7. Syrdarya Case Study: How to Combine Hydropower and Irrigation Dukhovny V.A., Sorokin A.G., Nikulin A.S. (Proceedings, Hydro 2003, Vol. I, Croatia, pp. 27–31). Abstract Difficulties in water resources management in Syrdarya basin are connected with complex hierarchic water-related structure, multitude of functions (long-term, in-year, operational management), multifold water use (irrigated farming, hydropower engineering, etc.), contradictions of requirements to water resources (in quality, amount and regime), lack and uncertainty of available information. There is water-related structure in the basin based on irrigation-power complex directly closed with economy of four states: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Basin landscape predetermines concentration of potential hydropower resources and power plant location in mountains (for Naryn river within Kyrgyzstan). Irrigated areas are concentrated in valleys and lower reaches in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan that's why inter-sector contradictions in transboundary river flow regime are interstate ones. There are some contradictions between national and regional requirements to water diversion linked with different approach to transboundary flow distribution. Only recognizing these benefits and damages by all states of the region is a real step to existing contradictions resolutions. According to design, optimal irrigation-power regime in Syrdarya basin can be achieved through new power plants construction upstream Toktogul water work (Cambarata cascade is first priority) free from irrigation restrictions and working like seasonal energy buffers. At the same time, design and construction of additional regulating reservoirs of irrigation purpose are being carried out (Rezaksai, Kenkulsai, Arnasai in Uzbekistan; Koksarai in Kazakhstan). These reservoirs should re-regulate part of winter releases from Toktogul reservoir with their further use for irrigation in Ferghana valley (middle and lower reaches of SyrDarya). Thus, number of possible options for reservoir and power plant management can sharply increase. As calculations show, the best solution will be joint operation of Kambarata and irrigation buffers. But in case of Toktogul operation in irrigation mode (version 6, 7), deficit in irrigated farming will remain – irrigation buffers (Rezaksai, Kenkulsai, Arnasai, Koksarai) will decrease deficit in irrigation but not eliminate it fully and Kambarata cascade commission will solve power issue for Kyrgyzstan. Only Toktogul joint work with Kambarata in irrigationpower mode is the best version. In this case buffers’ role is negligible. To reach consensus between the states it is necessary to refuse from mutual claims and work out principles and rules for joint actions. Solutions should be based on common interest of states in benefit from flow utilization. Searching way to avoid conflicts, finding compromise and most beneficial solutions dictates necessity of integrated water resources management (at that, water-fuel-power resources are considered as goods) and flow regulation pricing taking into account missed benefit in hydropower releasing water for irrigation. For joint actions coordination is recommended to establish Water-Power Consortium as financial-insurance company providing established order of water-power exchange between the states and having competence to establish internal prices, damage assessment and fines taking, bank transactions and procurement. Consortium establishing was initiated by ICWC organizations. Efficiency and effectiveness of the Consortium would depend mostly on available tools for analysis and forecasting which could help in assessing economic interests of the parties and in justifying mutually beneficial decisions. To this end one can use the set of integrated models developed in SIC ICWC and respective software. Top Keywords Water resources management, Hierarchic, Water use, Irrigation-power complex, Transboundary. Top |