Sustainable Flood and Drought Management Techniques for Water Security
The aim of IWRM is a more structural approach to disaster mitigation and living with water. IWRM provides the framework to reduce the frequency and impact of water related disasters. Proper drought and flood management planning and implementation reduce the risk and the damage of disasters in the future.
The Culture of Managing Droughts and Floods
Managing droughts and floods is more than technical interventions; it requires, above all, a culture of (a) prevention by managing flood and drought risks (b) living with floods and droughts. This requires a different mindset and behavior of the decision-makers, the engineers, the farmers, and the population.
Integrated Flood Management
Integrated flood management aims to maximize the benefits from normal floodwaters that provide freshwater, nutrients, and sediments, while minimizing loss of life and the impact on livelihoods due to the occurrence of extreme events. Integrated flood management is about adopting a best mix of measures throughout the catchment to reduce flood risk and mitigate the consequences once a flood occurs.
Measures for Flood and Drought Management
Plans include measures to increase water retention and infiltration, upstream forestation, agroforestry, river border protection or biotechnical measures, levees, storage ponds, wetlands, bridges and drainage infrastructure, and enlargement and trimming of the river course. Not less important are policies and policy enforcement and behavior change for compliance with buffer zone regulation and keeping waterways clean.
Overlapping Strategies for Flood and Drought Management
Flood and drought management is as much about farmers applying contour ploughing as about building large-scale dams. Drought and flood management partly overlap. Dams can function as flood control during the rainy season and are a drought measure during the dry season. IWRM aims to adapt the design to address multiple purposes. a dam for flood control that stores water for irrigation and drinking water, produces fish, and is made beautiful to create value for leisure.
Monitoring and Early Warning Systems
Monitoring and forecasting of meteorological and hydrological data feeds into early warning systems to predict and anticipate drought and floods. This is important to reduce the level of damage and respond quickly once calamities strike. Being proactive to drought management requires continuous monitoring of indicators to help predict the onset and extent of drought, as well as to help determine when to relax restrictions and return to normal operations.
Key aspects of flood and drought management:
* Early Warning Systems: Utilizing meteorological and hydrological data to predict and provide timely warnings about potential floods and droughts, allowing for proactive responses.
* Infrastructure Development: Building dams, reservoirs, and levees to store water during floods and release it during droughts, as well as implementing drainage systems to manage excess water.
* Sustainable Water Management: Promoting water conservation, efficient irrigation techniques, and responsible water usage to mitigate the effects of droughts.
Examples of flood and drought management practices:
* Contour ploughing: Farmers can use this technique to reduce soil erosion and retain water on sloping land.
* Sponge cities: Urban areas designed to absorb and store rainwater, reducing runoff and flood risks.
* Floating homes: Innovative housing solutions that adapt to rising water levels and reduce flood damage.
* Flood relief channels: Man-made channels that divert excess water away from populated areas.
* Drought-resistant crops: Selecting and cultivating crops that can withstand dry conditions.
* Water harvesting: Collecting and storing rainwater for later use.
* Transboundary cooperation: Collaborating with neighboring countries or regions to manage shared water resources and mitigate flood and drought impacts.
The Role of Climate Change in Droughts & Floods
Climate change intensifies the interplay between the effects of droughts and floods. Rising global temperatures lead to more frequent and severe weather events, including both extended dry spells and intense rainfall.
As climate change alters precipitation patterns, some regions may experience prolonged droughts punctuated by heavy rainstorms, creating a perfect environment for flooding.
Altered Rainfall Patterns: Climate change can shift the distribution and intensity of rainfall. Areas that suffer from prolonged droughts may also experience sporadic but intense rain events, overwhelming the parched landscape.
Increased Evaporation Rates: Higher temperatures increase evaporation rates, exacerbating drought conditions. When rain eventually falls, it often comes in the form of heavy, intense storms, increasing the risk of flooding.
Case Studies
Numerous instances around the world illustrate the connection between the effects of droughts droughts and subsequent floods:
California, USA
The state has experienced severe effects of droughts followed by intense rainfall, leading to catastrophic flooding. The droughts cause soil compaction and vegetation loss, setting the stage for floods when heavy rains return.
Australia
The country often swings between extremes of drought and flood. For example, the millennium drought was followed by record-breaking floods, causing widespread damage.
Sahel Region, Africa
This region experiences severe droughts that lead to soil degradation and vegetation loss. When seasonal rains finally arrive, the lack of absorption and increased runoff lead to devastating floods.
Conclusion
Effective flood and drought management requires a shift from reactive, single-hazard approaches to proactive, multi-hazard strategies that integrate land and water management, consider the interconnectedness of flood and drought events, and prioritize community resilience. This includes strengthening early warning systems, implementing non-structural measures like floodplain zoning, and fostering collaboration between stakeholders.
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References
1- Flood and drought management
https://waterportal.rwb.rw/toolbox/505#
2- The Effects of Droughts
https://floodriskamerica.com/blog/why-floods-follow-periods-of-drought/
