Technical Development Project on irrigation design for flood mitigation and water storage based on nature-based solutions
Combining conventional engineering solutions and nature-based solutions to create multifunctional, climate-resilient blue and green productive corridors
We are working with Thailand’s Royal Irrigation Department (RID) to develop strategies that combine conventional engineering solutions and nature-based solutions (NbS) to help mitigate flooding risks and create multifunctional community-based productive and eco-tourism flood corridors.
This project is supported by the Australian Government through the Australian Water Partnership.
Background
Many parts of Thailand are prone to flooding, disrupting agricultural and industrial activities, and affecting the health and wellbeing of communities. The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) manages extensive irrigation and drainage systems that aim to support agricultural and industrial activities, manage flooding and provide water security. However, these aging systems are struggling with the effects of more frequent and severe weather events, exacerbating economic and environmental vulnerabilities that often impact marginalised and disadvantaged groups most acutely.
Climate-resilient flood control measures – including NbS such as offline wetlands, paddy fields used as water buffers and sediment reuse – offer a cost-effective option to address these challenges, if integrated, modernised and supported by strengthened operation and maintenance and appropriate gender equity and social inclusion provisions.
The 2011 monsoon floods along the Chao Phraya River and its tributaries caused an estimated USD 46.5 billion in damages and losses. These floods affected 66 provinces, inundated around 4.14 million hectares, impacted more than 13 million people and led to 680 deaths.
What we’re doing
The overarching aim of this project is to develop strategies that combine conventional engineering solutions and NbS to help mitigate flooding risks while also creating multifunctional community-based productive and eco-tourism flood corridors.
It involves the following tasks:
- Strengthen RID's institutional capacity on inclusive NbS design and integration into irrigation infrastructure. The project will establish a core group of RID trainers through Training-of-Trainers (ToT) supported by Australian experts, building in-house expertise to design, deliver and scale NbS irrigation and flood management solutions that support GEDSI (Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion) transformative and climate-resilient outcomes.
- Integrate GEDSI into NbS design and implementation. GEDSI principles will be applied throughout training and design activities to include the perspectives and inputs, and benefits for women, people with disabilities and members of socially vulnerable groups.
- Enhance climate resilience through NbS integration. The project will develop context-specific NbS strategies as part of the ToT approach, to mitigate flood risks, improve water quality and reduce saline intrusion while creating co-benefits for livelihoods, eco-tourism and food security.
- Establish sustainable partnerships and knowledge platforms. Examples include a targeted study tour to Australia, establishing a Virtual Design Studio within RID and developing a draft framework for a Thailand-specific NbS design manual.
How it will help
The expected outcomes from this project include:
- Modernising and transforming aging irrigation and drainage system so that they deliver a range of outcomes – supporting agriculture and industrial activities, managing floods and providing a secure water supply.
- Building capacity for local practitioners to develop and implement climate-resilient water management practices.
- Developing and strengthening strategic partnerships.
What does a Water Sensitive City look like?
The CRCWSC has produced research, guidelines and
tools related to the following topics:
Integrated Urban Flood
Management
Climate change
mitigation
Community
engagement
Economics and
business case