|
PROJECT AREA |
Forestry in Land Use |
|
PROJECT TITLE |
Watershed Rehabilitation and Management |
|
DURATION |
Five (5) years |
|
LOCATION |
Throughout Dominica |
|
BENEFICIARIES |
(1) People of Dominica, especially those in catchments with poor water supplies at present |
BACKGROUND
Dominica receives an abundant rainfall, averaging about 4445 mm (175 inches) per annum over the whole island, but varying from a low of about 1270 mm (50 inches) in parts of the west (leeward) coast, to over 7600 mm (300 inches) in parts of the interior, according to 30 year means established in 1961. There is a seasonal variation, with December to April generally drier and rainfall peaks in July and October, but excepting unusual years and the driest parts of the west coast, there is no dry month. The island is exceptionally steeply sloping with less than two percent of the area under 10% slope, and about 64 percent in excess of 30% slope. Much of the land is forested and until recently all streams were perennial with a few minor exceptions.
Over the last 35 years, the development of the banana industry and necessary road system has seen the development of a very large number (8-9,000 farmers registered) of mainly very small multi-parcel banana farms. These have been penetrating steadily further into the higher rainfall steep lands of the interior and replacing earlier mixed, low intensity farms and well-developed forest. This has been accompanied by a large increase in the incidence of soil erosion and landslips in the upper areas which have been well-protected by the forest cover in the past. Other consequences of this appear to be an increase in flash floods and sedimentation, and a reduction in basal flow. The information for these conclusions is largely anecdotal, since despite several attempts to start river flow measurements, only in the last two years has the new DOWASCO, in association with the Forestry Division, been able to commence regular observation.
The unanimity of the sources testifying to lower flows seems quite clear (a pattern which is repeated in other OECS territories) but there also seems to be evidence of the complete drying up of streams in some areas. This suggests either a reduction in total rainfall or a change in regional watertable, perhaps caused by road cutting or similar excavation. Whichever is the case, the failure of a water supply in the Carib Reserve has been one result.
The banana industry has also brought prosperity and a great increase in the area devoted to urban, suburban and village lands with impervious surfaces (broad roads and yards, bigger houses, shaven lawns, fewer trees).
Overall, the consequence for runoff in Dominica is a much more irregular pattern and one which will continue to become more variable until there is again a more stable distribution of land use.
DOWASCO, a relatively new company, which took over the water supply functions of the Central Water Authority in 1989, is wholly government-owned, and is exclusively licensed to develop and control water and sewage facilities in Dominica (the sewage function is not yet under the control of DOWASCO). The Water and Sewage Act (1989), under which DOWASCO was licensed, requires DOWASCO, in cooperation with the Ministry responsible for Agriculture, Forestry and Lands, to take such action as may be necessary or expedient for Agriculture is empowered by the Act to compulsorily acquire lands for these purposes and may vest them in DOWASCO.
Theoretically, all existing catchments (gathering grounds) "shall either be retained as forest reserves or protected forests or be declared controlled areas". In order to protect catchments from deforestation or animals, DOWASCO may either request the Ministry responsible for Forestry to take action under the Forestry ordinance or request the Ministry of Health to take action under the Public Health Act (Ministry of Health is responsible for the quality of water supplied). Where no action is taken, DOWASCO may restrain, impound or shoot animals which are a threat to storage capacity. However, DOWASCO has responsibility for a large number of catchments (established much earlier by antecedent bodies), many of which are partly or even wholly occupied by other land users.
There are over forty separate water supply systems in Dominica within DOWASCO's ambit, and a number of other systems in the Carib Reserve which were developed by non-government bodies, but which will eventually become integrated with the DOWASCO system. Of the forty-plus systems, all but a handful are gravity fed, and two of the handful are pumped by hydraulic ram, leaving only two requiring separately powered pumps. A few are fed by springs and the area of provenance of the supply is not clearly understood, but the majority are runoff river supplies fed from intakes constructed in the river bed with simple gross-filtering systems. The size of the catchment tapped is extremely variable, from less than 10 ha to about 700 ha.
