Max Linsen,Lineu Neiva Rodrigues,Bert Enserink, Rijkswaterstaat Centre for Water Management, Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment, max.linsen@rws.nl
Decision-making processes in water resources management involve technical, institutional and stakeholder aspects. Choices for suitable locations for new small dams are no exemption in this respect. Over the last two decades plans have been made for the construction of dozens of small dams in the Preto River basin (PRB) in the Federal District (DF) of Brazil. These dams should improve water availability for irrigation purposes during seasonal water scarcity. This case is well suited to investigate the interaction between the role of models, institutional analysis and stakeholder analysis in decision-making processes. In the current project a water balance accounting model was being used for the first time, consequently many stakeholders can be involved in public participation processes. The requirements for locations of new small reservoirs were investigated. What has become clear is the fact that localized research (in addition to system research) into soil type, discharges and actual water use should be combined with institutional requirements. Integration of technical, institutional and stakeholder requirements should result in a location choice.
Key Words: small reservoirs, water balance, WEAP model, Brazil