Improved planning of large dam operation: Using decision support systems to optimize livelihood benefits, safeguard health and protect the environment

Improved Planning of Large Dam Operation: Using Decision Support Systems to Optimize

Livelihood Benefits, Safeguard Health and Protect the Environment. This project was undertaken

with the aim of providing information to assist policy-makers, water resource managers and other

interested stakeholders in the planning and management of large dams in Africa. The project

highlighted the importance of considering environmental and social (including health) issues in

dam planning and operation and illustrated how contemporary Decision Support Systems can be

used to assist decision making processes. Key project findings relate to: i) the importance of

stakeholder involvement in decision-making and how to enhance it; ii) the effectiveness of EIA

follow-up; iii) the malaria implications of large dam construction; iv) the simulation of

environmental impacts of large dam development and v) estimates of environmental flows.

Guidelines on the use of DSS for key aspects of dam planning and operation have been developed.