Except in periods of prolonged heavy rain, and in unstable areas, runoff from untouched forest in Dominica is mainly through the upper soil layers, which are extremely porous, and produces little sediment. Most water supply intakes were initially constructed when river water was generally very clear. As it is, the intakes are very susceptible to damage or blockage given excessive sediment loads which result from:
(1) road construction;
(2) landslips;
(3) widespread sheet erosion; and
(4) some methods of timber extraction.
The sedimentation problem, provided that it does not cause blockage, is simply dealt with at present. The residence time of water in the system is very short (in the Roseau supply, two hours), so that when water is very muddy, it is generally avoided by consumers. However, this is a strategy which cannot work as sedimentation periods become lengthy, rather than discrete storm events, and high sediment rates add to the difficulty of giving adequate chlorination.
Two other problems are present', resulting from present land use systems. These are:
- poisonous agrochemicals and fertilizers;
- poisonous materials from road spills; and
- excessive quantities of faecal matter from domestic animals and human habitations.
It is doubtful whether any of these present a major problem at present, but there have been witnessed events leading to river fish death and the potential for the production of carcinogens as a result of chlorinating some agricultural chemicals is well known. There is also a risk of discharges of faecal matter exceeding the level at which the regular chlorine use is effective. In both these cases, the rapidity with which water clears the system is a disadvantage (because it will not be detected, and damage will be done) and an advantage (because each "event" will be short lived).
PROJECT JUSTIFICATION
1. Dominica has apparently abundant year round water supplies, although both present rainfall and present river flows are insufficiently known in relation to distribution in time and space.
2. Some river flows are much reduced according to anecdotal information. Since this is not only a change from even flow, but in some places to lower than normal flows and periods of complete failure, there is reason to question whether total rainfall has diminished or changes in hydrogeology have occurred.
3. Forty, mainly very simple, gravity-fed systems (based on river intakes) under very high pressure approaching equipment limits, are used to supply villages and towns. They use very small storage, if any, and have system residence times of only a few hours.
4. Some systems are reaching their limits both in terms of capacity and state of equipment, while others are capable of considerable expansion.
5. A large proportion of the water catchments are compromised by the presence of:
- agricultural enterprises
- roads and trails (old and under construction)
- housing
leading to much increased sedimentation at intakes and risks of contamination of the water by agricultural chemicals and fertilizers, oil from vehicles, and faecal matter.
6. DOWASCO, a recently created private corporation, presently wholly owned by the government, and successor to an earlier government body (Central Water Authority), is empowered to purchase land or take steps to control land use within its surveyed catchments, in order to assure water resources, and the Forestry Division is designated as the operating arm to carry out any necessary work.
7. Only a few catchments are, as intended, forestry reserves or protected areas.
8. Water supply planning is not fully integrated into the Dominica planning process.
DELIVERABLES
1. Observation programmes on sufficient streams and rivers to obtain clear indications of flows throughout the year and at sufficient rainfall stations to give a realistic picture of actual rainfall within catchments. (A number greater than that possible under the present CIDA arrangements.)
2. A programme of observations on water quality, including presence of agricultural chemicals, in a representative sample of streams.
3. A base of information to permit better understanding of total water availability and quality and indicate rates of change.
4. An outline plan for the probable and necessary redevelopments of the water system over the next 20 years, indicating where obsolescent and inadequate or inefficient systems will be amalgamated/replaced by expanding other systems and prioritizing the measures for control of the catchments.
5. A set of water catchments which are mainly free of compromising uses, or with these under control and a plan for eventually eliminating all agents of pollution and reliability in any remaining needy catchments. (Some catchments returning to forest under a purchase agreement, others under carefully planned land use with effective vegetation barriers to minimize sedimentation).
6. A set of water systems with much reduced problems of inadequate capacity, leakage, etc.
7. A system of monitoring inspections and maintenance of the watersheds will have been set up under the joint direction of the Forestry Division and DOWASCO and be in the course of implementation by Forestry Division.
8. Forestry Division staff of the Watershed Management and Conservation Unit will have been trained in, and routinely carry out, the rainfall and stream observations and monitoring the catchments.
