The impacts of climate variability and change on streamflow are of increasing concern, particularly as human demands on water supplies compete with the needs of natural ecosystems. The consequences on the hydrological cycle are predicted to be most severe for mid- to high-latitude regions. Of particular concern is reduced mountain snow accumulation and related reductions in the snow- and glacier-derived water supply. In northern British Columbia (BC), recent snowpack declines have caused a unique water management challenge. Diminishing water security in a region considered water-abundant has intensified over the last decade. Characterizing the climate controls on hydrologic variability is a priority for developing baseline information required for water supply forecasting. This research focuses on developing multi-century, annually-resolved records of snow water equivalent (SWE) and streamflow to provide a better understanding of long-term hydroclimate variability for the design and implementation of management strategies that balance riverine ecosystem services, such as recreation and fish habitat, with increasing economic and social demands. Climate sensitive tree-ring chronologies provide the opportunity to extend instrumental records of hydroclimate by capitalizing on the influence of climate on both annual radial growth and seasonal runoff. Traditional dendrohydrology relies on moisture-limited tree species from dry, continental settings. This dissertation presents a new method by focusing on mid- to high-elevation conifers sensitive to snowpack variability. Ring-width and maximum latewood density records from mountain hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana (Bong.) Carriere), white spruce (P. glauca (Moench) Voss), and subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt.) stands were collected at sites in northern BC. Dendrochronological techniques were used to develop a: 1) 223-year record of April 1 SWE for the Stikine River basin; 2) 417-, 716-, and 343-year record of summer streamflow for the Skeena, Nass and Stikine rivers, respectively; and, 3) a 193-year reconstruction of summer-run Skeena River steelhead abundance based on the influence of ocean-atmospheric forcings on both radial tree growth and steelhead escapement. The April 1 SWE record suggests that there has been considerable variability in snowpack levels in the Stikine basin and a distinct in-phase relationship with seasonalized Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) indices, not seen in basins to the south. The summer streamflow records also support a north-south “see-saw” effect, suggesting an association between moisture transport and atmospheric-ocean circulation in the region. In addition to the snow-sensitive tree-ring data, the streamflow models incorporated paleo-hemispheric records to improve predictive skill. Finally, the steelhead model described alternating intervals of persistently above-average and below-average abundance that corresponded to oceanic PDO-like influences and describe links to “warm-warm” ENSO-PDO years associated with in-river low flow periods. The reconstructions suggest that: 1) recent snowpack and streamflow declines are a rare event over a multi-century context; and, 2) existing instrumental records do not adequately represent the historic range of basin-specific hydroclimate variability necessary for new planning horizons. Mid- to high-elevation, snow-sensitive conifers have strong potential as paleohydrological proxies and for expanding the application of dendrohydrology to non-arid settings. Current conditions in northern BC, compounded by land use changes and climate change, are predicted to become more severe in the future. It is important that planning regimes incorporate long-term hydroclimate data to better understand and quantify how water supply and ecosystems will respond to future changes. / Graduate

Water is a basic human necessity and water resources are becoming scarce, limited and in some cases expensive. The SADC region is a very dry and semi-arid region, which places pressure on the region’s water resources and security. Water is a key ingredient for SADC to achieve their regional goals and water security should receive high priority in this region. As SADC’s economic development will be defined by the availability of water it is important to define ‘water security’ for this region. SADC has a large number of shared water resources and the scarcity of water has fostered cooperation between the member states. Achieving water security will rely on the legal instruments that are available to the SADC region. These legal instruments focus on cooperation, integration and management of transboundary rivers. In this dissertation various international, regional and legal instruments were discussed in terms of the definition for ‘water security’ in the SADC region. This dissertation does not only focus on the legal framework for water security but also where this normative framework failed to address the elements of water security. Two case studies will be done on transboundary rivers (Limpopo and Okavango River) to illustrate how cooperation and agreements between countries could lead to ensuring a water secure region. RBO’s are at the core of IWRM and the governance of transboundary rivers will rely on the commitment to the agreements between these countries. OKACOM and LIMCOM are both discussed in terms of their legal frameworks as well as measured against the main elements of water security. This study will thus, by examining the definition of water security and applying it to the legal framework provided for by SADC, establish whether SADC’s normative framework effectively provides for water security. The case studies will provide a practical example of