1 Gopinath Nagaraj and P. Loganathan, ASM 2 Juhaimi Jusoh, Mohd Fadhil Kassim and Bashirah Fazli, Centre of Water Quality and Environmental Research, NAHRIM

FINAL REVIEW MEETING OF THE ILBM-GOVERNANCE PROJECT 2nd TO 6th NOVEMBER 2010, KUSATSU, JAPAN

MANAGING LAKES AND THEIR BASINS FOR SUSTAINABLE USE IN MALAYSIA -

SYNTHESIS REPORT OF EIGHT SELECTED MALAYSIAN LAKES AND RESERVOIRS

By

Academy Science of Malaysia (ASM)1

and National Hydraulic Research Institute of Malaysia (NAHRIM)2

1.0 Introduction Senior members of the International Lake Environment Committee’s (ILEC) Scientific

Committee had their first Consultative Meeting with Malaysian Experts on 9 July

2008 in Malaysia, having participated the previous day in the ASM Governance

Component Plan Workshop at NAHRIM. At this first Consultative Meeting, Dr. Nakamura

introduced an ILBM-Governance Project proposal entitled “Development of a

Knowledge-base in Lake Management in Malaysia”. This was followed by a discussion

on candidate lakes from Malaysia to be included in the ILBM-G Project. ILEC proposed

2 lakes in Malaysia, namely the Bukit Merah Lake (man-made) in Perak, and Tasik (or,

Lake) Chini (natural) in Pahang, to be selected for preparation of lake briefs formatted in

accordance with a recent ILEC developed template. In responding to this request and

noting further that such data collection forms part and parcel of the detailed action plan

recommended under Strategy V of the Strategic Plan for Sustainable Lake and

Reservoir Management, the ASM Task Force on ILBM decided that the task be not

limited to the 2 lakes identified by ILEC but be extended to six (6) other lakes in the

country. The other 6 lakes were chosen to meet certain criteria, namely, that their

location should cover a good geographical spread, they are for varying usage (flood

control; hydro-electric power; irrigation; water supply or for recreational purposes) and

their formation was either natural or man-made. The additional lakes selected were the

Kenyir Lake in Terengganu, Muda-Pedu Lake in Kedah, Putrajaya Lake in Putrajaya,

Terip Lake in Negeri Sembilan, Timah-Tasoh Lake in Perlis, and Loagan (Lake) Bunut in

Sarawak (Fig. 1). ILEC was informed accordingly during the ILBM-G Annual Review

meeting held in Kusatsu, Japan in March 2009.

1 Gopinath Nagaraj and P. Loganathan, ASM 2 Juhaimi Jusoh, Mohd Fadhil Kassim and Bashirah Fazli, Centre of Water Quality and Environmental Research, NAHRIM

The relevant lake owners/managers of all the eight (8) lakes were accordingly requested

to gather the necessary information and prepare the lake briefs in accordance with the

format provided in the ILEC template (Table 1). Lake managers were also encouraged to

collaborate with local universities, such as The National University of Malaysia (UKM),

Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Universiti Teknologi

Malaysia (UTM), and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) to assist especially in

multi-disciplinary data collection and analysis. NAHRIM would coordinate these actvities

and all data and information collected will be stored in the national lake repository based

with them and coming under the purview of the Ministry of Natural Resources and

Environment (NRE).

On successful completion of this assignment by the various lake managers, ASM

working jointly with NAHRIM and the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) and with

the support of respective ministries , namely NRE, KETTHA and MOSTI, organised a

National Seminar from 22nd – 23rd Feb. 2010, with the theme “Managing Lakes and

their Basins for Sustainable Use: Current Status of Selected Lakes”. At this National

Seminar held in NRE, Putrajaya, lake briefs of the 8 selected lakes were presented and

deliberated by some 120 participants from relevant Ministries, Central Agencies, relevant

federal and State agencies, State Economic Planning Units, the relevant

District/Residency Officers, and Lake Managers and Owners. Senior members of the

International Lake Environment Committee’s (ILEC) Scientific Committee, Dr. M.

Nakamura and Prof. Walter Rast, and ILEC’s international participants from Nepal,

Mexico, China, Japan, India, the Philippines and the USA, also participated in the

Seminar. As part of the Seminar proceedings, a Gap Analysis was undertaken on the 8

lakes by Nakamura (on Tasik Chini and Tasik Bukit Merah), Rast (on Tasik Kenyir and

Loagan Bunut), Dr. Low Kwai Sim (on Tasik Putrajaya and Tasik Muda-Pedu) and P.

