Regional Approach to Climate Change Exigencies: The Ecosystem,

Streamflow and Fisheries Management Perspecties

1
Albelee A. Haque,
2
Shiba P. Kar,
3
Xin Yuan and
4
Farhana Sharmin
!
Bangladesh Environment Network (BEN)- Email:albelee_haque@yahoo.om
!
"ennsylvania #tate $niv.% !&' (orest )esoures Bldg.% $niv. "ark% "* +,-.! - Email:shiba.kar@/su.edu
&
$0ass *mherst% 1e/t o2 3ivil- Environmental Engg.% *mherst% $#*4
5
"ratial *tion- B1% 1haka +!.'.
Abstract
The ur!se !" this aer is t! hi#hli#ht the im!rtance !" a re#i!nal and $atershed%based ar!ach
necessar& t! meet climate chan#e e'i#encies in the "!re !" (an#ladesh )(*+. ,e resent a three%r!n#
mana#ement decisi!n tree m!del embracin# ec!s&stem "uncti!n, natural stream"l!$ and "isheries re-i-al. The
indi#ent !ulati!ns !" the (en#al delta are "acin# malnutriti!n, $ater sh!rta#e and related ec!s&stem ser-ices
deri-ati!n threats due t! #l!bal climate chan#e, as redicted b& #eneral circulati!n m!dels )./0+ and raid
industriali1ati!n deendent u!n "!ssil "uel !r h&dr!!$er dam c!nstructi!n. The result !" unlanned #r!$th
and industriali1ati!n $ith!ut c!nsiderin# ec!s&stem imact is essentiall& en-ir!nmental de#radati!n and
deleti!n !" natural res!urces, such as, clean $ater and "resh$ater "isheries. The me#a h&dr!!$er dams !n
internati!nal ri-ers b& c!%riarian nati!ns $ith!ut intr!secti!n int! ec!s&stem c!nsequences can imede !r
imair stream"l!$ and !ther li"e%#i-in# characteristics !" the ener#etic ri-ers !" the (en#al delta. The lar#e
h&dr!!$er dams are, there"!re, untenable "r!m an ec!s&stem and s!ci!ec!n!mic stand!int. The im!rtance
!" natural stream"l!$ cann!t be stressed en!u#h. Human maniulati!n !" ri-erine s&stems b& dams )unless
ec!l!#icall& scaled+ can e'acerbate climate -ariabilit& and iniquit& and hinder e""!rts t! b!lster natural res!urce
r!tecti!n. A re#i!n%seci"ic ar!ach includin# $ater dil!mac& is necessar& t! res!l-e the ec!s&stem issues.
Attention to these factors are particularly important to minimize an urbanization nightmare caused by likely influx
of climate refugees.
"# "$TR%&'CT"%$
Climate change awareness is an indispensa(le part of nat)ral reso)rces management strategies for
many nations in different parts of the world incl)ding the *)lf Coast est)aries along Texas coast in the
'nited States +'S, s)scepti(le to changes in sediment s)pply -./# %)r st)dy foc)ses on 0angladesh +0&,
that (elongs to the *anges 0rahmap)tra Meghna (asin# The 0engal delta and especially 0& is one of the
most )lnera(le geographic areas -!/ d)e to *CM predicted glo(al climate change -!1/2-!3/# "t is nota(le
that the Ti(etan glaciers that feed important rier systems in So)th Asia receded !45 s6 7M +!8. the si9e of
$ew :or; City, oer the past .< years -!/# &eltas need sediment s)(sidies -!=/ and nat)ral streamflow can
tremendo)sly help with adaptation# This paper s)ggests region2specific sol)tions# "t asserts watershed2
(ased ecosystem approach and h)man adaptation to meet the climate change exigencies# Also technology2
(ased effl)ent treatment plants +ETP, can help reie fisheries and red)ce rier poll)tion d)e to the d)al
Fig)re !# St)dy Area > 0angladesh delta
Co)rtesy: 0& Assoc# of &elaware ?alley, 'SA#

impact of fast ind)striali9ation and climate impact# "ndifference to the forces of nat)re and ecosystem
f)nctionality with o)tmoded policy and management style cannot help with efforts to adapt to the climate
