Simulating the implications of glaciers’ retreat for water management: a case study in the Rio Santa basin, Peru

Abstract

This paper presents a model of Andean glacier hydrology which can be used to assess the water management implications of possible future glacier retreat. The approach taken uses the Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) system and integrates both hydrologic processes and representations of the operations of built infrastructure. The model is applied in the Rio Santa watershed in Peru to illustrate how alternative water management strategies can be simulated. The WEAP platform built for this study has been used to engage with local stakeholders for water management.

Keywords:

• glacier retreat
• climate change adaptation
• hydropower
• irrigation
• conflict
• Cordillera Blanca

Acknowledgements

We thank the guest editor and the two anonymous reviewers for improving the quality of the paper. This study is part of World Bank project SOF/TF055069(70)-P110305, entitled Assessing the Impacts of Climate Change on Mountain Hydrology: Development of a Methodology through a Case Study in Peru, undertaken at the request of the Government of Peru, and we thank Alejandro Deeb and Adriana Valenciana for their important support. Furthermore, the authors thank the following organization and persons for data gathering: the Unit of Glaciology and Water Resources (UGRH) of the National Authority of Water (ANA) for its great support in the investigations in glaciology, and the hydrology group from the SENAMHI (National Service of Meteorology and Hydrology in Peru), at Lima, Peru.