144 Cumulative Impact Assessment and Management ...
Transcript of 144 Cumulative Impact Assessment and Management ...
144 Cumulative Impact Assessment and Management: Hydropower Development in the Trishuli River Basin, Nepal
145
CHAPTER 9:
MITIGATION, MONITORING, AND MOVING TOWARD SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PATHWAYSSeveral sections of this report have summarized emerging recommendations and proposed mitigation measures for aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity and the social aspects of the valued environmental components (VECs). (See the “Proposed Mitigation” sections in Chapters 5 and 6 and the “Proposed Mitigation” subsections under “Religious and Cultural Sites” and “Livelihoods” in Chapter 7.) This section summarizes the monitoring regime based on emerging recommendations identified for selected VECs for the Trishuli River Basin (TRB) in order to mitigate cumulative impacts on valued ecosystem components (upstream, midstream, and downstream).
Cumulative Impact Management Framework
Each river reach of the TRB (municipalities within specific districts) can implement a localized impact management and monitoring framework that will address the following issues in order to mitigate impacts from multiple project development and construction projects: population influx, water resources, and health implications.
This framework will be developed as a component of the high-management action as recommended in Table 9.2—in particular, it can be part of the Developer’s Charter on Sustainable Hydropower Development in the basin. Actions and measures described as follows will be addressed by hydropower project (HPP) developers to manage their contribution to cumulative impacts.
• Ensure at least all mainstem HPPs operate in a run-of-river mode to maintain natural hydrology and water quality.
• Manage riparian landscapes surrounding reservoirs and areas upstream of reservoirs to minimize hypoxia in reservoirs.
• Monitor extent of in-migration and target local benefit-sharing/community investment funds to increase infrastructure and services capacity.
• Coordinate with rafting agencies to maintain flows suitable for recreational use, if any, and potentially provide suitable flows on specific days during the peak recreation period.
• Provide sufficient flows to maintain water levels for irrigation intakes during the dry season.
The proposed monitoring mechanism (see Table 9.1) provides a framework for developing the scope and framework for the implementation of the high-management action outlined in Chapter 10 and includes monitoring elements that can adapt pressure-state-response (PSR) models in Cumulative Impact Assessments as described in Neri et al. (2016) as well as the ESG Gap Analysis Tool (IHA 2018).
The Proposed High-Management Action
Ecological and social VECs in the TRB are presently under pressure from business as usual hydropower development, and they increase with the intensity of identified stressors. The recommended mitigation measures for each VEC can collectively contribute toward a high-management action that balances energy needs, environmental protection, stakeholder concerns, livelihoods, and management of water resources.
Here we present such actions as a road map to improving the ecosystem integrity of the TRB through collaboration and willingness across stakeholder groups (including developers and the government authorities) and through a commitment around actions that will cumulatively enhance the environmental and social aspects of the basin. The outcomes on
146 Cumulative Impact Assessment and Management: Hydropower Development in the Trishuli River Basin, Nepal
Table 9.1 Summary of Cumulative Impacts in TRB: Mitigation and Monitoring
Continued on the next page
Iden
tifi
ed V
EC
Key
non
-HP
P
stre
ssor
sC
um
ula
tive
im
pact
from
H
PP
s
Cu
mu
lati
ve im
pact
si
gnifi
can
ceP
ropo
sed
mit
igat
ion
mea
sure
s
Hyd
ropo
wer
de
velo
pers
Gov
ern
men
t au
thor
itie
sLo
cal c
omm
un
itie
s
Terr
estr
ial
biod
iver
sity
: La
ngt
ang
Nat
ion
al P
ark
(LN
P)
• In
fras
truc
ture
de
velo
pmen
t as
soci
ated
wit
h up
grad
ing
of t
he
Prit
hvi H
ighw
ay
and
the
prop
osed
One
B
elt,
One
Roa
d in
itia
tive
roa
d in
fras
truc
ture
co
nnec
ting
in
to t
he C
hina
bo
rder
• D
eclin
ing
popu
lati
ons
of s
peci
es o
f co
nser
vati
on
sign
ifica
nce
thro
ugh
illeg
al
extr
acti
on,
expl
oita
tion
, an
d ex
port
• N
o si
gnifi
cant
im
pact
s en
visa
ged
on
wild
life
disp
ersa
l an
d m
igra
tory
bi
rd c
orri
dors
• A
cces
s ro
ads
and
tran
smis
sion
lin
es w
ill p
rovi
de im
prov
ed
acce
ss a
nd p
oten
tial
ly
incr
ease
ille
gal e
ntry
into
the
LN
P, r
esul
ting
in t
he lo
ss a
nd
degr
adat
ion
of h
abit
at fr
om
logg
ing
and
wild
life
thro
ugh
poac
hing
.
• Lo
wer
cap
acit
y tr
ansm
issi
on
lines
wit
hin
the
park
hav
e a
min
imal
foot
prin
t an
d th
ereb
y do
not
impa
ct h
abit
at
for
thre
aten
ed o
r en
dem
ic
spec
ies.
