Regulation of Water Flow

Agriculture is a large consumer of water, and at the same has strong impacts on water flow regulation. Management of agricultural land can both contribute to flooding, or - as in the case of the "Ganges Water Machine" - be seen as a region-wide mechanism to control water flows.

Livestock is a large consumer of water, and at the same has strong impacts on water flow regulation. Grassland management can both contribute to flooding, or be seen as a region-wide mechanism to control water flows.

Fish and other aquatic species are sensitive to changes in water flows, therefore, inclusion of the sector in water flow management discussions is imperative for sustainable development of fisheries and aquaculture.

Forests influence the amount of water available and the timing of water delivery. Stream-flow regulation by forests is the result of processes in the forest canopy, on the surface and below the ground – a combination of interception, transpiration, evaporation, evapotranspiration and infiltration. Accordingly, sustainable forest management is key to the regulation of water flows.