change phenomenon in this cent)ry -!1/ and to go forward in reali9ing economic growth# Altho)gh o)r
main foc)s is the 0& delta +Fig# !,, ecological data from other parts of the world with similar geographic
feat)res are also referred to as they are clearly releant, gien the glo(al nat)re of climate change#
""# @:&R%P%AER &AMS, CB"MATE A$& F"S@ER"ES "MPACT
@ydropower dam on riers ca)sing n)trient rich riparian soils that are responsi(le for proliferation
of algae and rooted a6)atic plants +macrophyte, )ltimately (ecomes a h)man ind)ced nat)ral condition
degrading water 6)ality and limiting (eneficial ecosystem )ses +fishing, (athing, (oating,# The worst
impact on ecology8a6)atic (iota of the so)thwestern 'S and so)theastern 0& -=/2-1/ occ)rred from
extensie damming of the 'S riers and "ndiaCs Fara;;a (arrage constr)ction, respectiely# These proDects
changed either flow characteristics or post2dam salinities -!/# 7romer20a;er and 0a;er, who st)died the
effects of temperat)re and c)rrent discharge, noted that algal concentrations increased )p to .<2fold the
leels of the !4=<s since the installations of loc;s8dams in the Mississippi Rier +'S,, so)th of the
Minneapolis2St# Pa)l metropolitan area -=</# "t is nota(le that some researchers fo)nd )p to .<E mortality
of laral fish +e#g#, catfish, entrained d)ring p)mping d)e to hydroelectric power plant operation in $orth
America -3/# @ooer dam changed hydrodynamic characteristics creating an inerse est)ary and artificially
increased salinities toward the mo)th of the Colorado RierF many fish and a6)atic species adapted to
nat)ral flooding decimated -5/# Also shift in regional climate pattern might (e d)e to alteration of large
rierine systems (y dams and diersions, with maDor increases in s)rface water eaporation rates -!G/#
Remoal of dam to restore salmon ha(itats and spawning, among other things, for example along
the Col)m(ia and Sna;e Riers +"# Mah()()l, 'S Enironmental Protection Agency 2 Region !<, pers#
comm#, April =<<4, is (ecoming the new approach in the 'S# "ndia and China may (enefit from the 'S
experience and opt for ecologically s)staina(le ind)striali9ation# %n the other side, 0& may not hae to
face water 6)ality degradation (eca)se of the mega dams ()ilt (y co2riparian nations# Ba;e and reseroir
management for flood storage +e#g#, Ba;e Aaco in central Texas contri()ted HI=3J million in flood
damage preention since !45., has gained attention of a)thorities in ario)s states in the 'S -=!/# Ahile
hydroelectric dams for power and irrigation can worsen water 6)ality and 6)antity pro(lems, flood control
dams only proide a pse)do sense of sec)rity when water leels rise# Sta(ili9ing coastal shoreline with
egetation and reforestation, cyclone warning and eac)ation will constit)te (etter strategic planning to
meet the fisheries management, ecosystem and ha(itat protection challenges +see Fig# =,#
=
Fig)re =# Management &ecision Tree to Address Climate Change Exigencies
"ncreased meta(olism at higher temperat)res leads to greater oxygen demand with accelerated
decomposition at the la;e2(ottom and rapid oxygen depletion +may lead to death of fish and a6)atic
species,# Setting apart the climate aria(les +temperat)re, salinity,, artificially raised temperat)res and low
dissoled oxygen d)e to thermal discharge from hydroelectric plants can also affect fish and a6)atic species