• Tr
ansm
issi
on li
ne n
etw
ork
is u
nlik
ely
to e
ndan
ger
any
maj
or fl
yway
for
mig
rato
ry
bird
spe
cies
.
• C
ontr
acto
r M
anag
emen
t Pl
ans
to r
aise
aw
aren
ess
of c
ontr
acto
rs
enga
ged,
in
coor
dina
tion
wit
h lo
cal a
cces
s ro
ad
cont
ract
ors
• In
crea
sed
fund
ing
and
reso
urce
s to
LN
P fo
rest
gua
rds
• Sh
ared
acc
ess
road
dev
elop
men
t pl
an b
y ad
join
ing
mun
icip
alit
ies
to
redu
ce a
cces
s an
d di
stur
banc
e in
par
k
Aqu
atic
h
abit
at:
Hab
itat
qu
alit
y
• Sa
nd a
nd g
rave
l m
inin
g an
d pr
oces
sing
• So
il fr
om
land
slid
es a
nd
dum
ping
of
spoi
l fro
m r
oad
cons
truc
tion
de
grad
ing
aqua
tic
habi
tat
• A
lter
atio
n of
aqu
atic
ha
bita
ts a
nd
dete
rior
atio
n of
w
ater
qua
lity
as in
dica
ted
by e
cosy
stem
in
tegr
ity
resu
lts
acro
ss p
roje
ct
deve
lopm
ent
scen
ario
s
• Si
gnifi
canc
e w
as e
valu
ated
on
the
bas
is o
f eco
syst
em
inte
grit
y as
pre
dict
ed b
y th
e D
RIF
T m
odel
at
diff
eren
t EF
low
s si
tes.
Eco
syst
em
inte
grit
y is
exp
ecte
d to
pr
ogre
ssiv
ely
dete
rior
ate
base
d on
the
thr
ee s
cena
rios
m
odel
led
from
exi
stin
g ec
osys
tem
inte
grit
y ca
tego
ries
B
, C, a
nd D
(sl
ight
ly,
mod
erat
ely,
and
larg
ely
mod
ified
) to
cat
egor
ies
D
and
E (l
arge
ly a
nd s
erio
usly
m
odifi
ed)
for
the
full-
deve
lopm
ent
scen
ario
.
• R
elea
se o
f ade
quat
e EF
low
s fo
r aq
uati
c bi
odiv
ersi
ty
• D
evel
opm
ent
and
test
ing
of r
obus
t m
etho
dolo
gy fo
r aq
uati
c ba
selin
es
and
mon
itor
ing
• Tr
aini
ng o
f en
viro
nmen
tal
staff
in s
urve
y an
d m
onit
orin
g m
etho
ds
• R
esea
rchi
ng a
nd
test
ing
nove
l sur
vey/
mon
itor
ing
met
hods
(f
or e
xam
ple,
eD
NA
).
• •F
ish
surv
eys
carr
ied
out
by t
he F
ishe
ries
R
esea
rch
Stat
ions
• H
abit
at R
esto
rati
on
Plan
s to
be
prep
ared
• C
apac
ity
build
ing
for
staff
for
aqua
tic
base
line
surv
eys
and
mon
itor
ing
• R
evie
win
g an
d up
dati
ng o
f re
gula
tion
s fo
r aq
uati
c ha
bita
t pr
otec
tion
as
need
ed
• R
egul
atin
g sa
nd
min
ing
thro
ugh
mun
icip
alit
y le
vel
gove
rnan
ce
• C
omm
unit
y-ba
sed
prot
ecti
on
and
stew
ards
hip
of r
iver
rea
ches
w
ithi
n th
eir
area
of
infl
uenc
e/us
e
• Im
plem
enti
ng
acti
ons
for
cont
rolli
ng e
rosi
on
and
runo
ff in
to
the
rive
r, w
ith
emph
asis
on
thos
e pe
rtai
ning
to
acce
ss r
oads
Chapter 9: Mitigation, Monitoring, and Moving Toward Sustainable Development Pathways 147
Continued on the next page
Iden
tifi
ed V
EC
Key
non
-HP
P
stre
ssor
sC
um
ula
tive
impa
ct
from
HP
Ps
Cu
mu
lati
ve im
pact
si
gnifi
can
ceP
ropo
sed
mit
igat
ion
mea
sure
s
Hyd
ropo
wer
dev
elop
ers
Gov
ern
men
t au
thor
itie
sLo
cal
com
mu
nit
ies
Aqu
atic
h
abit
at:
Hab
itat
co
nti
guit
y
• Sa
nd a
nd
sedi
men
t m
inin
g
• A
cces
s ro
ads
that
may
ren
der
stre
tche
s of
the
ri
ver
upst
ream
ac
cess
ible
w
ith
pote
ntia
l in
crea
se in
un
regu
late
d fi
shin
g
• C
limat
e ch
ange
re
sult
ing
in
long
-ter
m
tem
pora
l ch
ange
s in
flow
in
div
ersi
on
reac
hes
alre
ady
com
prom
ised
by
low
flow
s ca
used
by
dam
s
• Im
pedi
men
ts t
o up
stre
am a
nd
dow
nstr
eam
m
igra
tion
in b
oth
mai
n st
em a
nd
trib
utar
ies
as a
re
sult
of m
ulti
ple
HPP
dam
s le
adin
g to
dec
lines
of S
now
Tr
out
and
Mah
seer
po
pula
tion
s
• •D
egra
dati
on o
f aq
uati
c ha
bita
ts
and
low
ered
w
ater
dep
ths
from
mod
ifica
tion
of
nat
ural
flow
re
gim
es le
adin
g to
impe
dim
ents
to
ups
trea
m
mig
rati
on
• Si
gnifi
canc
e is
ev
alua
ted
base
d on
D
RIF
T m
odel
ing.