Loganathan (on Tasik Terip and Tasik Timah Tasoh) (Appendices 1, 2 and 3).

1 Gopinath Nagaraj and P. Loganathan, ASM 2 Juhaimi Jusoh, Mohd Fadhil Kassim and Bashirah Fazli, Centre of Water Quality and Environmental Research, NAHRIM

Table 1 List of The Eight Lake Owners/Managers Lake Owners / Managers Lakes Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) Bukit Merah Lake EPU PAHANG, UKM Tasik Chini KETENGAH, Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), UPM Kenyir Lake Muda Agricultural Development Authority (MADA) Muda-Pedu Lake Putrajaya Holdings Syarikat Air Negeri Sembilan (SAINS)

Putrajaya Lake Terip Lake

Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID), USM Timah Tasoh Lake UNIMAS, Sarawak Forestry Loagan Bunut

1 Gopinath Nagaraj and P. Loganathan, ASM 2 Juhaimi Jusoh, Mohd Fadhil Kassim and Bashirah Fazli, Centre of Water Quality and Environmental Research, NAHRIM

5

2.0 Management and Management Outcomes of Selected Malaysian Lakes

A brief summary highlighting the management and management outcomes drawn from

the 8 lake briefs are presented below:

2.1 Tasik Bukit Merah, Perak The oldest reservoir in the country, built in 1906, the Bukit Merah Reservoir

covers an area of 6,200ha and hold 83 million cubic meters of water.

Though originally established only for irrigation of the fields in Krian, the reservoir,

which captures the waters of the Sg. Kurau and Sg. Merah, now supports a

multiplicity of functions many of which it was never designed for.

These functions include: o Provision of irrigation water to the 23,560ha Krian Irrigation Scheme for

rice cultivation. The Krian scheme is one the largest granary areas in the

country, catering for over 10,000 farmers and their 50,000 family

members.

o Provision of domestic water supply for the 200,000 people in Kerian

District & Larut Matang districts.

o To mitigate downstream flooding of Sg. Kurau. Spillway structures are

used to regulate discharge of excess water to downstream stretches of

the river.

o Support tourism activities, specifically lakefront resort development, the

most prominent of which Bukit Merah Lake Town Resort. Specific to

resort development would be the need to support navigation particularly

in relation to the Resort’s need for recreational boating and access to

Orangutan Island.

6

o Support the development of Arowana production for the global aquarium

trade.

o Cater for north-south railway line that runs across Bukit Merah Dam for 4

km length.

The reservoir also supports a rich and varied aquatic biodiversity, with over 34

species of fish inclusive crabs and prawns recorded. Over 50 fishermen operate

in the lake, their catch forming the basis of a small dried and pickled fish industry.

Most important is the presence of the Arowana Malayan Gold (Sclerophages

formosus), the only place in the world where it occurs. The Department of

Fisheries has gazetted the northern area of the lake near Sg. Merah river mouth

as a Arowana Sanctuary in compliance with the international convention as a pre

condition to support the Arowanas’ breeding industry.

In addition to its aquatic wildlife, a 10-ha island in the lake has been converted to

a reserve for the endangered orang utan.

The management of the lakes faces several existing and potential challenges, all

of which relate to the many uses to which the lake is subject to. Among these

include the following:

o Deleterious changes in land use in the surrounding catchment represent

the most pervasive problem facing the lake. These include land clearing

and replanting in private lands surrounding and the lake basin. Clearing of

planted areas for replanting by estates or smallholders over a large scale

causes increased surface run off with siltation and degrading water

quality. Another major change in basin land use is the deforestation

activities following the conversion of 1000ha of forest land for pasture

grounds.

o Another major, and related, challenge comes from the floating vegetation

growth of common susum (Hanguana malayana) and water hyacinth. An

estimated 40% of the watershed area, particularly on the north and

eastern portion of the lake covered by floating and aquatic vegetation,

7

especially near both Sg. Merah and Sg. Kurau river mouth. The growth of

these noxious weeds has also been promoted by fertilizer and nutrient

runoff from plantations in the upper catchment. The management of the

weeds is not simply a matter of cost. Removal of the floating vegetation

needs to take into account the sensitivity of the habitat as well.

o Occasional drought event interferes with navigation. In 2009, a severe

draw down to lake level had put boating activities on hold for a month,

disrupting tours to the Orangutan Islands.

