasting 8 months.

- In mountainous area, the rainy season starts from May or June, and ends in December,lasting 7–8 months, dry season from January to April or May, lasting 4–5 months.

Rainfall in Thua Thien Hue has considerably big intensity, especially in rainy season. Therecord of rainfall with the duration of 10 minutes is 19–30mm, 30 minutes 32–54mm and 60minutes 70-96mm, relatively low in the plain and high in mountainous area. The record of dailyrainfall in Thua Thien Hue is 730.7mm, of the highest ones in our country (NCAP, 2008).

1.1.5 Characteristics of hydrology and water resources

Characteristics of runoffRunoff can be under many different forms: Annual discharge Q (m³/s); annual runoff moduleM (l/s–km²); runoff depth Y (mm); annual runoff coefficient @ = Y/x (x is annual rainfall);total runoff W(m³).

With area bigger than the ones of other rivers, Bo River has the annual discharge up to56.0m3/s. Huu Trach River also has annual discharge of 41.1m3/s, bigger than Ta Trach andTruoi Rivers. Between the rivers there are not significant differences in other characteristicsof annual runoff. The runoff is not evenly distributed for various months in a year. In ThuaThien Hue, it is possible to differentiate two seasons: flood season from October to Novemberand low flow season from January to September.

Table 3: Annual runoff of some main rivers in basin (mm) (NCAP, 2008)

The proportion of flood season runoff over annual runoff comes up to 69.1% on the Bo River,66% on Huu Trach River and 64% on Ta Trach River. Flood season only lasts 3 months butflood can happen in many other months, including: 1) Early flood: appears in September withfrequency of 30%, often lasts 1–3 days; 2) Late flood: appears by the end of December toearly January, with small intensity and amplitude. 3) Grain fills flood: appears from the end ofApril to early June, with small intensity in alert level I.

The proportion of low flow season runoff over annual runoff is about 30% inBo River, 34%in Huu Trach River and 36% in Ta Trach River.

Table 4: Monthly discharge in low flow season (NCAP, 2008)7

In Thua Thien Hue, two areas with different rainy seasons exist:

- In coastal plain the rainy season starts from September and ends in December, lasting 4months and dry season from January to August, lasting 8 months.

- In mountainous area, the rainy season starts from May or June, and ends in December,lasting 7–8 months, dry season from January to April or May, lasting 4–5 months.

Rainfall in Thua Thien Hue has considerably big intensity, especially in rainy season. Therecord of rainfall with the duration of 10 minutes is 19–30mm, 30 minutes 32–54mm and 60minutes 70-96mm, relatively low in the plain and high in mountainous area. The record of dailyrainfall in Thua Thien Hue is 730.7mm, of the highest ones in our country (NCAP, 2008).

1.1.5 Characteristics of hydrology and water resources

Characteristics of runoffRunoff can be under many different forms: Annual discharge Q (m³/s); annual runoff moduleM (l/s–km²); runoff depth Y (mm); annual runoff coefficient @ = Y/x (x is annual rainfall);total runoff W(m³).

With area bigger than the ones of other rivers, Bo River has the annual discharge up to56.0m3/s. Huu Trach River also has annual discharge of 41.1m3/s, bigger than Ta Trach andTruoi Rivers. Between the rivers there are not significant differences in other characteristicsof annual runoff. The runoff is not evenly distributed for various months in a year. In ThuaThien Hue, it is possible to differentiate two seasons: flood season from October to Novemberand low flow season from January to September.

Table 3: Annual runoff of some main rivers in basin (mm) (NCAP, 2008)

The proportion of flood season runoff over annual runoff comes up to 69.1% on the Bo River,66% on Huu Trach River and 64% on Ta Trach River. Flood season only lasts 3 months butflood can happen in many other months, including: 1) Early flood: appears in September withfrequency of 30%, often lasts 1–3 days; 2) Late flood: appears by the end of December toearly January, with small intensity and amplitude. 3) Grain fills flood: appears from the end ofApril to early June, with small intensity in alert level I.