Fi
sh in
tegr
ity
is e
xpec
ted
to
prog
ress
ivel
y de
teri
orat
e ba
sed
on t
he fo
ur
scen
ario
s m
odel
led.
Ex
isti
ng in
tegr
ity
rang
es fr
om
ecos
yste
m in
tegr
ity
cate
gory
B (
slig
htly
m
odifi
ed)
to
cate
gory
C o
r D
(m
oder
atel
y or
la
rgel
y m
odifi
ed).
Thes
e ar
e pr
edic
ted
to d
eter
iora
te
to c
ateg
orie
s. E
(s
erio
usly
mod
ified
) an
d F
(Cri
tica
lly
or e
xtre
mel
y m
odifi
ed)
for
the
full-
deve
lopm
ent
scen
ario
.
• Pr
ovis
ion
of fi
sh p
asse
s w
ith
desi
gn v
alid
atio
n by
a fi
sher
ies
expe
rt (
For
mos
t ex
isti
ng p
roje
cts,
th
e ex
pect
atio
n to
ret
rosp
ecti
vely
ad
d a
fish
pas
s or
fish
ladd
er
has
been
con
side
red
likel
y no
t pr
acti
cal.)
• En
hanc
ing
conn
ecti
vity
bet
wee
n m
ain
stem
and
tri
buta
ries
, in
clud
ing
rive
r tr
aini
ng, t
o be
m
aint
aine
d
• M
ahse
er a
nd S
now
Tro
ut
sanc
tuar
ies
• Pr
ovis
ion
of a
ppro
pria
te E
Flow
s ba
sed
on h
olis
tic
asse
ssm
ents
of
affec
ted
rive
r se
gmen
ts
• D
evel
opm
ent
and
test
ing
of
robu
st m
onit
orin
g m
etho
dolo
gy:
trai
ning
of e
nvir
onm
enta
l sta
ff
• M
onit
orin
g of
fish
pas
sage
and
ab
unda
nce
duri
ng m
igra
tory
se
ason
• M
onit
orin
g an
d en
forc
emen
t of
fu
ncti
onin
g fi
sh
ladd
er a
nd E
Flow
s re
leas
es
• C
apac
ity
build
ing
for
mon
itor
ing
fish
pas
sage
s an
d m
igra
tory
fish
es
• En
forc
emen
t of
fi
shin
g an
d m
inin
g re
gula
tion
s
• En
hanc
emen
t of
fi
sh b
reed
ing
area
s in
tri
buta
ries
• A
ddit
iona
l res
earc
h on
fish
hat
cher
ies
to in
tern
atio
nal
stan
dard
s
• C
omm
unit
y-ba
sed
regu
lati
on
of c
aptu
re
fish
erie
s fo
r Sn
ow T
rout
an
d G
olde
n M
ahse
er
• C
omm
unit
y-ba
sed
prot
ecti
on o
f fi
sh b
reed
ing
area
s in
tr
ibut
arie
s
Cu
ltu
ral a
nd
relig
iou
s si
tes:
U
ttar
gaya
an
d D
evig
hat
• Sa
nd-
and
grav
el-m
inin
g ac
tivi
ties
re
sult
ing
in
degr
adat
ion
of
rive
r ba
nks
wit
h ri
ver
subs
iden
ce
alte
ring
wat
er
qual
ity
• R
educ
tion
in fl
ow
in s
peci
fic
rive
r se
gmen
ts (
for
exam
ple,
div
ersi
on
reac
hes)
• Si
gnifi
canc
e is
ev
alua
ted
base
d on
w
ater
qua
lity
and
flow
. Fl
ow im
pact
s ar
e ex
pect
ed t
o be
mor
e pr
ojec
t-sp
ecifi
c ra
ther
tha
n cu
mul
ativ
e an
d be
st m
anag
ed a
s pa
rt o
f ind
ivid
ual
proj
ect
EIA
rev
iew
pr
oces
s.
