AN INSTITUTIONAL APPROACH TO RIVER BASIN MANAGEMENT:

CONFLICT RESOLUTION IN THE U.S. AND SOUTH KOREA

Prepared for2003 AWRA International Water Congress Watershed Management

for Water Supply Systems

Young-Doo Wang, William James Smith, Jr., Michael Scozzafava, Sara Wozniak, Joon-Hee Lee,

Kyoo-Yong Lee, John Byrne

Center for Energy and Environmental PolicyCenter for Energy and Environmental Policy University of DelawareUniversity of Delaware

Center for Energy and Environmental PolicyCenter for Energy and Environmental Policy University of DelawareUniversity of Delaware

Conflict is Inherent in River Basin Management

• Diverse “Stakes” are Held

• Multi-Purpose Resources are Shared

• Political Leaders -- Forces both within and beyond the Basin

• Heterogeneous Visions of the Past, Present and Future Collide

Center for Energy and Environmental PolicyCenter for Energy and Environmental Policy University of DelawareUniversity of Delaware

Center for Energy and Environmental PolicyCenter for Energy and Environmental Policy University of DelawareUniversity of Delaware

Institutionalized Method of Mitigating

Conflicts through

Transparent, Democratic and Participatory

“Social Transactions” or “Trade-Offs.”

Conflict Resolution is a Core Element

Center for Energy and Environmental PolicyCenter for Energy and Environmental Policy University of DelawareUniversity of Delaware

Center for Energy and Environmental PolicyCenter for Energy and Environmental Policy University of DelawareUniversity of Delaware

Enhanced Sustainability through Conflict Resolution

A Measure of the Potential toEnhance Current and Future Water Quality & Quantity (W) in a Given River Basin through

Balanced Consideration of Socio-Political Equity (E), Ecological Viability (E) and Economic

Development (E), or “WE3”

Center for Energy and Environmental PolicyCenter for Energy and Environmental Policy University of DelawareUniversity of Delaware

Center for Energy and Environmental PolicyCenter for Energy and Environmental Policy University of DelawareUniversity of Delaware

EconomicDevelopment

Conflict Resolution

Ecological Viability

Sociopolitical Equity

Sustainable Water

An Alternative Approach: Harmonizing WE3

U.S. and South Korean River Basin Conflicts

• The Delaware River Basin

• Susquehanna River Basin

• Nakdong River Basin

• Han River Basin

Center for Energy and Environmental PolicyCenter for Energy and Environmental Policy University of DelawareUniversity of Delaware

Center for Energy and Environmental PolicyCenter for Energy and Environmental Policy University of DelawareUniversity of Delaware

• 27,410 sq. miles: PA, NY, MD • Susquehanna River Basin Compact: December 1970

• Point of contention:

Baltimore withdrawals from

Conowingo Pool

• 1993 City Announces Intentions

The Susquehanna River Basin

Conflicts

• 1994: SRBC Notifies Baltimore

• City Cites MD Reservation In Disagreement

• April 1998: Public Hearing in York, PA

• United States District Court, MD Case: 1998 -2000

• Baltimore Appeals to U.S. Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit

• August 9, 2001: SRBC Commissioners Approve Settlement Agreement

Center for Energy and Environmental PolicyCenter for Energy and Environmental Policy University of DelawareUniversity of Delaware

Center for Energy and Environmental PolicyCenter for Energy and Environmental Policy University of DelawareUniversity of Delaware

Outcomes

• Baltimore increases withdrawals to 250mgd

• SRBC Drought Emergency Powers

• City System Water Conservation Measures

• SRBC Legally Affirms Authority

Center for Energy and Environmental PolicyCenter for Energy and Environmental Policy University of DelawareUniversity of Delaware

Center for Energy and Environmental PolicyCenter for Energy and Environmental Policy University of DelawareUniversity of Delaware

Center for Energy and Environmental PolicyCenter for Energy and Environmental Policy University of DelawareUniversity of Delaware

Center for Energy and Environmental PolicyCenter for Energy and Environmental Policy University of DelawareUniversity of Delaware

Sustainability Implications

• Balanced Supply and Demand-Side Considerations

• Public Participation in Resolution Process

• SRBC Low-Flow Regulatory Powers

• Baltimore Enters in Agreement with Harford County, MD.

The Nakdong River Basin

The Nakdong River Basin

Daegu

Busan

• Point of contention: Development vs. water quality (Wichon industrial complex)

• Upstream: Deregulation, construction of industrial complex

• Downstream: Opposition to industrial complex, stricter regulation

The Nakdong River Basin

Center for Energy and Environmental PolicyCenter for Energy and Environmental Policy University of DelawareUniversity of Delaware

Center for Energy and Environmental PolicyCenter for Energy and Environmental Policy University of DelawareUniversity of Delaware

• MOE held over 100 meetings, hearings, and seminars

• A comprehensive plan was finalized in December 1999

• The legalization of the plan was not easy

• The bill was passed and put in effect in January 2002.

Conflicts

Center for Energy and Environmental PolicyCenter for Energy and Environmental Policy University of DelawareUniversity of Delaware

Center for Energy and Environmental PolicyCenter for Energy and Environmental Policy University of DelawareUniversity of Delaware

Outcomes

• Total Load Management System

• Water Use Charge

• Government Efforts to reach agreement through continuous dialouges

• Riparian buffer zones

Center for Energy and Environmental PolicyCenter for Energy and Environmental Policy University of DelawareUniversity of Delaware

Center for Energy and Environmental PolicyCenter for Energy and Environmental Policy University of DelawareUniversity of Delaware

Sustainability Implication• Harmonious realization of WE3 goals

• Government Efforts to reach agreement through continuous dialouges

Center for Energy and Environmental PolicyCenter for Energy and Environmental Policy University of DelawareUniversity of Delaware

Center for Energy and Environmental PolicyCenter for Energy and Environmental Policy University of DelawareUniversity of Delaware

Sustainability Implication

• Harmonious realization of WE3 goals

Comparison

Center for Energy and Environmental PolicyCenter for Energy and Environmental Policy University of DelawareUniversity of Delaware

Center for Energy and Environmental PolicyCenter for Energy and Environmental Policy University of DelawareUniversity of Delaware

The U.S.

• Regional governance backed by law and resources

• Heavy reliance on the court system

• Powerful NGOs and community groups

South Korea

• The central government’s role

• Less use of the courts as a tool

• Reliance upon compensation schemes to build consensus

Lessons Learned

• Conflict resolution mechanisms should be institutionalized in the planning stage of project

• Equity-driven programs are critical

• The balanced consideration of both supply- and demand- side options is important

• Community-based transactions are vital

Center for Energy and Environmental PolicyCenter for Energy and Environmental Policy University of DelawareUniversity of Delaware

Center for Energy and Environmental PolicyCenter for Energy and Environmental Policy University of DelawareUniversity of Delaware

Conclusion

• Community-based transactions are vital

• Through these transactions the goal of sustainable river basin management can be secured.

Center for Energy and Environmental PolicyCenter for Energy and Environmental Policy University of DelawareUniversity of Delaware

Center for Energy and Environmental PolicyCenter for Energy and Environmental Policy University of DelawareUniversity of Delaware

• Necessary to balance all aspects of WE3

THANK YOU

TO ACQUIRE THE FULL PAPER OR QUESTIONS

youngdoo@udel.edu

Center for Energy and Environmental PolicyCenter for Energy and Environmental Policy University of DelawareUniversity of Delaware

Center for Energy and Environmental PolicyCenter for Energy and Environmental Policy University of DelawareUniversity of Delaware