Reducing the Vulnerability of Societies to Water Related Risks at the Basin Scale (Proceedings of the third International Symposium on Integrated Water Resources Management, Bochum, Germany, September 2006). IAHS Publ. 317, 2007, 278–282.

From concept to practice – a tool for integrated water resources management under climate change

ATEF KASSEM, TAMAS HAMORY & MAURICE SYDOR

Sustainable Water Management Division, Environmental Stewardship Branch, Environment Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

atef.kassem@ec.gc.ca

Abstract This paper presents a practical approach to water management at the basin level, using a comprehensive simulation model that integrates water demand and basin supply for water budget assessment, and describes its application. The model uses socio-economic, physical and climatic data, as well as policy scenarios to forecast future multi-sectoral water demands. The vulnerability of the basin to any long term changes in the climate is determined through integrated analysis of the impact of climate change scenarios on both water demand and water supply. The paper illustrates the importance of accounting for climate variability, and shows how such a model can be applied to determine the potential risks or benefits posed by a changing climate, thus providing policy-makers with the necessary information upon which appropriate adaptation decisions can be made.

Key words climate change; climate variability; irrigation; IWRM; risk; South Saskatchewan River basin; water demand forecasting