In addition, the development pressures on the lake have not ceased. There are a

number of activities that have been planned by the state government, who see

the lake as a major tourism and commercial hub.

Among these include: o The state government has gazetted 180ha of rice field for arowana based

industries. Though the land itself is downstream of the lake, the

development of the industry is likely to put pressure on the natural stocks

of the fish, particularly in relation to supply of parent fish for the farms that

are to come up.

o Another 670ha of government land and another 40ha ha inside the lake

has been alienated for the further development of Bukit Merah Lake Town

Resort for 4 star hotels, chalets, residential, resort homes, higher learning

institution and water theme parks.

o The upgrading of the existing single north-south railway line across the

lake under the National Electrified Double Tracking Project (NEDTP) has

also posed serious problems. The original railbed enable water to flow

through a small bridge. The newer line runs over a viaduct to enable a

free flow. However, removal of the existing railbed has not been budgeted

for in their initial planning. In addition, the railway contractors decided to

excavate trenches along the existing track to enable access for their

pontoons. This not only caused an increase to lake’s turbidity, oil spills

8

from the pontoons also contaminated domestic and irrigation water supply

downstream.

o Related to the NEDTP is the need for fill material. About 5 hectares of

backfilling inside the lake were approved by the government in order for

the NEDTP’s contractor to have working space for the project. This has

created a demand for sand, in response to which the state government

approved 7 operators to extract sand along the Sg. Kurau River. Despite

the imposition of environmental controls such as installation of silt curtain

and oil residue traps, leakages occur.

The spectrum of activity that the lake currently supports and expected to support

in future points unequivocally for a consolidated institutional regime that can

provide coherence to lake management and use. However, such a regime does

not exist for Tasik Bukit Merah.

The lake is subject to two separate and independent district managements i.e

Kerian District and Larut Matang District. There is no joint committee currently to

discuss common approaches in handling lake basin management issues.

The current development of the catchment surrounding the lake comes under

Land Office or Forestry Department where state land or forest reserves are

concerned. However, other stakeholders operating within the basin, including

private companies as well as government agencies such as RISDA and FELCRA,

can do what they want within their boundaries.

At state level, a Bukit Merah Development Committee has been formed by the

state. Chaired by the State Secretary, and helmed by the State Planning

Economy Unit, State Department of Irrigation and Drainage, District and Land

Office, Local Town Council and Town and Country Planning Department, its

primary goal is to promote investment in Bukit Merah rather than to grapple with

its many management issues.

Another institution, the State River Committee which is chaired by a State

Executive Councillor with the Department of Irrigation and Drainage as

9

secretariat and with the Departments of Environment, Forestry Department, Land

and Geoscience and Minerals as members, are better poised to play a role in

providing the integrated management that the lake so sorely lacks. Though the

goal of the State River Committee is in relation to Integrated River Basin

Management, this role can be expanded to subsume ILBM norms as well.

2.2 Tasik Chini, Pahang Tasik Chini is a natural lake, formed by fluvial processes associated with Sg.

Pahang. It is located in Pahang, about 100km south of Kuantan. Tasik Chini is

the second largest fresh water lake in Malaysia and is made up of a series of 12

lakes. Sg. Chini, which drains from the lake, flows into Sg. Pahang. With seven

active feeder rivers, the size of the lake varies from 202ha (dry season) to 300ha.

As with the Bunut, it is shallow, its maximum depth ranging from 3 – 6m

depending on season.

Tasik Chini’s key quality is its heritage value. The lake, and its immediate

surrounds, supports an immense biodiversity, being home to 138 species of flora,

300 species of non-aquatic life and 144 species of fresh water fish. Between

August and September the lake is transformed into a floating garden with

thousands of white and pink lotus flowers covering the surface.

These resources define the lifestyle of the Jakun aboriginals who live around

Tasik Chini. They have traditionally been fishermen, though in recent years many

of them have found jobs in the nearby plantations and in Pekan itself. The myths

and beliefs of the Jakun relate very closely with the lake. According to legend,

the lake is inhabited by a dragon called the Naga Seri Gumum. It is also believed

that an ancient sunken Khmer city sits at the bottom of the lake.

