ROSA Online Training: “Water monitoring networks and water-ecological flow” in the Plurinational State of Bolivia (Session 5)

The Economic Affairs Officer of ECLAC, Dr. Silvia Saravia Matus, welcomed and contextualized the ROSA Project. Then he briefly reviewed the content seen in the latest training sessions to give rise to the session and its agenda. The welcome concluded by introducing the guests who spoke: Mr. Federico Quintans, Ministry of the Environment Uruguay; Mr. Manuel Giménez, Faculty of Engineering Uruguay; Mr. Matías Peredo, ECOHYD Chile; Mr. Luis Alberto Río, representing the Plurinational State of Bolivia; and Mr. Hugo Cutile, National Meteorology and Hydrology Service (SENAMHI).

Mr. David Rada, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, took the floor to thank ECLAC for the training that has taken place within the framework of the ROSA Project, from which the Ministry of the Environment has benefited above all. and water. He expressed interest in this session on hydrological monitoring and the use of data for the different actors in the basin, and how these should be translated into reports for better decision making, especially in shared basins. He closed his speech by remembering the closure of online training next Friday and the in-person event that will take place in 2025.

Mr. Federico Quintans began the session by speaking about the importance of monitoring the quality of surface waters, and how it is essential for sustainable management of water resources, allowing the protection of water resources, taking recovery actions and evaluating their impact through physical, chemical and biological variables. The expert emphasized the importance of designing monitoring networks considering accessibility, the hydrological regime and seasonality, optimization of effort, and location in strategic sites, including the use of automatic monitoring technologies for quick decisions. Finally, he referred to monitoring as part of a cyclical process that includes the design, execution, analysis of results and adjustments of the program; and where the information generated is managed through national systems and observatories, ensuring its accessibility and effective use for public policies.

Mr. Manuel Giménez followed to comment on the importance of groundwater monitoring as a fundamental process to understand the dynamics of the flow system, identify use trends, protect aquifers from contamination and estimate the development potential as a water resource. He added that the construction of a conceptual model appropriate to the hydrogeological system is essential to design an effective monitoring program. This allows key processes to be represented and guide the location of monitoring points. He also referred to the use of existing data to prioritize available resources and ensure that monitoring results are useful to users.

Mr. Matías Peredo spoke about ecological flows, starting with their definition and purpose as a representation of the water flows necessary to maintain aquatic ecosystems and guarantee the human well-being that depends on them. It is essential to conserve biodiversity, restore habitats and manage water resources sustainably. The expert mentioned that there are multiple methods to determine environmental flow, from hydrological approaches to physical habitat simulations. The choice of the appropriate method depends on factors such as spatial scale, available resources and the ecological conceptualization necessary to address each case. In closing, he emphasized the importance of integrating continuous monitoring that evaluates compliance with environmental flow, water quality, target species and associated cultural activities. This approach ensures that the process is dynamic and allows adjustments according to ecological and social needs.

On behalf of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Mr. Luis Alberto Ríos participated to comment on the country’s experiences in water monitoring networks to achieve sustainable management of water resources, protect their quality and take recovery actions. He mentioned the importance of having legal frameworks from which initiatives such as the National Basin Plan are derived, which frames the management of Bolivia’s water quality and the Plurinational Water Resources Plan. The expert commented on the advances and challenges faced by the Water Monitoring and Surveillance System (SIMOVH), especially due to the great hydro-geographic differences of the bodies of water throughout the country, and therefore the different uses it has, making difficult to articulate all actors in the basin.

Mr. Hugo Cutile Copa also participated to comment on the functions of the National Meteorology and Hydrology Service (SENAMHI) as the governing entity of meteorological and hydrological activity at the national level, providing specialized services aimed at contributing to the sustainable development of the State. Bolivian. He also mentioned the challenge that the transition from conventional monitoring equipment, which is more precise, to automatic equipment whose sensors tend to go out of calibration, requiring constant review and committed personnel, is representing. He concluded by expressing the willingness to collaborate with agencies from other neighboring countries to compare data in transboundary basins and cooperate in their sustainable management.