• U
nder
taki
ng a
n as
sess
men
t of
the
act
ual r
equi
rem
ents
for
wat
er fl
ow in
dew
ater
rea
ches
for
norm
al r
itua
ls a
s w
ell a
s du
ring
sp
ecifi
c ti
mes
thr
ough
the
yea
r, es
peci
ally
dur
ing
the
dry
seas
on
peri
od
• R
egio
nal p
olic
y di
rect
ives
to
tem
pora
rily
sto
p m
inin
g ac
tivi
ties
at
leas
t du
ring
ke
y fe
stiv
als
and
pilg
rim
ages
an
d re
gion
ally
si
gnifi
cant
rit
uals
• R
aisi
ng
awar
enes
s am
ong
loca
l co
mm
unit
ies
and
sand
- an
d gr
avel
-m
inin
g en
titi
es fo
r m
anag
emen
t of
was
te
alon
g w
ith
spec
ific
zone
s be
ing
decl
ared
for
muc
k/sp
oil
disp
osal
148 Cumulative Impact Assessment and Management: Hydropower Development in the Trishuli River Basin, Nepal
Iden
tifi
ed V
EC
Key
non
-HP
P s
tres
sors
Cu
mu
lati
ve im
pact
fr
om H
PP
sC
um
ula
tive
impa
ct s
ign
ifica
nce
Pro
pose
d m
itig
atio
n m
easu
res
Hyd
ropo
wer
de
velo
pers
Gov
ern
men
t au
thor
itie
sLo
cal
com
mu
nit
ies
Cu
ltu
ral a
nd
relig
iou
s si
tes:
U
ttar
gaya
an
d D
evig
hat
(c
onti
nu
ed)
• Q
ualit
y of
wat
er li
nked
to
incr
ease
d fe
cal c
olifo
rm
and
pollu
tion
load
un
trea
ted
sew
age
from
ne
arby
tow
ns w
ill fu
rthe
r co
ntri
bute
tow
ard
loss
of
her
itag
e re
sour
ces
and
inta
ngib
le c
ultu
ral
serv
ices
rel
ativ
e to
the
ba
selin
e co
ndit
ion
• Im
plem
enti
ng
dom
esti
c w
aste
wat
er
trea
tmen
t fo
r to
wns
cur
rent
ly
disc
harg
ing
untr
eate
d se
wag
e in
to
the
rive
r
• Ed
ucat
ion
to
stop
dis
posi
ng
solid
was
te in
ri
verb
ed a
nd
trib
utar
ies
• C
onst
ruct
ion
of
sept
ic s
yste
ms
Live
lihoo
ds
• Sa
nd a
nd s
edim
ent
min
ing
lead
ing
to
degr
adat
ion
of a
quat
ic
habi
tat
and
wit
h im
plic
atio
ns o
n fi
sh
reso
urce
s
• In
the
full
deve
lopm
ent
scen
ario
, fish
in
tegr
ity
likel
y to
be
sign
ifica
ntly
impa
cted
in
the
ups
trea
m
reac
h, in
dica
ting
a
gene
ral d
eclin
e in
the
po
ssib
ility
of fi
shin
g-ba
sed
livel
ihoo
ds
• Li
velih
ood
impa
cts
on c
erta
in v
ulne
rabl
e so
cial
gro
ups
(Rai
, M
agar
, and
Dal
it)
that
may
dep
end
on
fish
ing
mor
e th
an
othe
r co
mm
unit
ies
may
incr
ease
• Si
gnifi
canc
e is
eva
luat
ed b
ased
on
DR
IFT-
mod
elle
d ch
ange
s to
ov
eral
l fish
inte
grit
y. A
sses
smen
t in
dica
tes
that
fish
abu
ndan
ce w
ill
be im
pact
ed, a
ltho
ugh
rela
tive
ly fe
w
fam
ilies
rel
y ex
clus
ivel
y on
fish
ing
as
a liv
elih
ood.
• O
vera
ll si
gnifi
canc
e of
impa
cts
upst
ream
is li
nked
to
econ
omic
di
spla
cem
ent
and
will
be
sign
ifica
nt
in v
iew
of m
ulti
ple
proj
ects
.
• O
vera
ll si
gnifi
canc
e of
impa
cts
mid
stre
am is
min
or, b
ut s
peci
fic
com
mun
itie
s su
ch a
s R
ai, M
agar
, an
d D
alit
may
be
impa
cted
due
to
loss
of l
ivel
ihoo
ds li
nked
to
fish
ing.
• O
vera
ll si
gnifi
canc
e of
impa
cts
dow
nstr
eam
is m
inor
; oth
er t
han
for
loca
l com
mun
itie
s th
at s
uppo
rt
raft
ing
and
tour
ism
act
ivit
ies—
loca
lized
impa
ct li
nked
to
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r Tr
ishu
li H
PP.