9. Forward planning by DOWASCO will be integrated with overall planning by the Economic Development Unit.
INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS
1. DOWASCO will provide overall administrative and technical direction to a review of the catchments and supply systems and to the provision of new observing systems, through a project manager responsible to DOWASCO. The same project manager, or a forest officer will be responsible for the remaining work.
2. DOWASCO will also be responsible for the prioritization of action and will provide in both matters for liaison with the Economic Development Unit (EDU) and on a basis which should be formalized as EDU develops its capacity for overall planning.
3. A Water Resources Centre may need to be set up to provide advice to Government and to DOWASCO, with members from DOWASCO, EDU Forestry Division, Agriculture Division, and the Health Ministry. If that is done it should provide a review body capable of advising on the course of the project.
4. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry Division under its director should set up a unit to take responsibility for dealing with DOWASCO's needs. It seems probable that a suitable arrangement would see the present Protection/Conservation group expanded and perhaps renames Watershed Management and Forest Protection Unit to emphasize its role.
5. The group set up to carry out the project should be comprised of DOWASCO engineering/planning staff and Forestry Division conservation staff with assistance from the agroforestry unit as found necessary. The project manager will need to be full time and either seconded from DOWASCO/Forestry Division or recruited separately.
OVERALL OBJECTIVE
The establishment and maintenance of potable water supplies of good guality and in sufficient quantity for the foreseeable future through rehabilitation, conservation and management of suitable water catchments and the monitoring of chosen and substitute catchments.
IMMEDIATE OBJECTIVES
1. Outline water supply strategy and determination of the need for specific catchments (nine months)
1. Activities
1.1 Review existing data on present water catchments and consider where additional data is required for a full analysis of land use and occupancy.1.2 Use recent photography and site inspection to map, at first approximation, present landuse and determine current land use problems of the existing catchments and potential substitutes.
1.3 Investigate land tenure where unclear and claim land formally for the Crown where it cannot be identified. Estimate costs of purchases of non-government land.
1.4 Develop guidelines for the methods (mainly agroforestry) and crops to be used in rehabilitation/controlling catchments under agriculture, and outline costs. Note also the degree of natural instability of land in the catchment.
1.5 Analyze at first approximation the yields, running costs and potential purchase costs of each catchment. Determine likely costs of rehabilitation following guidelines. Consider also the effects of likely environmental change to provide sensitivity analysis of these data.
1.6 On the base of existing DOWASCO ideas, expand consideration of the possibilities for rationalizing the water supply system, especially where costs per gallon are high and likely to increase, or the present system is obsolescent or nearing inadequacy.
1.7 Propose a set of sites for stream gauging and rainfall recording, restoring some abandoned rain gauges to permit comparisons, and implement.
1.8 In cooperation with the Planning Unit, consider likely demographic, infrastructural and other expected/planned changes which will influence water requirement over the foreseeable future to an expected equilibrium, if that is possible.
1.9 Propose an outline (catchments, area served, type of system) of a suitable (reliable, low cost) water supply system for the future. Discuss with all interested parties and revise if necessary.
1.10 Prioritize the rationalization of catchments and supply systems, so as to define the most cost-effective plan for water catchment/watershed control by rehabilitation over the next five years, and then subsequent management.
2. A Programme of Rehabilitation
2.1 Commence arrangements for purchase of land (including land in other areas for exchange with catchment lands) where that has been chosen as the most effective option. Give definite notice to current proprietors who should have been warned during Phase I and start any necessary legal action.
2.2 Use the guidelines developed earlier to prepare detailed plans for areas of controlled husbandry and agree them with lands users. Where agreement is not possible, determine whether purchase, change or compulsion over husbandry is most feasible.
2.3 Implement the planned changes in agriculture, demarcation of controlled zones, etc., in planned sequence using perhaps two groups of extension workers, and allocate a permanent extension officer to each area.
2.4 Monitor the level of conformity with required changes of practice and the technical effectiveness of the changes. Make any necessary adjustments to the overall plan to cover these.
3. A Plan of management for the water catchments and development of the service to provide management
3.1 The Forestry Division will plan a system for managing the water catchments, as the operating arm of DOWASCO in relation to water. A Watershed Management and Conservation Branch as the principle fields service will provide the regular and basic overall inspection, management, and data collection using the services of agroforestry extension specialists and others, as required, and providing waterflow and rainfall data to the natural resources and information group and DOWASCO.
