Water Managmenet and Storage for Climate Change Scenarios - Volta River Basin

The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) released a report entitled "The Water Resource Implications for Changing Climate in the Volta River Basin" which utilised a dynamic regional climate model (CCLM), a hydrological model (SWAT) and a water resource model (WEAP) to assess the impact of planned agricultural and hydro-power developments along the Volta River that serves approximately 24 million people. This report was initiated as part of the project "Re-thinking Water Storage for Climate Change Adaptation in Sub-Saharan Africa" that has an overall aim to develop guidance on methods for better inclusion of climate change in the planning and management of the full range of agricultural water storage options.

As previously stated, the Volta River serves 24 million people, it is most likely that this river will receive further stresses from climate change, increased developments and increased water demand due to population increase.

Considering the possible errors through modelling, variables do indicate a possible future changes that should be considered for water resource planning. The results indicate that mid-21st Century the average annual rainfall (basin wide), mean annual runoff and mean annual groundwater recharge, will decline. The report also sets up different scenarios and the outcomes based on these variables. However, these scenarios conclude that there would be an annual drop by 30% of Hydro-power generation and a reduction of technical performance of reservoirs. One can only imagine the domino affect that these outcomes may have on the production of much needed water for agricultural and livelihood development purposes. Spin-offs would therefore impact socio-economic development and food security.

Therefore, this report recommends that water management and storage planning within the basin should be systematic, increase and improve the communication and cooperation between stakeholders of the riparian states of the Volta River; and to consider innovative measures to water storage.