international experience in context with the emergent social and environ-
mental controversies over large dam projects and reporting upon the role
of such projects in development strategies. Looking to the future, the
Commission was also tasked with identifying best practice in addressing
critical policy and decision-making issues.
WCD reported in late 2000, stating that dams deliver significant
development services in some 140 countries, with dam projects responsible
for 19% of global electrical output, 12–15% of food production, and 12%
of domestic and industrial water. It was also stated that dams provide for
large-scale flood control and mitigation in at least 70 countries. The Com-
mission examined alternatives for meeting water, energy and food needs,
and identified a number of palliative organizational measures.
In terms of decision-making practice, the Commission’s guidelines
recommend outcomes based on multi-criteria analysis of technical, social,
environmental, economic and financial parameters. The recommendations
for future decision-making also included:
- Five core values: equity; sustainability; efficiency; participatory
decision-making; accountability.
- A ‘rights and risk’ approach in negotiating development options.
- Seven strategy priorities for water resource development:
Gain public acceptance
Assess options
Address existing dams
Sustain rivers and livelihoods
Recognize entitlements and share benefits
Ensure compliance
Share rivers for peace, development and security
- Clear criteria for assessing compliance, with 26 guidelines for review-
ing and approving projects at five key stages in the decision-making
process.
The WCD report has been criticized for not having given sufficient recog-
nition to the positive dimension of major dam projects. The report has,
however, made a significant contribution by stimulating considerable
debate. Issues associated with future decision-making for development
and sustainability are further examined and discussed in Pritchard (2000),
Morrison and Sims (2001), Workman (2001), Bridle (2006), Collier (2006)
and UNEP (2006).
Environmental impact and associated socio-political considerations
can extend across a diverse spectrum of issues. The latter may range from
population displacement, with consequent economic impacts, to the
preservation of cultural or heritage sites; from the consequences of sedi-
mentation and/or of changing flood regimes to altered patterns of disease.
10 ELEMENTS OF DAM ENGINEERING
