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INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ON WATER SCIENCES AND RESEARCHAn integrated system of hydrological data sensing, manipulationand use to transform locally collected monitoring data intocomprehensive information for managing freshwater systemsInformation usageand decision makingInformationdisseminationData synthesisand analysisSource: Dixon, Hannaford and Fry, 2013 2WaterinformationservicesMonitoring andnetwork designData validationand archivalData sensingand recordingIn light of this dearth of information there is a pressing requirementto address the inadequacies in river gauging networks andimprove hydrometric practices to ensure flows are accuratelyrecorded. Around the world, monitoring of rainfall, river flow,groundwater and other water stores remains lacking in many waterstressedcatchments. While targeted investment of international aidfinancing has helped to expand monitoring programmes in manyregions where they were previously deficient, there is a need tosupport the ongoing maintenance of networks and development oflocal expertise to ensure the longevity of such initiatives. Long-termpolitical, institutional and financial support for water monitoringmust be established and fostered around the world.Notwithstanding this need to improve the underlying monitoring,the opportunity currently exists to significantly advance globalwater science and management through improving cooperationon existing water data at all levels. At this time of both enhanceddemand for river flow data and increasing financial pressure on theorganizations tasked with maintaining networks, methods of cooperationwhich maximize the societal benefits of current hydrometricmonitoring are of crucial importance.The interconnected nature of freshwater systems, widespreadimplications of water management decisions and the often complexweb of stakeholders mean that river flow data can rarely be collected,analysed and utilized within one single organization in isolation.Information on river flows in one location may impact upon waterresource management decisions required under a separate jurisdictionat another, geographically remote location. Furthermore, datacan often be used to help understand and manage freshwater issuesbesides those for which they were originally collected. For example,river flow data collected by a local landowner to inform the design andoperation of a small-scale hydropower scheme may be of significantvalue to researchers investigating the implications of changing landmanagement practices on run-off generation in order to inform policydevelopment. Readily accessible, interchangeable hydrometric dataare therefore highly valuable not only to the initial monitoring body,but also to a wide community of users.Maximizing the value gleaned from data that is collected, and ensuringthat freshwater decisions are based on all available monitoring information,demands more open data policies, standardization ofmonitoring practices, efficient data management and effectivedata sharing. Cooperation at institutional, national andinternational scales is central to providing such access tocoherent, high-quality river flow information.Two examples of water data sharing which have deliveredsignificant advantages to water management areoutlined in the case studies on these pages. They are:• the United Kingdom’s experiences of cooperationbetween organizations operating with differingresponsibilities across geographical and politicaldivides to ensure coherent access to national-scalehydrometric information• the European Water Archive, which provideshydrological researchers working under the UnitedNations Educational, Scientific and CulturalOrganization (UNESCO) umbrella with the accessto pan-European river flow information required toanswer continental-scale scientific questions.Both case studies highlight the benefits and opportunitiesin relation to cooperation between individualhydrologists, organizations and governments on theissue of water data. By bringing their monitoring dataand expertise together, the various stakeholders are ableto benefit from a richer shared information source andenhance the value of their individual operations.Nationally, there is an underlying need to supportimproved hydrometric data management and dissemination.These are crucial to the success of state-scale watermanagement and underpin international initiatives tocombat global water problems. Internationally, whileachievements to date should not be overlooked, furtherimprovements on hydrological data sharing are needed.Where data is collected, data policies, security concerns,commercial considerations and a lack of agreed protocolsfor sharing were all identified by WWDR3 as issues whichoften hamper the sharing of hydrological information.Intergovernmental support for data sharing is an importantfoundation for improving cooperation and to this end,in 1999, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)Congress adopted Resolution 25 (Cg-XIII) – Exchange ofHydrological Data and Products – establishing the policyand practice for international exchange of hydrological dataand products. Regionally too, in some of the over 260 transboundaryriver basins that exist worldwide, internationalagreements have been reached over the free exchange ofdata to aid navigation, flood protection, pollution preventionand power production. In doing so, the internationalcommunity recognized the potential benefits of enhancedexchange of hydrological data, and adopted a commitmentto broaden and enhance, whenever possible, the free andunrestricted exchange of such information. To realize thesebenefits, national and organizational data policies must alsobe reviewed to ensure that they recognize the high utility ofwater data beyond its initial intended use and the benefitsand efficiencies enabled by greater cooperation.Aside from government-funded freshwater monitoring,opportunities to improve cooperation on water[ 306 ]