The loss of the values of the lake, therefore, involves not only affects its unique

biodiversity, but also the human culture and heritage with which it is associated.

The Malaysian public has long been cognizant of the beauty of the lake. Tasik

Chini has been a tourist destination for many years, and improved accessibility

has increased visitor flows. There are two resorts and a National Service camp,

10

in addition to other tourism facilities. Tourist receipts have brought change to the

impoverished area, but not all change has been positive. Some of the more

deleterious conflicts are as below.

o In a well-meaning, but flawed, effort to enable better boat access to the

lake, a weir was constructed along Sg. Chini in 1994 to ensure

navigability during the dry season. However, this disrupted the natural

ecology of the lake and caused the death of trees on its shores due to

elevated water level. Though modifications have since been made to the

weir, the hydro-ecology of the lake has been altered permanently.

o Logging and plantation activities have resulted in negative impacts on the

ecological functions and the biodiversity of the lake. Oil palm plantations

now fringe much of the lake shoreline, and the run-off has caused serious

increases in sediment load.

o By the same token, forest clearing has led to significant increases in

erosion runoff, lowering of the water table and degradation of the quality

of the water from feeder rivers.

o Sewage and sullage discharge from the resorts and the NS camp have

seriously affected water quality, resulting in high E. coli levels and

proliferation of the noxious weed, Cabomba furcata.

The combined effect of these various stressors has led to loss in biodiversity and

environmental quality of the lake and threatens to reduce its visitor appeal. Thus,

the various developments undertaken have contrived to undermine the very

objectives that underpinned their implementation.

There is no one authority that is in charge of its development and management.

Management has been distributed to a plethora of agencies that do not work in

concert to engender an integrated approach to management of the lake.

The lake and its watershed have been declared an Class I Environmentally

Sensitive Area (ESA) by the Department of Town and Country Planning, while a

corresponding effort is being made by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia to make it

a biosphere reserve. However, while both these measures are undoubtedly steps

in the right direction, the absence of a unitary institutional mechanism that can

11

champion the needs, economic and ecological, of the lake remains a major

shortcoming.

2.3 Tasik Timah Tasoh, Perlis

Located in Perlis, the Tasik Timah Tasoh is located near the Thailand border. It

has a mean surface area of 13.33 square kilometers and a storage capacity of

about 40 million cubic meters. The reservoir receives inputs from three main

rivers, the Sg. Tasoh, Sg. Jarum and Sg. Pelarit, which have a combined basin

area of 226 square kilometers and supply approximately 97 million cubic meters

of water into the reservoir annually. The reservoir is shallow with a maximum

depth of 10m and submerged aquatic plants can be seen along the shoreline and

in shallow areas.

The main purposes of the Timah Tasoh dam is provide:

o Fifty five million cubic meters of irrigation water for over 3,000ha of rice

fields in the state.

o Supply line for domestic supply(54,000 m³/day)

o Control and prevent flood occurrences in rainy season.

In addition to these direct use values, the dam supports a substantial level of

aquatic biodiversity, with over 19 species of fish being reported. This biodiversity

has attracted a small artisanal fishing population who rely on the lake as a source

of income. No less important are the numerous recreational fishers that crowd its

banks after work and during weekends.

The use of the lake for artisanal and recreational fishing is promoted by the

Department of Fisheries. Some species of fish, such as Big Head Carp

(Aristicthys nobilis), Grass Carp (Ctenophargodon idella) and Javanese Carp

(Puntius gonionotus) are exotic and clearly have been stocked as part of a

fisheries resource enhancement programme.

12

Major challenges to its management include changes in land use and vegetation

cover resulting in major modification to freshwater runoff and sediment transport

into the lake. These activities include farming and resort development. In addition,

solid waste is washed down after heavy downpours from upstream Padang

Besar.

The nutrients in-flows that accompanied this change in land use had led to

pollution and a proliferation of water weeds. The latter has involved a substantial

outlay in maintenance costs. For instance, the Department of Irrigation and

Drainage spent RM2.4 million in 2000 for the removal of aquatic plants. However,

removal of the weeds is not a solution.

The weeds themselves sequester the nutrients brought in through polluted runoff

and their removal can lead to an overall decline in water quality.