• G
rant
ing
rese
rvoi
r ar
ea fi
shin
g ri
ghts
an
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ense
s ba
sed
on d
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ict
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ons
• D
evel
opin
g fo
cuse
d liv
elih
ood
supp
ort
plan
s fo
r sp
ecifi
c co
mm
unit
ies
of c
old-
wat
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aqua
cult
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sche
mes
• A
gree
on
prin
cipl
es
of a
void
ance
m
easu
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co
mpe
nsat
ion,
an
d liv
elih
ood
rest
orat
ion
• G
ood
grie
vanc
e re
dres
s m
echa
nism
• D
evel
opin
g Su
stai
nabl
e Fi
shin
g Pl
ans
for
spec
ific
sect
ions
of t
he
basi
n
• C
oord
inat
ing
wit
h in
divi
dual
hy
drop
ower
de
velo
pers
to
ens
ure
livel
ihoo
ds a
re
rest
ored
• Im
plem
enta
tion
of
Sus
tain
able
Fi
shin
g Pl
ans
• Su
ppor
ting
co
mm
unit
ies
base
d on
co
ld-w
ater
aq
uacu
ltur
e
and
fish
farm
sc
hem
es
• C
omm
unit
y m
onit
orin
g an
d su
perv
isio
n
Wat
er
reso
urc
es:
Surf
ace
wat
er
qual
ity
• Sa
nd a
nd s
edim
ent
min
ing
• Sp
oil d
ispo
sal f
rom
co
nstr
ucti
on a
ctiv
itie
s
• So
lid w
aste
and
un
trea
ted
sew
age
from
maj
or o
r ur
ban
sett
lem
ents
alo
ng t
he
bank
s of
Tri
shul
i Riv
er
• A
ddit
iona
l pro
ject
s in
con
cert
wit
h in
crea
sed
inte
nsit
y of
exi
stin
g st
ress
ors
likel
y to
furt
her
degr
ade
habi
tats
, bu
t m
ay t
end
to b
e sp
atia
lly r
estr
icte
d (o
ther
tha
n in
the
m
idst
ream
rea
ch)
• Si
gnifi
canc
e an
alys
is o
f wat
er q
ualit
y ba
sed
on t
urbi
dity
and
col
iform
le
vels
at
vari
ous
sect
ions
alo
ng t
he
rive
r in
dica
tes
that
the
impa
cts
of
stre
ssor
s su
ch a
s sa
nd a
nd g
rave
l m
inin
g an
d di
spos
al o
f soi
l see
m
mor
e si
gnifi
cant
.
• Im
plem
enti
ng
the
Envi
ronm
ent
Man
agem
ent
Plan
on
muc
k di
spos
al d
urin
g co
nstr
ucti
on
• Im
plem
enta
tion
of
reg
ulat
ions
on
san
d an
d gr
avel
min
ing
• Ex
plor
ing
sew
age
trea
tmen
t op
tion
s
• B
uild
ing
awar
enes
s of
hou
seho
ld
was
te d
ispo
sal
thro
ugh
mun
icip
al
auth
orit
ies
and
com
mun
ity-
base
d or
gani
zati
ons
Chapter 9: Mitigation, Monitoring, and Moving Toward Sustainable Development Pathways 149
ecosystem integrity are thereafter inferred based on extrapolation of the DRIFT model results.
The high-management action comprises a combination of quasi-regulatory, incentive-based, and technical measures to manage fish populations in the basin along with regulation of sediment mining and watershed management, which will contribute to the improvement of habitats and consequently reduction of cumulative impacts across VECs. This scenario suggests measures to be jointly implemented by hydropower developers, municipalities, and local communities, facilitated by the perception of shared benefits until a basin-level sustainable hydropower strategy for Trishuli is adopted by the government of Nepal.
The high-management action packages and complements the actions provided in Table 9.1 and enables the formation of a local institutional and community-based framework to implement the actions.
Assumptions
The high-management action is premised on the following assumptions:
• Hydropower developers across the TRB will sign on to a Cumulative Impacts Management Charter that goes beyond compliance requirements of Environment Management Plan (EMP) implementation of individual HPPs. This charter will form the basis of a formal structure to set up the Trishuli Hydropower Developer’s Forum (THDP) as a developer-driven institution to manage cumulative impacts.
• Municipalities will be empowered under the proposed revisions to the Environment-Friendly Local Governance Framework (2013) to form Local Impact Management Committees (LMCs), which will include participation from hydropower developers and local nongovernmental organizations and community-based organizations.
• A Technical Resource Group (through participation by government ministries and conservation and research agencies) will provide strategic support and guidance for approval by the THDF and implementation by the LMCs.
Summary of Sustainable Development Pathways
Table 9.2 summarizes sustainable development pathways that can be conceptualized and implemented under the high-management action.
Changes in Ecosystem Integrity in the High-Management Action
This section compares the ecosystem integrity across project development scenarios (existing, under construction, and full development) to extrapolate implications for the high-management action.