diersity -G/# Fish and rice are considered staples for agrarian 0&# A co)ntry that has s)(stantial pop)lation
liing (elow poerty line +s)ffering from maln)trition, co)ld (enefit from any improements to its
freshwater fisheries# The ;nowledge of temperat)re acclimation and indiid)al adaptation to enironmental
changes d)e to damming +o(str)ct fish passage, of riers and climatic conditions can help with (etter
management models and decision tree +Fig# =, relatie to ecosystem improement and fisheries protection#
"""# EC%S:STEM PR%TECT"%$ A$& FB%A C@ARACTER"ST"CS
Adaptie watershed management and technology can help )s meet the climate change exigencies#
Bow flow and )ntreated or partially treated wastewater discharges promote algal acc)m)lation and toxic
(looms# Temperat)re plays a dominant role in infl)encing algal comm)nity composition and occ)rrence of
algal toxins li;e the cyanotoxins -J/2-4/# @igh co)nts of dinoflagellate plan;ton are toxic in saltwater, ()t
rarely toxic in freshwater# Cylindrospermopsin is a hepatotoxin +;nown to impact drin;ing water s)pplies
in tropical8s)(2tropical areas, prod)ced (y n)mero)s strains of cyano(acteria +(l)e2green algae,, incl)ding
3ylindros/ermo/sis% */hani6omenon and 7yngbya# Artificial circ)lation can alter algal (iomass and
species composition shifting phytoplan;ton dominance to green algae and diatoms -!!/-!5/# Aeration can
also wor; (y creation of s)ita(le 9ooplan;ton ref)ge and enhancement of phytoplan;ton gra9ing potential,
most nota(ly (y the large2(odied 1a/hnia -!</-!5/# 0iomass of toxin forming cyano(acteria incl)ding
0iroystis aeruginosa was minimi9ed in Ba;e $ie)we Meer +The $etherlands, and Ba;e Palmdale
+California, (y artificial circ)lation, with a shift to less harmf)l or edi(le green algae -!</2-!!/#
0& is in )rgent need of (oth technology2 and watershed2(ased ecosystem protection meas)res for
locally controlla(le poll)tion# Ade6)ate wastewater collection8coneyances and treatment facilities are
essential to protect the riers and la;es8ponds# Also ind)strial pretreatment is necessary (efore discharging
into sewers to aoid toxic inp)ts into p)(licly owned treatment wor;s# Treated wastewater ret)rn flows
d)ring winter can compensate for dro)ght flow# For example, enironmental flow +EF, re6)irements for
the Teesta in dro)ght2prone northern 0& +with significant agric)lt)ral potential, for low flow period
Ta(le !# Teesta Rier Bong Term Flow Characteristics +7a)nia Station, and EF Re6)irements +M)llic; et al# =<!<,
Seasons Period
1
%(sered
mean monthly
flow
+m
1
8s,
Flow re6)irements
+E of
!
MAF,
Tennant Method
@F
+m
1
8s,
BF
+m
1
8s,
@F K!45G2!44< !4G< Fl)shing flow +=<<E, !GG= !GG=
Climate Exigency +regional
inolement,
Riparian ?egetation
+preents erosion,
> fisheries protection
Effl)ent Treatment Plants
2 disinfected8treated
wastewater ret)rn flows
2 low flow a)gmentation
Ecosystem Protection
2 dam remoal8ecologically
scaled hydropower dams
2 )nstated ecosystem cost
consideration
1
KK!44!2=<<<
KKK=<<!2=<<5
=!.<
!3.J
%ptim)m range +5<2!<<E,
Excellent +3<E at @F, 1<E at BF,
*ood +.<E at @F, =<E at BF,
Fair8degrading +1<E at @F, !<E at
BF,
Poor +!<E, to seerely degraded
L!<E
31=2JJ5
..1
13.
=55
L J4
31=2JJ5
=55
!GG
J4
L J4
BF K!45G2!44<
KK!44!2=<<<
KKK=<<!2=<<5
!54
!3=
J<
@F > @igh flow season, BF > Bow flow seasonF KPre2(arrage, KKPost2(arrage ", KKKPost2(arrage ""F

!