However, management of the lake is entirely in the hands of the Department of

Irrigation and Drainage, whose goal is to ensure the primary functions of the

reservoir in relation to water supply and flood mitigation. They have neither the

mandate nor the capacity to investigate water quality and biodiversity issues.

2.4 Tasik Terip, Negeri Sembilan

Constructed in 1987, the reservoir that is impounded by the 500m long and 40m

high Sg. Terip dam holds 47,400 cubic meters of water, while covering an area of

240 ha. Situated near the 10th km Jalan Jelebu, the dam taps on the waters of

the Sg. Terip and Sg. Batang Penar. However, supply to the reservoir is

supplemented by the Kelinchi and Talang dams through a 7-km long tunnel.

The primary function of the reservoir is to ensure the supply of potable water to

the 570,000 people who live in Seremban district (Senawang, Ampangan, Labu,

Nilai, Mantin, Lenggeng and KLIA quarters) in Negeri Sembilan.

13

The Sg. Terip dam supplies 65% out of total raw water to the Sg. Terip Water

Treatment Plant, the largest in the state. The management of the Sg. Terip

reservoir is limited to ensure that water levels are maintained in order to provide

optimum supply to consumers. The management authorities have no other

function than to ensure the primacy of this mandate. Though aquaculture

(specifically, cage culture of freshwater fish) was carried out in the reservoir in

the early 1990s, the activity has since been discontinued.

The main issue faced in the management of the reservoir was the presence of

high levels of iron and manganese. However, this was overcome by the use of

compressed air released at the deepest part of the reservoir forming bubble

plumes, rising to the surface and breaking the thermal strata.

Thermal stratification of reservoirs is very common in Malaysia. It separates the

water column into an upper oxygen rich epilimnetic (upper layer) layer and a

oxygen depleted hypolimnetic (lower layer) waters.

The water in the lower layer does not support life and is unsuitable for human or

animal consumption. However, the use of aeration enables the thermal strata to

be broken, enable the water in the reservoir to be more efficiently utilized.

2.5 Loagan (Tasik) Bunut, Sarawak

Like Tasik Chini reported above, Tasik Bunut is a natural, and not a man-made,

water body. Located in Miri Division, Loagan Bunut was originally part of the Teru

River and was formed through tectonic processes some 7,000 years ago. With

an area of 650ha, it is the largest natural lake in the country. The lake is not deep,

with an average depth of only 4m. The depth fluctuates 2- 5 times a year.

Like Tasik Chini, Loagan Bunut’s key quality is its heritage value. The thousands

of years that spanned its existence has enabled it to support a wide range of

wildlife and water birds. Its waters are home to over 70 species of fish, while its

substantial storage capacity cushions flooding downstream.

14

These qualities are central to the culture of the Berawan people. The lake has

been settled for many generations by the Berawans, who have spun their

lifestyles, beliefs and myths around the water body. The degradation of the lake,

therefore, would not only lead to loss of its unique biodiversity, but also the

human culture and heritage with which it is associated.

Cognisant of these values, the state has declared Loagan Bunut and its

immediate surrounds as part of the Loagan Bunut National Park. Emplacing

under a single park management should have avoided the kind of user conflicts

that is seen in other lakes such as Bukit Merah. However, the management

structure has one crucial flaw i.e it does not control development activity in the

upper catchment of the lake.

In recent years, the lake basin has been logged and alienated for oil palm. At

present, over 19,000ha of forested basin area has been developed by 7

plantations. The result has been deleterious changes to the lakes, including:

o Differences in maximum discharge and base flow.

o Increased fluctuation in water levels.

o increase in sediment of up to 2,800 ton/yr due to increase in frequency of

inflow.

o Low dissolved oxygen and high nutrients coupled with unpleasant odours and

proliferation of algae.

o Decrease in catch rates and fish species and a dominance of Biawan

(Hellostoma tenmiccki), a low value air breathing species.

Unlike Tasik Chini, the presence of a single park authority has enabled its

management on a comprehensive platform. A Management Plan containing 14

strategies and 58 action plans (including Environmental Monitoring System

manual and Standard Operating Procedures of Lake) are in place, though full

institutional compliance is still in the pipeline.

