IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/p/ags/iwmirp/212430.html
   My bibliography  Save this paper

Water storage in an era of climate change: addressing the challenge of increasing rainfall variability. Blue paper

Author

Listed:
  • McCartney, Matthew
  • Smakhtin, Vladimir

Abstract

Rainfall variability is a key constraint to agricultural production and economic growth in many developing countries. This is likely to be exacerbated in many places as rainfall variability is amplified (even where the total amount of rain increases) as a result of climate change. Changes in rainfall will also increase variability in groundwater recharge and river flow, thus affecting all water sources. Water storage, in its various forms, provides a mechanism for dealing with variability which, if planned and managed correctly, increases water security, agricultural productivity and adaptive capacity. As such, water storage can make an important contribution to safeguarding livelihoods and reducing rural poverty. However, ill-conceived water storage is a waste of financial resources and, rather than mitigate, may aggravate unpleasant climate change impacts. Systems that combine complementary storage options are likely to be more adaptable and acceptable than those based on a single storage type. More systematic planning and management is required to avoid the mistakes of the past and to ensure more effective and suitable storage systems for the future

Suggested Citation

  • McCartney, Matthew & Smakhtin, Vladimir, 2010. "Water storage in an era of climate change: addressing the challenge of increasing rainfall variability. Blue paper," IWMI Reports 212430, International Water Management Institute.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:iwmirp:212430
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.212430
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/212430/files/Blue_Paper_2010-final.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.22004/ag.econ.212430?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Peter W. Gething & David L. Smith & Anand P. Patil & Andrew J. Tatem & Robert W. Snow & Simon I. Hay, 2010. "Climate change and the global malaria recession," Nature, Nature, vol. 465(7296), pages 342-345, May.
    2. Awulachew, Seleshi Bekele & Erkossa, Teklu & Smakhtin, Vladimir & Fernando, Ashra, 2009. "Improved water and land management in the Ethiopian highlands: its impact on downstream stakeholders dependent on the Blue Nile. Intermediate Results Dissemination Workshop held at the International L," Conference Proceedings h042503, International Water Management Institute.
    3. Hanjra, Munir A. & Ferede, Tadele & Gutta, Debel Gemechu, 2009. "Pathways to breaking the poverty trap in Ethiopia: Investments in agricultural water, education, and markets," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 96(11), pages 1596-1604, November.
    4. Awulachew, Seleshi Bekele & Erkossa, Teklu & Smakhtin, Vladimir U. & Fernando, Ashra, 2009. "Improved water and land management in the Ethiopian highlands: its impact on downstream stakeholders dependent on the Blue Nile; Intermediate Results Dissemination Workshop February 5-6, 2009, Addis A," IWMI Conference Proceedings 118388, International Water Management Institute.
    5. McCartney, Matthew P. & Arranz, Roberto, 2007. "Evaluation of historic, current and future water demand in the Olifants River Catchment, South Africa," IWMI Research Reports 57026, International Water Management Institute.
    6. McCartney, Matthew P. & Arranz, Roberto, 2007. "Evaluation of historic, current and future water demand in the Olifants River Catchment, South Africa," IWMI Research Reports H040648, International Water Management Institute.
    7. Johnston, Robyn M. & McCartney, Matthew, 2010. "Inventory of water storage types in the Blue Nile and Volta River Basins," IWMI Working Papers H043220, International Water Management Institute.
    8. McCartney, Matthew & Ibrahim, Y. A. & Sileshi, Y. & Awulachew, Seleshi Bekele, 2009. "Application of the Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) Model to simulate current and future water demand in the Blue Nile," IWMI Conference Proceedings 212436, International Water Management Institute.
    9. Edward B. Barbier, 2004. "Water and Economic Growth," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 80(248), pages 1-16, March.
    10. Awulachew, Seleshi Bekele & Erkossa, Teklu & Smakhtin, Vladimir & Fernando, Ashra, 2009. "Improved water and land management in the Ethiopian highlands: its impact on downstream stakeholders dependent on the Blue Nile. Intermediate Results Dissemination Workshop held at the International L," Conference Proceedings h042497, International Water Management Institute.
    11. World Bank, 2004. "Water Resources Sector Strategy : Strategic Directions for World Bank Engagement," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 15013.
    12. McCartney, Matthew & Ibrahim, Y. A. & Sileshi, Y. & Awulachew, Seleshi Bekele, 2009. "Application of the Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) Model to simulate current and future water demand in the Blue Nile," Conference Papers h042509, International Water Management Institute.
    13. Keller, A. & Sakthivadivel, R. & Seckler, D., 2000. "Water scarcity and the role of storage in development," IWMI Research Reports H026190, International Water Management Institute.
    14. McCartney, Matthew P. & Arranz, Roberto, 2007. "Evaluation of historic, current and future water demand in the Olifants River Catchment, South Africa," IWMI Research Reports 61095, International Water Management Institute.
