Workshop on Scaling-up and Scaling-out Lessons: Springs, Recharge Ponds and Local Water Management in Mid-Hill Himalaya

In 2013, the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development’s (ICIMOD) Koshi Basin Programme (KBP) partnered with the Nepal Water Conservation Foundation (NWCF) and residents of Tinpiple and Dapcha, Kavrepalanchowk District, Nepal, to identify local water processes and best uses of water to replenish drying springs. Springs are the primary source of water for many communities living in the mid-hills of Nepal.

Some of the springs in Dapcha Kashikhanda and surrounding localities have begun to dry in recent years. The ponds will help replenish local springs and improve access to water. Our study found traditional preexisting ponds above springs played an important role in sustaining the springs below. This fact, however, was not readily understood, and many such ponds either dried up or were used for other purposes, like building houses and other infrastructure. During research work, some ponds were reconstructed by local volunteers with technical supervision. The following monsoon, the ponds were filled with water, and a number of springs below increased their flow and duration from years prior. A few dried springs were even revived.

Impressed by this positive result, some in the community dug recharge ponds on their own private land. Although the result of the action research was very promising, it was soon realised that it was not possible to replicate on a large scale with the sponsoring research organisations’ limited resources. To be implemented on a wide scale, it needed to be owned by the community and the government. ICIMOD and NWCF have continued their partnership to encourage the municipality and district-level planners to include recharge pond construction activities into their regular annual and periodic plans.

In this context, a one-day event titled ‘Scaling up and scaling out lessons: Springs, recharge ponds and local water management in mid-hill Himalaya’ is being organised by NWCF with support of ICIMOD in Dhulikhel on 15 August 2016.

Workshop objectives and targeted participants

The objectives of the workshop are 

• to share the pilot lessons learnt with neighbouring districts for scaling up major findings and practices.
• to encourage district level authority to integrate proven interventions into their district level planning process.

The district level authorities such as CDOs, LDOs, Municipal and VDC authorities, water users groups and local communities are expected to participate in the event representing three adjoining districts namely Kavrepalanchowk, Sindhupalchowk and Sindhuli.