Water Resources Conflicts in Integrated River Basin Development The Case of Kavlinge River

The River Basin concept has a wide application and a long history. The increasing water demands and water development calls for integrative river basin development strategies. This paper gives a condensed geographical and hydrological background of conditions and factors of special importance for the Kavlinge river basin development. Some Characteristics In The kavlinge river basin abstraction of water for municipal and industrial uses of more than 10% of total availability. Its central location in a densely populated and water short area makes the basin extremely strategic for industrial and municipal water supply. The per capita available water is 2000 m3/year, which a minimum in Sweden, from the hydrological cycle. Its total area is 1217 km2. The altitude varies from 160 m for the source lakes to sea level. The lake percentage is quite low for Swedish conditions, only 2.2%. The precipitation varies from 550 mm/year (western lowlands) to 750 mm/year (eastern highland). The main natural reservoir is the Lake Vomb (most fish productive lake in Europe), located in middle of basin. Tributaries: (i). River Bjorka (ii). River Klingaalv (iii). River Braa drains eastern slopes of highlands forestry and cattle intensive irrigation. drains southern sandy flatlands this is under International Convention of Wetlands heavy legal and administrative regulations on the land use. drains northern parts intensive agriculture with some smaller municipalities.

Four Development Phases Phase 1: before 1936 (Land Reclamation) Historically the Kavlinge river basin is an agricultural area. During the medieval time the river used for irrigation of the flatlands. During 19th century had strong implications on the ecological balances emanate from land reclamation. The activity directed to the drainage of wetlands in the upper parts of the basin. The resulting losses of natural water reservoirs have caused long-term effects. Wolf claims that losses of natural water storages form drainage activities have caused heavy, damages with soil losses of 750kg/year. The use of water during this development phase was single purpose. Due to growing industrialization the claims for water increased. The intensive land reclamation and its soil erosion led frequent and heavy floods in early 1930s. The harvests on lowlands were destroyed. For flood prevention, in 1936 dredge company formed. It took initiatives for flow control, using Lake Vomb as the regulation reservoir. Luckily, at the same time the surrounding urban area needed of more water and the surplus was diverted. Phase 2: 1939 1969 (Water export for urban water supply) The rapid redistribution of population, 2-4 % urban growth led the Malmo Township doubled its population from 127,000 in 1930 to 265,000 in 1970. The dependence on ground water supply was not possible and may result the salt intrusion due to over exploitation of aquifer. The solution looked for was long-distant surface water transfer. The Lake Vomb, was selected as water source. Construction of intake water-works, pumping stations and transfer lines started in 1939, with a max withdrawal of 500 l/s. But at the end of 50s the total water demand increased more than expected demand and in 1969 the difference was close to 25%. To meet this demand, the withdrawal increased from 500 l/s to 1500 l/s. For this, the downstream low flow was reduced. During 60s the flow control was improved by expanding the reservoir capacity of Lake Vomb.

Phase 3: 1970 1987 (Ecological disturbances) The expansion of reservoir capacity and flow control caused ecological disturbances in the lake. By this time, the river basin development had expanded from a single urban water supply problem to multiple regional water supply problems. Thus damages to fishing, water logging, deterioration of water quality and eutrophication have been registered. Some of these problems were to be reduced by a more adaptive water management. The rapid changes in water supply and use were not monitored and considered by the water management authorities. At this phase, Kavlinge basin reached a development level of high complexity. Separate changes could no more be viewed isolated; instead the water management should be considered in a basin wide perspective. Phase 4: after 1987 (Multiple river basin integration) The further development of Kalvinge river basin is expected to follow the strategies studied by the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis. They are: Integrate the existing water supply systems gain was more reliable deliveries in periods of water shortage. Additional water supply by transfer from distant water sources since 1975 a 200 km tunnel with delivery capacity of 6 m3/s planned from Lake Bolmen and in operation from 1987 with an initial delivery of 0.5-2 m3/s. Concluding Remarks The rising demand for urban water supply due to urban growth has been the strongest development factor. This leads to muti-basin water management problems. More adaptive operational rules reduce many ecological balance problems and contributed to a more efficient water use. Specific water conflicts will be reduced by additional water supply from an adjacent river basin. The water conflicts will expand to an interregional level and calls for a stronger national conflict resolution capacity. A river basin development with high emphasis on urban water supply is an expensive and long-term activity. A high level of flexibility would take care future miscalculations and unforeseen damages.