3.2 The detailed plan for each catchment will be used to predict change over a specified period and provide the basis for monitoring. Divergence from expected results will be an input to modify the management plan.
3.3 Data collected on rainfall, catchment yield, progress of demand and reliability of the system will be used to update the system plan and make necessary changes in the management plan.
INPUTS
|
Equipment/Infrastructure |
Personnel |
|
5 recording rain gauges |
Project Manager - full time 1 year, part-time thereafter? |
|
25 simple rain gauges |
Forestry Officer/Deputy Manager - part-time |
|
20 sets stream gauging equipment |
Forestry Division, Agroforestry Extension officer - part-time for planning and monitoring |
|
2 x 4-WD vehicles |
Forest Assistants/trainees (contracted?) Part-time for data acquisition |
|
Nursery facilities |
Labourers |
|
Tools and equipment |
Typist/clerk, full-time 1 year |
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Office supplies |
|
|
Cost of land purchase |
|
OUTPUTS
1. Data on rainfall, water supply and water quality and a system for continuing to gather data.
2. A system for integrating water resource planning with overall planning by the EDU.
3. A prioritized plan for rehabilitating water catchments and introducing a system of maintenance operated by the Division of Forestry.
4. A set of rehabilitated water catchments, some converted to protected forest/forest reserve, some with restricted agriculture.
5. A system of monitoring for activities contrary to the integrity of the catchment.
PROJECT REVIEWS AND REPORTS
1. A short inception report must be produced after six weeks, producing a more detailed plan of work for the first nine months and indicating any necessary modifications.
2. A short preliminary report should be produced after six months, indicating progress, any administrative difficulties, the area probably available for purchase, and a budget proposal, for discussion.
3. After nine months, a final report on this first phase should be produced, with a clear programme for the data gathering, the rehabilitation work and subsequent management and monitoring.
4. A short annual report detailing progress, expenditure and explaining unit costs should be produced in each year.
All reports should proceed to all participant members of the Water Resource Centre, representing government and interested agencies.
BUDGET
|
(a) Donor's Contribution |
US$ 1,442,000 |
|
(b) Government's Contribution |
US$ 251,000 |
|
(c) Total Contribution |
US$ 1,693,000 |
DONOR CONTRIBUTION (US$'000)
|
ITEM |
YEAR |
||||||
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
|||
|
1. Equipment/Infrastructure |
|||||||
|
|
2 x 4-WD vehicles |
40 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
|
|
|
Cost: |
40 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
|
|
Maintenance: |
12 |
12 |
14 |
14 |
14 |
|
|
Rain Gauges |
12 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
|
|
Stream Gauges |
15 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
|
|
Land Purchase |
50 |
200 |
400 |
40 |
40 |
|
|
|
Miscellaneous |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
|
|
2. Personnel |
|||||||
|
|
Project Manager |
50 |
20 |
20 |
20 |
20 |
|
|
|
Labour |
80 |
80 |
80 |
80 |
80 |
|
|
|
Clerk |
30 |
15 |
15 |
15 |
15 |
|
|
|
Sub-total (US$) |
282 |
320 |
520 |
160 |
160 |
|
|
|
Sub-total (EC$) |
761 |
864 |
1404 |
432 |
432 |
|
|
TOTAL US$ 1442 |
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
TOTAL EC$ 3893 |
|
|
|
|
|
||
GOVERNMENT CONTRIBUTION (EC$'000)
|
ITEM |
YEAR |
|||||
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
||
|
1. Equipment/Infrastructure |
||||||
|
|
Tools and Equipment |
5 |
20 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
|
Rain Gauges |
12 |
12 |
12 |
12 |
12 |
|
2. Personnel |
||||||
|
|
Forestry Officer |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
|
|
Agroforestry Officer |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
|
|
Forestry Assistants (3) |
12 |
12 |
12 |
12 |
12 |
|
|
Sub-total US$ |
49 |
64 |
46 |
46 |
46 |
|
|
Sub-total EC$ |
132 |
173 |
124 |
124 |
124 |
|
TOTAL US$ 251 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL EC$ 677 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