There has been an active attempt to engage the Berawan in management of the

Park. The community has set up a fishery co-management initiative started in

2005 to regularize the fishing rights and privileges and to increase the fish stocks

15

though habitat enrichment and other means. Community and stakeholder

participation though awareness programmes and river adoptions (tagan system)

has been promoted. Also promoted has been the adoption of ecological

sanitation by communities to reduce sullage and sewage discharge into the lake.

However, these measures are limited to the Park boundaries. The Sarawak

Forestry Corporation (which administers the Park), has no jurisdiction outside the

Park, within the basin as whole, where various other agencies such as Land and

Survey, Forestry and Ministry of Land and Rural Development hold sway. There

is thus a need to engage the totality of stakeholders within the basin if the lake is

to be managed sustainably.

2.6 Tasik Kenyir, Terengganu

As with Bukit Merah, Kenyir Lake began its life simply, with the two major goals

of hydroelectricity and flood mitigation, only to see a multiplicity of roles imposed

on it, none of which it was prepared for.

Built in 1985, Kenyir Lake came with the construction of a dam across the Sg.

Terengganu at Jenagor. Drowning what was once lush rain forest, the lake is

located 16 km from Kuala Berang & 70 km from Kuala Terengganu, bordering

Kelantan in the west and Pahang in the south including part of National park area.

Though the Sg. Terengganu is the main feeder, an additional 15 rivers also drain

into the lake, its 37,000ha of water surface area broken up by 340 islands, which

were formerly hilltops.

As with most deep lakes in the country, Kenyir is permanently stratified, a

condition that is exacerbated by the fact that none of the original forest

vegetation was removed, except a small percentage at Jenagor dam. Oxygen is

only found in the first 5 – 10m, the rest of its average of 38m being a formidable

soup of ammonia, hydrogen sulphide and iron, where no life can exist.

16

At the surface levels, much of open waters of the reservoir are de facto aquatic

deserts. Most fish remain in the lake periphery, or along the original river channel

and flood plains. Yields in 1990’s ranged 20 kg/ha/yr. Yields were higher yields in

the initial stage of impoundment, but has since declined due to use of explosives,

poison and illegal fishing gears.

Kenyir Lake was originally created for hydroelectricity as well as flood mitigation.

It has now come to play a major role in the economy of the state as follows.

• Hydroelectricity continues to remain the mainstay of the lake’s function.

The Sultan Mahmood Hydroelectric power station feeds some 400 mW

into the national power grid.

• Flood mitigation is also an important role that is played by Kenyir Lake.

The lake levels have an allowable fluctuation of 11m, enabling it to absorb

the monsoonal surge. Floods downstream, which were an annual

occurance, ceased with the construction of the dam.

• The supply of drinking water is a new function. A private concern, Kenyir

One Sdn. Bhd., operates a drinking water processing plant producing

17.42 million L/day. • Lake based ecotourism has become one of the biggest drivers of the local

economy. Ecotourism is spurred by the range of geographical attractions

within the immediate catchment of the lake (rivers, waterfalls, islands,

caves), the biodiversity they support (8,000 flowers, 2,500 plants, 800

orchids,- 200 species of animals, 370 species of birds, 1,000 species of

butterflies, and hundreds of species of snakes and insects), human and

heritage values (Neolithic remains; Smog Beri aboriginal tribe) and

recreational possibilities (water sports, angling). The emphasis on

ecotourism has led to substantial investment in the industry. There are

over thirteen resorts or hotels, 444 chalets, 10 holiday bungalows and 7

raft houses. For food, there are 16 floating restaurants, while numerous

smaller shops hawk souvenirs and handicraft. The resorts and tour

operators rely on a fleet of tourist boats, and navigational safety has

become a major development consideration. • Aquaculture has come to become a major activity within the lake area.

Kenyir lake has been designated an Aquaculture Industry Zone by the

17

State and considerable emphasis has been placed on the commercial

cage culture of tilapia. KETENGAH has also set up a special aquaculture

industrial zone at Sg. Como. The lake already supports an excess of

1,000 such cages and plans are afoot to expand this considerably.

The demands that have been placed on Lake Kenyir by the developments

additional to its original function would clearly strain its ability to sustain the

quality of its environment. Among the impacts that would inevitably follow

unfettered development would a degradation of water quality and eutrophication

from intensive cage culture, sewage and other wastes as well as perturbations

and removal of vegetation cover in the watershed from logging and land

development.