The present ecological status (PES) of the river was first established on the basis of the recommendations of the EFlows assessment team, which visited the basin in March 2018. Available ESIA reports for HPPs in the basin, including that for the UT-1 project and baseline studies conducted as a part of the CIA, also provided a basis for determination of the PES of the basin.
The DRIFT modelling presents impacts as changes in the abundance of indicators that represent the river ecosystem compared to the present day status of the indicators. The indicators include fish species and other elements in the food chain, such as the macroinvertebrates and algae, and habitat characteristics such as flow, hydraulics, and river morphology. In addition to the impacts of hydropower development in the basin, there are a number of anthropogenic pressures that reduce fish populations on the river ecosystems, such as fishing, itself; extraction of sediments, including sand, gravel, and boulders forming the riverbeds, that damages aquatic habitats; and disposal of polluted water and solid waste in the river, which affects the water quality and consequentially the habitat quality.
As indicated in Figure 9.1, the PES of the TRB was assessed as 67% or slightly/moderately modified. The PES is shown as a horizontal line for reference purposes. Thereafter, changes in PES over time and with increasing hydropower development, represented in the project development scenarios, are predicted across the set-ups indicated.
150 Cumulative Impact Assessment and Management: Hydropower Development in the Trishuli River Basin, Nepal
Theme Description Responsibility
Developer’s Charter on Sustainable Hydropower in the Trishuli River Basin
This is anticipated to be a vision- and commitment-driven document that will include the following:
• Applying a uniform set of standards for including fish passes in the design of projects based on a review of contemporary and innovative designs for fish passes in conjunction with leading experts in this discipline
• Developing guidelines to prepare and implement an environmental flow management framework for each HPP based on available secondary guidance on adaptive management (This should be project- or reach-specific, keeping in mind ecological, cultural, and social sensitivities inherent for the river reach.)
• Researching and developing a robust standard methodology for aquatic baseline surveys and monitoring for Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs) to be used by all HPPs and possibly adopted into government regulations (and training HPP and government staff in methodologies)
• Assessing land-based and livelihood impacts from projects in order to develop and fund livelihood restoration measures (focused on fishing, skills development, and agricultural intensification schemes as identified in the recent free, prior, and informed consent agreement for UT-1) as a form of local community development around HPPs
• Expanding the regulatory EMPs into a comprehensive Environment and Social Management Plan (such as in the case of Upper Trishuli-1), which will incorporate safeguards to manage localized social impacts linked to in-migration, resource requirements, and community health and safety
• Conducting issue- and theme-specific studies for sensitivities within the area of influence of the HPP, such as assessment of flows for cultural practices; inventory of springs, and so forth
• Developing principles for all future land acquisition based on avoidance measures, compensation at replacement cost, informed consultation and participation, and emphasis on livelihood restoration of affected communities
• Supporting suppliers of sand, gravel, and aggregates to implement sustainable mining techniques
• Creating overarching framework on contractor management with specific safeguards to manage unregulated fishing, access into forest areas, muck disposal, and any other waste dumping related to project-induced influx
• Developing and monitoring project-specific grievance redress mechanisms
Representatives from key developers; such as NWEDC, Super Trishuli, and NEA, may come together to agree on provisions of the charter. The Technical Resource Group can help the THDF formulate a charter. The charter will be monitored by a subgroup of each LMC. Based on the recommendations outlined in the CIA, the Developer’s Charter on Sustainable Hydropower can be prepared within a three-month timeline, after which, each HPP can develop an implementation plan for relevant commitments.
Trishuli Hydropower Developers Forum (THDP) with support from Local Impact Management Committees (LMCs) as per Chapter 10
Table 9.2 Proposed High-Management Action
Continued on the next page
Chapter 9: Mitigation, Monitoring, and Moving Toward Sustainable Development Pathways 151
Theme Description Responsibility
Community-based river guards across river reaches
Each LMC will deploy community-based river guards and associated field-level supervision to undertake the following:
• Detect violation of restrictions, rules, and regulations approved by the LMC for protection of the river and tributaries and take corrective actions as permissible
• Maintain contact with the local community and promote awareness and education on the importance of natural resources (including illegal sand mining and unregulated fishing)
• Support implementation of incentive-based measures such as community-based sustainable fishing
• Collect data on status of protection and awareness, record grievances, and report
LMCs as per Chapter 10
Preparation and implementation of Sustainable Fishing Plans
Mechanisms on regulated fishing managed by local communities in coordination with hydropower developers can be prepared by LMCs with support from the Technical Resource Group. The basic principles followed include establishing a conservation program, conducting research to estimate sustainable harvesting quotas, setting up a system of permitting for harvesting, utilizing the revenues generated to manage the conservation and harvesting program, and monitoring to ensure the program objectives—including protection of fish populations and sustainability of the program—are met.