    15. Keller, Andrew & Sakthivadivel, Ramasamy & Seckler, David, 2000. "Water scarcity and the role of storage in development," IWMI Research Reports 44575, International Water Management Institute.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. McCartney, Matthew P. & Alemayehu, Tadesse & Shiferaw, Abeyu & Awulachew, Seleshi Bekele, 2010. "Evaluation of current and future water resources development in the Lake Tana Basin, Ethiopia," IWMI Research Reports 94776, International Water Management Institute.
    2. Awulachew, Seleshi Bekele & Smakhtin, Vladimir & Molden, David & Peden, D., 2012. "The Nile River Basin: water, agriculture, governance and livelihoods," IWMI Books, International Water Management Institute, number 321897.
    3. Awulachew, Seleshi Bekele & Smakhtin, Vladimir & Molden, David & Peden, D., 2012. "The Nile River Basin: water, agriculture, governance and livelihoods," IWMI Books, International Water Management Institute, number 210740.
    4. Britta Höllermann & Simone Giertz & Bernd Diekkrüger, 2010. "Benin 2025—Balancing Future Water Availability and Demand Using the WEAP ‘Water Evaluation and Planning’ System," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 24(13), pages 3591-3613, October.
    5. Pramod Pandey & Pieter Zaag & Michelle Soupir & Vijay Singh, 2013. "A New Model for Simulating Supplemental Irrigation and the Hydro-Economic Potential of a Rainwater Harvesting System in Humid Subtropical Climates," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 27(8), pages 3145-3164, June.
    6. Awulachew, Seleshi Bekele & Demissie, Solomon & Hagos, Fitsum & Erkossa, Teklu & Peden D., 2012. "Water management intervention analysis in the Nile Basin," Book Chapters,, International Water Management Institute.
    7. Pramod Pandey & Michelle Soupir & Vijay Singh & Sudhindra Panda & Vinay Pandey, 2011. "Modeling Rainwater Storage in Distributed Reservoir Systems in Humid Subtropical and Tropical Savannah Regions," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 25(13), pages 3091-3111, October.
    8. Elodie Blanc & Eric Strobl, 2014. "Is Small Better? A Comparison of the Effect of Large and Small Dams on Cropland Productivity in South Africa," The World Bank Economic Review, World Bank, vol. 28(3), pages 545-576.
    9. Barker, R. & Scott, C. A. & de Fraiture, C. & Amarasinghe, U., 2000. "La escasez mundial de agua y el reto que afronta Mexico. In Spanish," IWMI Books, Reports H026618, International Water Management Institute.
    10. Khan, Shahbaz & Mushtaq, Shahbaz & Hanjra, Munir A. & Schaeffer, Jürgen, 2008. "Estimating potential costs and gains from an aquifer storage and recovery program in Australia," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 95(4), pages 477-488, April.
    11. George, Biju & Malano, Hector & Davidson, Brian & Hellegers, Petra & Bharati, Luna & Massuel, Sylvain, 2011. "An integrated hydro-economic modelling framework to evaluate water allocation strategies II: Scenario assessment," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 98(5), pages 747-758, March.
    12. Ashraf, M. & Kahlown, M.A. & Ashfaq, A., 2007. "Impact of small dams on agriculture and groundwater development: A case study from Pakistan," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 92(1-2), pages 90-98, August.
    13. Shah, Tushaar, 2007. "The groundwater economy of South Asia: an assessment of size, significance and socio-ecological impacts," IWMI Books, Reports H039669, International Water Management Institute.
    14. de Fraiture, Charlotte & Wichelns, D. & Rockstrom, J. & Kemp-Benedict, E. & Eriyagama, Nishadi & Gordon, L. J. & Hanjra, M. A. & Hoogeveen, J. & Huber-Lee, A. & Karlberg, L., 2007. "Looking ahead to 2050: scenarios of alternative investment approaches," Book Chapters,, International Water Management Institute.
    15. Mushtaq, Shahbaz & Dawe, David & Hafeez, Mohsin, 2007. "Economic evaluation of small multi-purpose ponds in the Zhanghe irrigation system, China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 91(1-3), pages 61-70, July.
    16. Khan, Muhammad Aamir & Mansoor, Bilal & Hanif, Aftab, 2009. "Comparative Economics Of Users and Nonusers Of Dharabi Dam Pakistan," MPRA Paper 45593, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 07 Mar 2012.
    17. Glendenning, C.J. & van Ogtrop, F.F. & Mishra, A.K. & Vervoort, R.W., 2012. "Balancing watershed and local scale impacts of rain water harvesting in India—A review," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 1-13.
    18. Stefanos Xenarios & Heracles Polatidis & Matthew McCartney & Attila Nemes, 2015. "Developing a User-Based Decision-Aid Framework for Water Storage Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Case of Blue Nile Basin in Ethiopia," Water Economics and Policy (WEP), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 1(04), pages 1-30, December.
    19. Smith, A. & Maheshwari, B. L., 2002. "Options for alternative irrigation water supplies in the Murray-Darling Basin, Australia: a case study of the Shepparton Irrigation Region," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 56(1), pages 41-55, July.
    20. Glendenning, C.J. & Vervoort, R.W., 2010. "Hydrological impacts of rainwater harvesting (RWH) in a case study catchment: The Arvari River, Rajasthan, India. Part 1: Field-scale impacts," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 98(2), pages 331-342, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:ags:iwmirp:212430. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: AgEcon Search (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/iwmiclk.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.