wherethe RBO’s have utilised the normative framework provided, and whether RBO’s facilitate or enable water security in this region. / LLM (Environmental Law and Governance), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Water is a basic human necessity and water resources are becoming scarce, limited and in some cases expensive. The SADC region is a very dry and semi-arid region, which places pressure on the region’s water resources and security. Water is a key ingredient for SADC to achieve their regional goals and water security should receive high priority in this region. As SADC’s economic development will be defined by the availability of water it is important to define ‘water security’ for this region. SADC has a large number of shared water resources and the scarcity of water has fostered cooperation between the member states. Achieving water security will rely on the legal instruments that are available to the SADC region. These legal instruments focus on cooperation, integration and management of transboundary rivers. In this dissertation various international, regional and legal instruments were discussed in terms of the definition for ‘water security’ in the SADC region. This dissertation does not only focus on the legal framework for water security but also where this normative framework failed to address the elements of water security. Two case studies will be done on transboundary rivers (Limpopo and Okavango River) to illustrate how cooperation and agreements between countries could lead to ensuring a water secure region. RBO’s are at the core of IWRM and the governance of transboundary rivers will rely on the commitment to the agreements between these countries. OKACOM and LIMCOM are both discussed in terms of their legal frameworks as well as measured against the main elements of water security. This study will thus, by examining the definition of water security and applying it to the legal framework provided for by SADC, establish whether SADC’s normative framework effectively provides for water security. The case studies will provide a practical example of wherethe RBO’s have utilised the normative framework provided, and whether RBO’s facilitate or enable water security in this region. / LLM (Environmental Law and Governance), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Thesis (MA (Political Science. International Studies))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / Bibliography / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Water is life. Its availability and quality directly relates to what is possible in agriculture as well as human health. In Southern Africa, water issues have become an important political agenda as a result of the droughts that the region has been experiencing. The Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), in its water protocol advises its member states to set up river basin organisations to manage transboundary rivers in Southern Africa. The aim is to encourage the sustainable use of international rivers. Sharing international rivers has proven to be a very difficult issue as shown by the voting patterns on the UN Convention on the Law of Non Navigational Uses of Transboundary Rivers and the subsequent failure of entry into force of this convention. While strategic interests on the global levels manifest themselves in voting patterns in forums like the UN Assembly, the situation is trickier at the regional level. These strategic interests are ever present as a result of states’ need for recognition of their sovereignty and the inability of states to accept any hierarchical enforcement. This study investigates the impact of these interests at the basin level on the structure of cooperation. With the use of a case study, namely the Okavango River Basin Commission, and guided by regime theory, the study looks at the process of regime formation and maintenance in the basin. It concludes that states use cooperative arrangements (international water cooperation regimes) as tools for the strategic protection of their sovereignty. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Water is lewe. Die beskikbaarheid en kwaliteit het direk te betrekking op wat moontlik toeneemed is in landbou so wel as menslike gesondheid. Water as ʼn noodsaaklike bron in suider-Afrika word meer en meer beskou as ʼn belangrike kwessie op die politieke agenda as gevolg van droogte wat in die streek ondervind word. ʼn Hoë vlak van belangrikheid word aan die bestuur van water binne die streek geheg. Die SAOG (Die Suider – Afrikaanse Ontwikkelings gemeenskap), het in sy water protokol aan sy lid state beveel om rivier kom organisasies te stig om beheer uit te oefen oor riviere in Suider- Afrika wat oor grense heen vloei. Die doel is om lidstate aan te moedig om die volhoubare gebruik van internasionale riviere te bevorder . Die vedeling van internasionale riviere is ‘n komplekse kwessie soos wat VN stempatrone aandui ten opsigte van die Wet op die Verbod teen Navigasie op Oorgrensende Riviere en die daaropvolgende versuim van die inwerkingtreding van die Konvensie aandui. As gevolg van state se behoefte vir erkenning van hul soewereiniteit en hul strategiese belange bly die deel van rivierkomme ‘n moeilike internasionale probleem. Hierdie studie ondersoek die impak van die bogenoemde belange op die kom vlak op die struktuur van samewerking. Met die gebruik van ʼn gevallestudie, naamlik die Okovango Rivier Kom Kommissie, en aan die hand van regime teorie, ondersoek die studie die proses van regime formasie asook die problematiek rondom die instandhouding van die Komissie. Die gevolgtrekking is dat state koöperatiewe reëlings (internasionale water samewerking regimes) as instrumente vir die beskerming van hul strategiese soewereiniteit en eie belange gebruik.