LMCs as per Chapter 10
Development of indigenous fish hatcheries for fish stocking
Where an HPP limits the access of the fish to its breeding areas that are generally located in the tributaries, stocking of fish bred in a hatchery can be considered as a means for mitigating the loss of breeding areas. It is advisable to consider captive breeding and stocking as a measure that is supplemental to other management measures such as protection, habitat management, and fish passes, rather than a substitute for them.
LMCs as per Chapter 10 supported by Fishery Research Center (Fisheries Research Stations Nuwakot and Dhunche).
Farming of commercially valuable fish species
Providing alternative means of incomes or livelihoods through promotion of fish farming can help reduce anthropogenic pressures on the river ecosystems. There are several Brown Trout (Salmo Trutta) and Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) farms, some of them started with international assistance (for example, JICA) with considerable capacity and commitment. Such farms should be developed in areas where indigenous fish stocks are depleted due to overfishing. It is to be emphasized here that farming of indigenous fish species is far more preferable than farming invasive trout species that may compete and suppress wild populations of indigenous species.
LMCs as per Chapter 10 supported by Fisheries Research Centre
Preparation and implementation of Sustainable Sediment Mining Plans
Given that it is entirely plausible that the demand for sediment will continue to increase in the foreseeable future, achieving the high management will necessitate management and control that will limit the impact of mining on the river and its tributaries in the face of increased demand and volumes being abstracted. These mining plans will be elaborated to include the following:
• Ban of mining in sensitive areas and identifying nonsensitive areas to focus mining activities
• Implementation of on-site control of mining activities related to equipment and techniques used, manage spoil disposal, and so forth
• Rehabilitation and restoration of habitats already degraded by mining, especially in the midstream reach
LMCs as per Chapter 10 with potential assistance from the District Coordination Committee
Continued on the next page
152 Cumulative Impact Assessment and Management: Hydropower Development in the Trishuli River Basin, Nepal
Theme Description Responsibility
Preparation and implementation of Sustainable Sediment Mining Plans (continued)
• Identification of alternative sources of aggregate for construction, including (i) reuse of spoil from construction of HPPs and (ii) use of open rock quarries on hillsides (with due recognition of any springs) as source of gravels
• An important component of the sustainable sediment-mining plans will be to appoint community-based mining supervisors and river guards from within the LMCs to enforce restrictions on mining. Depending on the level of pressure from mining, the number of supervisors and guards assigned for this purpose can vary, and where pressures are low, the responsibilities for implementation of the sustainable sediment-mining plan can be assigned to the river guards.
• These mining plans should be developed by municipalities, as sand and sediment mining enterprises are a major source of revenue. There is also an overlap between owners of sand-mining entities and key local leaders (including municipality representatives). Municipalities may seek support from the Technical Resource Group for (i) the identification of mining areas through modelling (to predict the location, quality, and quantity of sediment deposits linked with HPPs); (ii) identification of key ecological sites or reaches within the system, to ascertain no-go or restricted use areas; and (iii) define the necessary engagement with the affected mining and local community.
Watershed management
A watershed management program can help improve water quality in the basin and play a critical role in protection of biodiversity and river-based livelihoods. Actions that can be supported by the THDF and LMCs include (i) programs focusing on areas needing reforestation to meet community requirements for fuel wood and timber, while being watchful of the limits of sustainable harvesting to reduce erosion and risk of landslides; and (ii) land use management. The watershed management program should also have a link to any basin-level plans, benefit-sharing plans. It should be developed and implemented in partnership with the provincial government to allow for the coordinated planning and implementation of watershed and community investment initiatives. Suggestions for management of water use in both agriculture and households and management of water quality at the local level must also be included.
LMCs as per Chapter 10
Delineating no-go areas for hydropower development
Management committees should strongly advocate for the setting aside of stretches of river and tributaries that are of high ecological importance and can help in preservation of key features of aquatic biodiversity in the basin. They can include spawning grounds of fish and stretches and certain tributaries that are still in pristine condition. An example is the undammed Nyam khola, a tributary of the Mailung Khola, which is an important source site for Common Snow Trout of the Mailung Khola downstream of the dewatered area of the Mailung Khola HPP. LMCs, through the THDF, will recommend certain no-go areas for consideration by DoED, NEA, and MoEWRI. The Technical Resource Group will support in capacity building and in reaching out to the provincial and national government ministries and departments to identify and manage these no-go areas.
LMCs as per Chapter 10
Mahseer and Snow Trout sanctuary
Consider designating one or more important fish spawning tributaries (for example, the Tadi Khola) as a Mahseer and Snow Trout sanctuary, which would remain free flowing (that is, no hydropower development) and develop and foster domestic wastewater treatment and solid waste management to improve water quality and riparian and river health.