The proportion of low flow season runoff over annual runoff is about 30% inBo River, 34%in Huu Trach River and 36% in Ta Trach River.

Table 4: Monthly discharge in low flow season (NCAP, 2008)

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Characteristics of water levelWater level of flood: Every year in Thua Thien Hue in average there are at least 7 floods fromalert level II. The average duration maintaining the flood level on the river at alert level II in aflood in the plain is 3, in some floods up to 9days. The variation of flood level every year isrelatively big. Water level of the rivers in low flow season: Every year, on the rivers there aretwo times of low flow: the period from February – April and period from July – August.

Water qualityBOD values at all the monitoring stations exceed the A level of VN standard, specially, atBen Ngu bridge, but it is much lower than the level B. Although some heavy metals such asCd and Pb have been found at two monitoring stations, including Ben Ngu Bridge andfreezing enterprise, their contents are much lower than the Vietnamese standard, level A level.

Table 5: Surface water quality in Huong river basin (Water quality, 2008)

1.1.6 Dams and Reservoirs

In the river there are 198 hydraulic works including reservoirs, weir and pumping station.Total active capacity of reservoirs in basin is 1,307 MCM. The reservoir can store 19.4% totalrunoff (Surface water, 2008). There are 3 big dams in Huong river basin, they are Ta TrachDam, Binh Dien Dam and Huong Dien Dam. Below is a summary of this infrastructuredevelopment:

Table 4: Dams in Huong river basin (IUCN, 2006)

1.1.7 Ecosystems

Huong river basin includes terrestrial and aquatic and lagoon & mangrove ecosystems.Lowland and lower montane evergreen forest is presented for forest ecosystem of the basin.

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Huong river down-stream’s ecosystem is characterized by lagoon & mangrove ecosystemwith coral reefs, sea-glass beds. Conversation area index is estimated 6.68% is medium level,compared to other basins. The index indicates the conservation value and environmentalassets in the basin is medium level.

The Huong River system plays an important role in the development of many riparian andaquatic ecosystems in both the river and the lagoon. In recent years, 465 plant species in thebasin, seven of which are precious species have been identified. The surveys have alsoidentified 29 species of mammals, 126 species of birds, 13 species of reptiles, 8 species ofamphibians and 156 species of insects, of which six mammals, one bird and four reptilespecies were identified as precious species. 81 fish species are found in the river system and170 fish species are found in the lagoon. Viet Nam's Red Book of Endangered Species and theIUCN Red List identified 13 of these species as precious species (IUCN, 2006).

1.2. SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS

1.2.1. Population

Population of Thua Thien Hue in 2006 is 1,137,962 people. The general population density ofthe entire province is 225 persons/km2, relatively high in districts of the plain such as PhuVang (639 persons/km2), Quang Dien (564 persons /km2), the highest is in Hue (4,660persons/km2), relatively low in mountainous districts, the lowest in A Luoi (33 persons/km2)and Nam Dong (35 persons/km2).

Urban population is 357,682 people, accounting for 31.4%. In general, male occupies 49.2%,less than 50.8% for female. It is noted that in Hue City and almost all other districts male isless than female while in two mountainous districts A Luoi and Nam Dong, it is on thecontrary, female is less than male. The difference between male and female in districts is onlyabout 1–2%, particularly in Quang Dien, Phong Dien and Hue City, it is up to 3–4%.

The entire province has 779,510 people at labour age, accounting for 68.5% population,mostly living in rural area, of which 67.8% participating in economic activities. The rate ofpopulation growth in recent years, from 2004 to 2006, is only more or less 1.3% and it isencouraging that this rate has the decreasing tendency (NCAP, 2008).

1.2.2. Economic development

This basin is situated in Thua Thien - Hue province, that is a part of the central region keyeconomic zones. Its GDP now makes up 0.71% of the national GDP. The economic structureis: agriculture 21%, industry 35% and services 44%. Average GDP growth rate is 9.5% in thelast 5 years. Aquaculture: The sector’s major activity is to fish along the side of lagoons.Aquaculture has a rather high share (44%) of the income in coastal regions. Industry: mostlyon food and drink industries and construction material production. Chan May Port andIndustrial Park is key to its development. Tourism plays an important role in this basin as HueCity was recognized as a world cultural heritage by UNCESCO (Water related economicissues, 2008).

