How to manage lake and river flows during droughts?

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In the recent drought curb measure implemented in Lake Shasta and the Sacremento River http://bit.ly/1KxZxyD, the water was retained in the lake to protect the spawning fishes in turn this affected the farmers downstream. How can river basin managers plan drought curb measures while protecting ecology and maintaining water flow downstream? Anybody worked with drought planning?

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  1. Dear Vidhya,

    Though I have not worked with any drought planning program, Based on my experience (as I belong to one of the dry zones in Karnataka state, India) I give my suggestion as follows;

    1. First of all we have to know the quantity, intensity and duration of rainfall received in the area in last 2 decades.
    2. What are the crops grown in the area in different seasons (i.e., Pre-Monsoon, Monsoon and Post-Monsoon).
    3. Educate the farmers in both up and down stream to grow crops which requires less water, on drip irrigation, mixed cropping and on measures to avoid evaporation and evapo-transpiration. Most important on the water conservation and harvesting structures

     

    If we succeed in getting the support/co-operation of the farmers/locals of the area, we can achieve everything as planned.

    Please correct me if I am wrong, comments/suggestions are welcomed

     

    Regards,

    Dr.D.Siddaramu