THDF with support from the LMCs
Chapter 9: Mitigation, Monitoring, and Moving Toward Sustainable Development Pathways 153
Figure 9.1 Comparison of Business-as-Usual and High-Management Development Action
E
D
C
B
A100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
1000
900
800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
MW BAU All Projects HM PES
Ecol
ogic
al in
tegr
ity
Cap
acit
y of
pro
ject
(MW
)
Present ecological status:Baseline status of river
If projects were limited in the basin
Business As Usual: If pressures continueunchecked and hydropower development occurs against existing regulations
ExistingScenario 1
Under-constructionScenario 2a
Under-construction and committed
Scenario 2b
Full developmentScenario 3
If all developers were toimplement high management
actions
Results from the Jhelum-Poonch Basin, Pakistan, were used to prepare indicative predictions for impacts of the high-management actions to control anthropogenic pressures in the TRB on the ecosystem integrity of the river.
Explanations for the management actions are provided in Table 9.3.
The comparison of project development scenarios (Table 9.3) by incorporating high-management actions suggests that a concerted effort across stakeholders, facilitated by a perception of shared benefits, can help restore ecosystem integrity of the TRB to the PES level.
Table 9.4 summarizes changes in ecosystem integrity under the different management scenarios.
In summary, this analysis indicates the following (refer to Table ES.3 and Table ES.4 for details on ecosystem integrity ratings A to F):
• Present Ecological Status (PES) shows the Trishuli River maintaining its existing ecosystem integrity of B/C assuming no new hydropower development or increase in external stressors.
• Business-as-Usual (BAU) Scenario shows ecosystem integrity of the Trishuli River degrading from existing B/C conditions to C/D as under-construction HPPs come on line, decreasing further to D as the committed project (UT-1 HPP) is constructed, and ultimately falling to D/E as future planned projects are developed. Clearly this would not be a sustainable outcome.
154 Cumulative Impact Assessment and Management: Hydropower Development in the Trishuli River Basin, Nepal
Table 9.3 Interpretation and Inference
Set-up/ scenario Description Responsibility
Hydropower impacts only
This set-up represents the predictions of changes in ecological integrity of the river system in the basin using the DRIFT model on the basis of impact of HPPs alone, and ignoring the impact of anthropogenic pressures or the improvement in ecological integrity due to measures introduced to manage the pressures. This is necessary as all results obtained for the other scenarios refer to this.
For this scenario, over a 30-year period, the ecological integrity is predicted to decline from the PES of 67 percent (slightly modified/moderately modified) with existing projects to 64 percent with under-construction projects, to 59 percent with committed projects, and to 47 percent (moderately/largely modified) under full development.
Business as usual This set-up presents a condition in which anthropogenic pressures on the river ecosystem continue unchecked and increase in line with present trends. This scenario reflects the current state of management in the Trishuli River supported by the observations made by the EFlows assessment team in March and April 2018. The salient anthropogenic pressures considered are unsustainable fishing practices leading to depletion of fish stocks and unchecked sand and gravel mining.
Assuming full development of hydropower in the basin as represented by the planned scenario, the ecological integrity is predicted to decline to seriously/critically modified due to the combined impact of hydropower projects and resource extraction.
High-management actions by all developers
This set-up models the predicted change to ecosystem integrity if all hydropower developers implement high-management measures.
If all the projects in the basin were to implement the high-management action, the ecological integrity of the basin is expected improve by about 35 percent as compared to the business-as-usual scenario with committed developments. This will result in improvement of ecological integrity slightly above the PES, maintaining it as slightly modified/moderately modified.
Limiting project development
This set-up assesses the implications if case projects located in ecologically sensitive areas are avoided.
It will be possible to improve the ecological integrity of the basin to category B, or slightly modified, if some of the projects located in ecologically sensitive areas could be avoided.
• All Projects High-Management Action also shows the ecosystem integrity of the Trishuli River degrading to C/D as under-construction HPPs come on line, but then an improvement to a B ecosystem integrity rating as high-management measures are required for all new HPPs and retro-fitted on the existing HPPs. In the full-development scenario, given the sheer magnitude of the impacts associated with 23 additional HPPs (committed and planned), the Trishuli River ecosystem integrity is ultimately predicted to degrade back to a C, even if all projects
apply good international industry practice (GIIP)
per International Finance Corporation Performance
Standards. An ecosystem integrity rating of B could
be maintained, however, if the future number of
HPPs in the basin were limited.
Based on the DRIFT model results, the analysis above
suggests that implementation of a high-management
action can help maintain, or even improve, the ecosystem
integrity of the TRB.
Chapter 9: Mitigation, Monitoring, and Moving Toward Sustainable Development Pathways 155
Table 9.4 Changes in Ecosystem Integrity under Different Management Scenarios
Project development scenarios
Existing (Scenario 1)
Under- construction (Scenario 2a)
Under- construction
and committed (Scenario 2b)
Full development (Scenario 3)
Business-as-usual B/C C/D D E
All projects high-management action
B/C C/D B/C+ C
Limiting projects in the basin, with remaining projects under high-management action, supported by the government of Nepal and other stakeholders
B/C C/D B/C+ B/C+