2010-07-08
|
Title
|
Improving water use efficiency through better irrigation district management and water right trading (LIS)
|
|
Australian $
|
$2,320,000
|
|
Chinese $
|
in-kind
|
|
Duration
|
30 months
|
|
Key Chinese Agencies
|
Ministry of Water Resources (MWR)
Yellow River Conservancy Commission (YRCC)
|
|
Australian Contractor
|
Procurement methodology to be determined
Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA)
|
|
Status
|
Running
|
Objectives
The project aims to support MWR and YRCC establishing partnerships between environmental organisations in Australia and China in order to identify and address sustainable water resources management policy and operations issues related to Large Irrigation Schemes (LIS). The long-term goal will be to help strengthen Chinese capacity in river management and water resource allocation. The key focus will be to increase water use efficiency in LIS, and thereby develop increased opportunities for trading the ‘saved’ water between competing users. Another potential benefit is improved flexibility for irrigation operations and a reduction in dependence on groundwater in many areas. The project responds to the stated goals in the 11th 5 Year Development Plan of ‘raising aggregate water use efficiency throughout the Yellow River Basin’.
Key Activities / Components
The project will help build partnerships between Chinese and Australian organisations that have similar responsibilities in water policy, water allocation and trade, irrigation water supply and water management research. Partnering will be promoted between similar organisations from both countries with responsibilities at different scales, ranging from the national level through the Basin level, to the individual irrigation district level. Six Australian agencies have expressed an interest in partnering. The Project will be implemented in three stages
· Months 1-7: Initial Comparative Study between Chinese and Australian practices; confirmation and facilitation of prospective partnership arrangements and; launch at the 4th International Yellow River Forum (4YRF) to be held in October 09
· Months 8-27: Implementation of pilot activities, focussed on remote sensing technology applications and water entitlement and trading, through the partnership arrangements that were established/confirmed in the first stage
· Months 28-30: Dissemination of findings arising from implementation of these activities through relevant national and international forums, particularly the 5YRF.
Contribution to ACEDP Program Outcomes
The activity will have a major impact on influencing Chinese national and regional policies through a range of targeted partnerships with Australian water authorities.
Highlights
APM visited China for one week in early May and discussed project progress with MWR, YRCC, AusAID and PCO. The program for stage 1 implementation has been reviewed and revised on May 7th. Designing of RS and WET pilots for stage 2 is underway.
APM is working on the comparative report of Stage one and designing documents for two pilots for Stage Two.