Water Resource Expert: River Hydraulics/Fluvial Geomorphology/Sediment Transport Specialist

Objective/Purpose of the Assignment:

The consultant will provide support to the revision and strengthening of guidelines, based on climate change science, for riverbed sand mining1. They will provide overall support, particularly at the district level, for enforcement and for sound decision-making based on basin-wide considerations to the impacts of sand mining.

Scope of the Work:

The Government is in the process of preparing a comprehensive guideline for riverbed sand mining. Current practice of Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) for awarding aggregate mining does not consider river and sediment flows in the context of climate change, is based on district boundaries, lacks proper monitoring system and DDCs do not have adequate capacity to enforce regulations. The rampant mining of river beds have exacerbated flood impacts in numerous communities and have increased the vulnerability of roads, bridges, irrigation structures and agriculture lands. The Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Local Development will revisit the ongoing process of preparing the sand mining guideline based on climate science – using downscaled global and regional models, global practices on sustainable harvesting, managing river aggradations from a river process and restoration perspective. The MoEnvE and MOLD staff will participate in preparing the guideline, in identify hot-spots undergoing river degradation that impact lives, livelihoods and structures and in training for monitoring processes.

Detailed Tasks to be performed by the consultant:

• Identify hot-spots where on-going river degradation is affecting livelihoods and structures.
• Identify and inventory vulnerable infrastructure and communities due to riverbed mining.
• Inventory existing damage due to floods exacerbated by riverbed mining.
• Use the results of downscaled climate change models and hydrological impact assessments to identify projections for future hot-spots due to changes in climate.
• Examine alternative technologies, methods and locations for safe sand mining.
• Propose guidelines, regulations and decision making processes to address risks, paying particular attention to overcoming District boundaries.
• Propose monitoring process for existing and new river bed sand mining operations.
• Provide training for all involved staff.

Outputs:

• Revised river sand mining guidelines
• Final report with recommendations for monitoring, and results of vulnerability analysis
• Training materials.

Skills required:

• Advanced degree related to river processes and flood hazard identification and management.
• Knowledge of the Nepalese environment and glacial lake outburst flood risks is preferred.
• At least ten years of experience working with extractive industries and with rules and regulations related to mining, extraction and integrated watershed management.