Actual versus Predicted Transboundary Impact: A Case Study of Phase 1B of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project

Transboundary Water Management in Latin America: Personal Reflections

“…Nor do Latin American countries face the entrenched problems associated with many of the Asian and African transboundary basins such as the Ganges -Brahmputra -Meghna Basin (Biswas & Uitto, 2001;Biswas et al, 2009;Rahman, 2009;Varis et al, 2008), the Mekong Basin (Biswas & Hashimoto, 1996), the Nile Basin (Biswas, 1994), the EuphratesTigris Basin (Biswas & Hashimoto, 1996), or the Southern African countries (Heyns et al, 2008;Kistin & Ashton, 2008;Turton & Ashton, 2008;Willemse, 2007).…”

Assessing the assessments: improving methodologies for impact assessment in transboundary watercourses

“…The Lesotho Highlands Water Project provides some lessons learned in problems with public participation (Willemse, 2007). In most instances, efforts to engage the public in Lesotho were ineffectual because they focused on information dissemination and not consultation.…”

“…The Navigation Channel Improvement project, Yali Falls Dam, and Lesotho Highlands Water Project all illustrate the challenges associated with rushed assessments (Muramachi and Nakayama, 2007;Willemse, 2007;Wyatt and Baird, 2007).…”

“…The consultants initially identified a range of expected transboundary impacts, but were directed to analyze only the domestic impacts (Willemse, 2007). As with Yali Falls Dam, there is unequal bargaining power between upstream and downstream countries.…”

“…The Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) seeks to address projected water shortfalls in South Africa by diverting the headwaters of the Senqu River in Lesotho to the Vaal River in South Africa (Willemse, 2007). Phase 1A of the project, completed in 1998, included construction of the Katse and Muela Dams and corresponding infrastructure.…”