1.2.3. Institutional arrangements regarding river basin management

In Thua Thien Hue Province, there are a number of implementing institutions involved in themanagement of water resources at the provincial level.

Steering agency:- Provincial People Committee

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Main implementing agencies:- Huong River Projects Management Board (HRPMB)- Department of Natural Resources and Environment (provincial level)- Division of Natural Resources and Environment (district level)

Co-implementing agencies (provincial level):- Department of Agriculture and Rural Development- Department of Science and Technology- Department of Fishery- Department of Planning and Investment- Department of Finance- Department of Industry and Trade- Department of Construction- Department of Transportation- Department of Training and Education- Department of Culture, Sport and Tourism- Department of Police- District People Committees

Key water users- Hydropower plants of Huong Dien, Binh Dien, Ta Trach- Industrial zones of Chan May-Lang Co, Phu Bai- Water supply companies of Van Nien, Da Vien and Tu Ha- Irrigation companies- Thao Long Dam- Fishermen, farmers, households

Huong River Projects Management Board (HRPMB)The HRPMB was created in 1996 by the province with the main role as a secretariat toprovide technical consultation to the Provincial People Committee (PPC) in relation to theHuong River system. Its specific tasks include i) collect and review data and documentsrelating to the Huong River system; ii) conduct research and measurement of flows, tides,saline intrusion, etc; iii) participate in defining requirements of water supply and floodcontrol; iv) provide consultation in fields of water resources works; and v) research, developand participate in projects and programs relating to the Huong River.

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CHAPTER 2: ANALYSIS OF THE EXISTING SITUATION

2.1. NATURAL DISASTER HAZARDSFloods and tropical storms are common threats to human lives and properties of Thua ThienHue Province. Such frequent severe hazards have led to the decision of Thua Thien Hue PPCon the development of major structural measures, including upstream reservoirs on alltributaries of the Huong River system and a salt-water control dam at the estuary. Theseworks are considered the most effective measures to mitigate and control frequent dangersfrom flooding, saline intrusion and drought.

However, the flows in the Huong River and through the Tam Giang – Cau Hai Lagoon will becompletely regulated due to the existence and operation of dams and reservoirs on allupstream tributaries of the Huong River system. It should be noted that river bank erosion hasalready been occurring over the years with ever increasing extent and scope, with hundreds ofkilometers of river stretches found eroded in the Huong and Bo Rivers.

2.2. SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOOPMENT PRESSURESThe physical impacts of socio-economic development activities and the inappropriatemanagement of the river basin are currently considered critical issues for the sustainabledevelopment of natural resources of the river basin and these issues vary in a large range.

2.2.1 Conflicts among water users

There exists conflicts among stakeholders regarding the functions of some of the river’sinfrastructures that have bad or good impacts upon development of a single stakeholder. Theoperation and functions of various infrastructures have led to conflict and debate amongstakeholders regarding the positive or negative impacts on each stakeholder or interest group.There are, for instance, debates and conflicts around the operation of the salt-water preventiongates which serve agricultural needs in communes upstream but harm the aquaculture farmingactivities in Tam Giang – Cau Hai Lagoon downstream.

2.2.2 Illegal exploitation

Illegal and over-exploitation of water resources in the river and the lagoon have led to seriousdegradation of water resources and the water environment. Although local authorities havestrictly banned destructive fishing practices, they remain common in the rivers and the lagoon.In addition, thousands of fish traps related to fishery activities in the lagoon and rivers haveblocked navigation ways important for local transportation.

2.2.3 Deforestration

Forest loss due to fire and illegal exploitation of timber has been continuously happening inupstream areas. Despite on-going provincial reforestation activities, there is a continuingreduction in forested areas in the province, with a loss of 228 ha in 2004 (IUCN, 2006).

