446
M. C. Moseki
increases make it difficult for water managers to plan for future streamflows, and may
result in an increase in the number of extreme events such as floods and droughts.
3.4.5 Floods and Droughts
Further climate change will impact the basin that is already vulnerable to extreme
events. Increase in the annual variation of rainfall and stream flow is likely to lead to
an increase in frequency of floods and drought. In such cases, hydraulic engineering
structures (e.g., stormwater systems) would have to be redesigned to accommodate
floods and high volumes of water.
3.4.6 Recommendations for the Orange-Senqu Basin
Climate change research has been studied relatively more extensive in the OrangeSenqu Basin than in other basins in the region. The next step is to mainstream the
climate change and research outcomes into basin planning and management. The
Commissions for affected member states and other stakeholders in the basin should
take climate change scenario projections into account for sustainable management
and planning of water resources in the region.
4 Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP)
The Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) is one of the world’s largest intrabasin water transfer schemes within the Orange-Senqu River Basin; it supports the
largest economic hub in Africa (Gauteng). Currently, the transfer of water from the
LHWP into Gauteng amounts to about 27% of the total allocation for this area. It
was not the original intention to include the LHWP in these case studies, but its
uniqueness within the Orange-Senqu Basin justifies discussion. This water scheme
is both important and at risk of depletion due to overutilization and climate change
impacts. Two well-established tools that inform good and sustainable water management in the basin and within the region are the Revised SADC Protocol on Shared
Watercourses and the Climate Change Adaptation Strategy in SADC—A Strategy
for the Water Sector.
Because the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) is an intra-basin water
transfer scheme within the Orange-Senqu River Basin, it falls under the authority
of the Orange-Senqu River Basin. However, there are issues that are specific to the
LHWP, which is located upstream in the mountain catchments in Lesotho, and not
necessarily important at a basin scale (Fig. 12).
The Lesotho Highlands represent an exception to the generally semi-arid region
within the Orange-Senqu River Basin (ORASECOM 2008). Its climate is temperate
M. C. Moseki
increases make it difficult for water managers to plan for future streamflows, and may
result in an increase in the number of extreme events such as floods and droughts.
3.4.5 Floods and Droughts
Further climate change will impact the basin that is already vulnerable to extreme
events. Increase in the annual variation of rainfall and stream flow is likely to lead to
an increase in frequency of floods and drought. In such cases, hydraulic engineering
structures (e.g., stormwater systems) would have to be redesigned to accommodate
floods and high volumes of water.
3.4.6 Recommendations for the Orange-Senqu Basin
Climate change research has been studied relatively more extensive in the OrangeSenqu Basin than in other basins in the region. The next step is to mainstream the
climate change and research outcomes into basin planning and management. The
Commissions for affected member states and other stakeholders in the basin should
take climate change scenario projections into account for sustainable management
and planning of water resources in the region.
4 Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP)
The Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) is one of the world’s largest intrabasin water transfer schemes within the Orange-Senqu River Basin; it supports the
largest economic hub in Africa (Gauteng). Currently, the transfer of water from the
LHWP into Gauteng amounts to about 27% of the total allocation for this area. It
was not the original intention to include the LHWP in these case studies, but its
uniqueness within the Orange-Senqu Basin justifies discussion. This water scheme
is both important and at risk of depletion due to overutilization and climate change
impacts. Two well-established tools that inform good and sustainable water management in the basin and within the region are the Revised SADC Protocol on Shared
Watercourses and the Climate Change Adaptation Strategy in SADC—A Strategy
for the Water Sector.
Because the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) is an intra-basin water
transfer scheme within the Orange-Senqu River Basin, it falls under the authority
of the Orange-Senqu River Basin. However, there are issues that are specific to the
LHWP, which is located upstream in the mountain catchments in Lesotho, and not
necessarily important at a basin scale (Fig. 12).
The Lesotho Highlands represent an exception to the generally semi-arid region
within the Orange-Senqu River Basin (ORASECOM 2008). Its climate is temperate