MAF > mean ann)al flow (ased on pre2*a9aldo(a +"ndia, and &alia2&oani +0&, (arrage constr)ction for irrigationF
=
F&C Method flow re6)irements: @F +3<
th
percentile, !=J< > =!J< m
1
8s and BF +4<
th
percentile, !<J2!3! m
1
8s#
1
&ata so)rce: 0angladesh Aater &eelopment 0oardF m
1
8s > c)(ic meter8sec

+&ecem(er > March, (ased on Tennant -!4/ and flow d)ration c)re +
=
F&C, range (etween J4>!GG m
1
8s
and !<J2!3! m
1
8s, respectiely +Ta(le !, Fig# !, to maintain good to fair ecosystem condition# The pre2 and
post2(arrage +"ndia and 0angladesh has one (arrage each, mean ann)al flow +MAF, calc)lation )sing .<2
year +!45G2=<<5, data shows a declining trend, with seere low flow impact for post2(arrage "" period -!J/#
Th)s, dam remoal and ade6)ate wastewater treatment are needed to improe ecosystem serices#
F)rthermore, agric)lt)ral application of treated sewage sl)dge is common in the western
co)ntries# This will red)ce the need for energy2demanding chemical fertili9ers and pesticides -G/# Recycle
of treated effl)ents for agric)lt)re8ind)strial process water and discharge of ery low n)trient waters to the
riers, la;es and est)aries can protect freshwater and marine fisheries and ecosystem health from h)man
watershed actiity related excess n)trients and toxic pesticides and8or domestic wastewater discharges#
"?# S'MMAR: A$& REC%MME$&AT"%$S
Ahile hydroelectric dams for power8irrigation can worsen low streamflow pro(lems, flood control
dams proide a pse)do sense of sec)rity# S)ffice it to say, a paradigm shift em(racing the ecosystem
approach that calls for )ninterr)pted streamflow and critical regional cooperation +incl)ding diplomatic
missions, is needed to aoid )nnecessary damming or diersions of the shared international riers# The
0engal delta and the entire region co)ld (enefit from nat)ral rier flows and sediment s)(sidies -!1/# ETPs
and treated wastewater ret)rn flows to riers can also help with enironmental flow re6)irements, with
improed ecosystem serices d)ring low flow seasons in drier parts of 0&# "ncreased rier poll)tion and
salinity iss)es lin;ed to dams and *CM predicted climate desta(ili9ation -!/-!./ and rapid )r(ani9ation
-!5/ can (e resoled at the local and regional scales with improed ;nowledge and )nderstanding of
ecosystem f)nction# This paper is a condensed ersion of an ela(orate research (ased on extensie
literat)re reiew# Bow flow a)gmentation may (e necessary to oercome the climate impediment for f)t)re
rier restoration proDects in many areas of the world# The infelicito)s end res)lt of excessie damming is
disappearance of ecosystem serice (enefits +fishing, (oating, to the affl)ent and poor ali;e# The a)thors
recommend greater colla(oration among la;e and rier management experts, $*%s and p)(lic officials
and a congr)ent water2energy2ecosystem policy form)lation )nder the same goernmental a)thority#
&"SCBA"MER
%pinions are the a)thorsC and may not reflect the policy, s)pport or endorsement (y any agency
AC7$%ABE&*ME$TS
Ae appreciate the comments from three anonymo)s reiewers and Prof# Saleh Taneer, %hio
State 'niersity, %@, 'SA, which improed the preliminary draft# Prof# Ailliam Moeller, Ph#&#, P#E#,
'niersity of Massach)setts Bowell > Aater Reso)rces &epartment and Prof# Farida 7han, co2director of
the Center for "nternational St)dies, Aisconsin 'niersity, A", 'SA enco)raged to write and p)(lish#
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