Page 95 - CIWA Water Data Revolution Overview Report
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f) Open Streamflow Services
This session explored the utilization of open services for accessing and utilizing historical
and forecasted information on stream flows. It was introduced to the concept of open
streamflow services, emphasizing the benefits of leveraging shared data resources for
comprehensive analysis and planning in the context of transboundary water systems.
GeoGLOWS, which stands for Geo Global Streamflow Services, is a system that provides
global-scale streamflow predictions. It's a project that combines hydrologic modeling with
satellite and meteorological data to produce near real-time and future streamflow
forecasts. The tool is designed to improve water-related decision-making by offering
reliable information about river discharge, which is crucial for managing water resources,
especially in regions vulnerable to floods or droughts.
g) Water accounting for water resources planning using the WA+ framework
To maximize the effectiveness of investment in Water Resources Management, two
crucial factors come into play: the availability of accurate and appropriate data and a
shared understanding and acceptance of management options among diverse
stakeholders. This requires the establishment of a suitable framework for planning,
monitoring, and evaluating water resources within river basins. Many analytical
frameworks tend to focus on specific hydrological processes but fail to establish
connections between these processes and their broader implications. As such, the water
accounting (WA+) framework becomes a fundamental building block for various water
resources management and sustainability applications. This framework provides essential
data and insights into water availability, usage, and distribution, enabling informed
decision-making and policy formulation. Water accounting integrates hydrological
processes with land use, managed water flows, and the services that result from water
consumption in river basins. Its objective is to strive to achieve equitable and transparent
water governance for all users and a sustainable water balance. Users can provide value
assessments of certain processes, and more accurate data sets, that replace the default
data collected from open-access sources that represent best estimates. The WA+ is
applied to river basins and utilizes open-access remote sensing datasets. WA+ provides
independent estimates of water fluxes and stocks of water resources availability,
consumption, and derived services.
Participants were familiarized with the WA+ framework, gaining insights into its
capabilities and diverse applications. The session featured compelling examples of its
implementation across various regions globally.
h) Water productivity for irrigation using WaPOR
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