Project objective. The project aimed to support and promote Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in the lower reaches of the Amu Darya — covering Khorezm Region and the Republic of Karakalpakstan in Uzbekistan and Dashoguz Region in Turkmenistan — and in the lower reaches of the Syr Darya in Kyzylorda Region, Kazakhstan. It also sought to develop a detailed plan for strengthening water cooperation at the national and international levels.
Project objective. The project aimed to support and promote Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in the lower reaches of the Amu Darya — covering Khorezm Region and the Republic of Karakalpakstan in Uzbekistan and Dashoguz Region in Turkmenistan — and in the lower reaches of the Syr Darya in Kyzylorda Region, Kazakhstan. It also sought to develop a detailed plan for strengthening water cooperation at the national and international levels.
These areas were prioritized because the Aral Sea crisis and challenges in water resources management had resulted in particularly severe environmental and socio-economic problems in the lower reaches of the two rivers.
Key results
- existing conditions and trends were reviewed and analyzed, and key issues requiring action were identified;
- political, legal and institutional support for IWRM elements was assessed;
- national and international water resources management projects in the lower reaches of the Amu Darya and Syr Darya were reviewed;
- pilot sites for the planned introduction of IWRM in the lower reaches were identified;
- follow-up actions at the regional and national levels were planned.
Practical implementation
Pilot sites for applying IWRM principles in the lower reaches were selected in consultation with decision-makers, representatives of water user associations and the public, taking into account the specific characteristics of the downstream areas. The pilot sites covered three levels of water management: irrigation and drainage system — irrigation system — water user associations and farms.
The main criteria for selecting the pilot sites included:
- the readiness and commitment of all water-sector stakeholders to reform the water resources management system;
- the representativeness of the pilot sites across all levels of the water management hierarchy.
Given the dependence of downstream areas on the quality of transboundary water resources management, an additional component — “Transboundary Water Resources Management of the Amu Darya and Syr Darya” — was introduced.
A detailed action plan for implementing IWRM principles was developed for pilot sites at all levels, as well as for the transboundary component. Key objectives and principles, expected results and performance indicators were defined for each level and stage of implementation.
The estimated funding required for three years of implementation was USD 35.255 million, including USD 907,000 to be contributed by Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
The feasibility study was endorsed by members of the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination of Central Asia (ICWC).
(U.S. Department of State Regional Environmental Office FY 2003 OESI Water Project)
Implementing parties: U.S. Department of State Regional Environmental Office and national experts from Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
The project aims to improve water supply for 315,000 hectares of land.
The project aims to improve water resource management across a total of 100,000 hectares of irrigated land in Ellikqala, Beruniy, and Turtkul districts.
The main objective of the project is to improve water supply to 103,400 hectares of irrigated land.