Although the Huong River is usually considered one of the cleanest rivers in Viet Nam, riverwater is polluted in some areas of high population density such as Hue City and its vicinities.Water pollution is primarily from human waste, although the contribution of other productionactivities has increased in recent years. There are now concerns over increasing waterpollution in the rivers, especially during the dry season with low flow rate from upstream.

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Fish farming has recently developed along the Bo River and will be a new source of waterpollution in the river. There are now nearly 400 fish cages located on Bo River within QuangDien District, and this number will increase in coming years due to its high profitability.There are now special concerns of local authorities over the rapid development of this type ofaquaculture without proper planning, management and technical assistance.

2.2.4 Sand and gravel exploitation

Although strictly banned, illegal exploitation of sand and gravel in some critical areas alongthe Huong and Bo Rivers is still occurring and contributing to river bank erosion. With morethan 1,200 boat people relying on these activities for their livelihoods, the subsequentdamages to the river structure are worthy of special attention.

2.3. MANAGEMENT ISSUESWater resources management around the world has recently been moving towards some formsof integrated basin management, which is globally considered to be the most appropriatemechanism to successfully resolve and prevent conflicts and inappropriate interventionsregarding the use of water resources. The Huong River Basin, as indicated above, is certainlynot an exceptional case. This kind of integrated basin management, however, has not yet beenrealized in the province despite the PPC’s early awareness of its necessity.- Lack of clarity over the mandates of responsible implementing agencies- Lack of cooperation and information exchange among implementing agencies- Lack of participation of other basin stakeholders, especially local communities- Weak capacity of implementing agencies and other stakeholders- Lack of a comprehensive and accessible database for the Huong River Basin- Lack of sufficient information about the critical issues within the river basin- Lack of technical assistance for development and management of major infrastructure in

an environmentally benign way- Lack of economic instruments for basin management:- Absence of a strategy and an action plan for Huong River Basin integrated managementon the basis of ecosystems-and-livelihoods sustainability- Lack of experience with restoration of critical areas consistent with local livelihoods

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CHAPTER 3: CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

3.1. CONCLUSIONS Huong River Basin plays a vital role in provincial development. It provides fresh water

to approximately 70% of total province population living within the basin and to a largeproportion of the socio-economic activities of the province as a whole, includingagriculture, fisheries and aquaculture, transportation, tourism, and industry.

Most major urban areas are found within the basin boundary and rely heavily on watersupply from the Huong River system.

Otherwise, Huong River Basin also contributes to the biodiversity conservation with 13Endangered Species of IUCN Red List and Vietnam’s Red Book.

Huong River Basin suffers from both natural disasters (floods, storms, saline intrusion,climate change...) and human activtities (water pollution, water extraction,constructions...).

Institutional arrangement and legislations on sustainable water utilization in the basin isstill weak. Integrated water resources management has not yet been recognized in theprovince.

3.2. RECOMMENDATIONS To develop and implement sector specific development plans that are in line with the

established IWRM targets and effectively contribute to: i) economic sustenance of thesector livelihoods and ii) the ecological restoration and sustainability of the basin.

Establish and adopt a comprehensive IWRM plan for the Huong River Basin that setsout clear targets for ecological base flows, water allocation, water quality and water useand regulation, and provides a comprehensive framework and objectives for thedifferent water use sectors to achieve these in the mid and long term.

Strengthen the capacity of the Huong River Management Board and Provincial LineDepartments in the application of IWRM principles and tools through the establishmentof a common base line of current water use and identification of pertinent issues andoptions for improvement.

Create necessary conditions and resources and to establish an authorized and effectiveintegrated management mechanism for the Huong River Basin

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REFERENCES

IUCN, 2006. Huong river basin integrated management project. IUCN Vietnam, October2006

NCAP (The Netherlands Climate Assistance Program), 2008. Project “Climate ChangeImpacts in Huong River Basin and Adaptation in its Coastal District Phu Vang, ThuaThien Hue province”- Final Report 2008. [Online]. Available at:http://www.nlcap.net/fileadmin/NCAP/Countries/Vietnam/NCAP.VN.CON-01.FinalReport.final.pdf. [Accessed 2 Jan 2012]

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