Utilizing Satellite Based Observations and Physical Hydrological
Modeling for Freshwater Ecosystem Health in The Lower Mekong River Basin
Abstract
This presentation will show an ongoing freshwater health assessment
stemming from a partnership between the National Aeronautical and Space
Agency (NASA) and Conservation International (CI) that is dedicated to
improving natural resources assessment for conservation and sustainable
management. The goal of this work is to develop a calibrated satellite-
and hydrologic modeling-based tool to support the assessment of
hydrologic environmental health and value natural capital in the Lower
Mekong River Basin. Vollmer et al., (2018) have presented the
social-ecological framework named the Freshwater Health Index (FHI),
which takes account of the interplay between governance, stakeholders,
freshwater ecosystems and the ecosystem services they provide. The FHI
framework and its accompanying indicators are oriented toward management
and stakeholder engagement, and they make a significant contribution by
providing a systematic, evidence-based quantitative tool that supports
the integration between social and ecological nature of fresh waters at
the basin level. Since the FHI is intended to be used iteratively, we
leverage multiple data products and hydrological modelling capabilities
specifically created to improve decision support in the Lower Mekong
basin (Mohammed et al., 2018). Mohammed et al. modelling capabilities
enable the integration of satellite-based daily gridded precipitation,
air temperature, digital elevation model, soil characteristics, and land
cover and land use information to drive watershed model water
simulations over the Lower Mekong River Basin. Multiple dam reservoirs
scenarios have been envisioned and tested based on stakeholder
engagement to enhance the results of the integrative social and
ecological nature of fresh waters at the Srepok, Sesan, and Sekong (3S)
River Basins of the Lower Mekong. This assessment provides a
comprehensive picture of freshwater ecosystem health, the services it
provides and the status of its governance at the Lower Mekong.