A basin management plan, outlining the long-term vision and strategy for water management in a basin, is a critical component of IWRM; providing the basis for developing detailed shorter-term action plans.
The Global Water Partnership (2009a) have identified five key components for the development of a basin strategy:
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Identify the issues
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Set priorities
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Identify management options
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Analyse the cost and benefits
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Address risk
Important inputs into a long-term strategy also include the following aspects (GWP 2009a):
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Water management policies and legislation
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Type, scale and intensity of water and land resource issues
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General and water-related development goals
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Level of economic development
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Capacity of water managers and institutions
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Availability of financial resources
Basin management and planning within SADC (including the Orange-Senqu River basin) is guided by the Regional Water Policy, the Regional Water Strategy, and the Regional Strategic Action Plan.
In 2008, the Orange-Senqu River basin plan was initiated. The plan will focus on the following six key areas (Atkins 2009):
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Water resources management master plan
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Development and implementation of water conservation and environmental strategies
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Strengthening of basin management institutions and organisations
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Enhancing and building of capacity for improved management of shared watercourses in all riparian states
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Development of a shared information system that promotes a common understanding for decision-making
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Improvement of the Orange-Senqu River Basin Commission’s (ORASECOM) communication and awareness building processes
Water conservation is especially important in the arid and semi-arid regions of the Orange-Senqu River basin.
Source:©iStockphoto/Richter 2008
( click to enlarge )