Decimation of fisheries resources from can come from, overfishing and habitat

destruction. The introduction of exotic animal and plant life that can out-compete

local species is a real danger. Already, feral tilapia is proliferating in the lake,

while the arapaima (Arapaima gigas) has been recorded in the lake as well.

In contrast with Bukit Merah, however, governance of Lake Kenyir is vested with

a single institution i.e. Central Terengganu Development Authority (KETENGAH),

which in 1993 was mandated to plan and develop Kenyir Lake as a major tourist

destination in the country.

While KETENGAH itself undertakes potential development activities, identifies

tourism products for local and international markets and prepare strategic plans

to optimize the use of the resources, while the resolution of technical issues are

coordinated with agencies such as Departments of Forest, Fisheries,

Environment, and Energy.

While KETENGAH has little internal understanding of ILBM and capacity to

implement it to its full extent, nonetheless, it reflects a institutional model that

other lakes in the country can emulate.

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2.7 Tasik Pedu/Muda, Kedah

Though most Malaysians know that Kedah and Perlis are one of the most

important rice bowls of the nation, nary a thought is given to how it is watered.

The answer lies in two reservoirs, the Pedu and Muda. Working like a tag team in

a wrestling match, the separate catchments of both combine to provide not only

rice to the nation, but drinking water to the thousands that live in its catchment.

The Pedu is in Padang Terap district, while Muda is in Sik district, both in Kedah.

A tunnel links the Muda to the Pedu to ensure that the Pedu is always full. Built in

1969, both reservoirs come under the Muda Agriculture Development Authority

(MADA).

A total of 6 rivers (Sungai Pedu, Sungai Bong, Sungai Keleh Bulan, Sungai Jek,

Sungai Peluk dan Sungai Mong Gajah) drain into the Pedu reservoir while 4

(Sungai Muda, Sungai Che Song, Sungai Teliang and Sungai Nipis Kulit) feed

the Muda impoundment. Pedu has an area of 5,200ha while Muda is smaller,

only 1,550ha.

The primary functions of both reservoirs are as follows:

o To supply irrigation water to MADA rice growing area. The dams are

expected to supply 750 – 800 million cubic meters annually to 63,000

households in the MADA scheme who rely on rice farming.

o Together with the adjoining Ahning Dam, to supply domestic and

industrial water supply to northern Kedah, Langkawi and Perlis.

However, the values of both reservoirs and their respective catchments go well

beyond simply being a source of water. Among these values are as follows:

o The catchment of both dams support pristine tracts of Dipterocarp forest.

The forest contains elements of Thai-Burmese flora due to its proximity to

southern Thailand. The trees in the Muda Catchment consist of 273 taxa

(260 species, 4 subspecies & 9 varieties) or which 18 are endemic to the

area.

19

o The forests support a wealth of terrestrial wildlife. There are at least 11

saltlicks in Muda and 2 in Pedu. Wildlife surveys have shown the Ulu

Muda area to have substantial populations of large mammals, especially

the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus),

Malayan tiger (Panthera tigris jacksoni) and Malayan sun bear (Helarctos

malayanus as well as a rich diversity of birds including large flocks of the

globally-threatened plain-pouched hornbill. gaur or seladang (Bos

frontalis), Malayan tapir,). Ulu Muda is one of only two places in the world

(the other being Belum-Temengor) where the white-handed gibbon and

the agile gibbon exist side-by-side.

o The lake supports 14 species of fish representing six (6) families i.e.

Cyprinidae, Chilidae, Bagridae, Nandidae and Anabantidae.

The lake also supports small-scale subsistence fishery, with about 45 fishermen.

About 80 tonnes of fish are landed annually. Angling has become a favourite

pursuit, particularly in Muda, with one study indicating that the activity accounts

for 7,680 person-days/year. The gathering of honey is also important in the

nearby forests.

These values have directed the attention of development authorities towards the

lakes, particularly Pedu. Like other lakes described above, new roles have been

imposed on them, for which they are ill-prepared.

The most prominent of these have been resort development in Pedu Lake started

in 1994. However, many of the 235 buildings and part of the golf course were

lower than maximum lake level. MADA stood to loose 163 million cubic meters

of storage (15% of lake storage capacity) if it were to agree to keep levels down,

and it refused.

As a consequence, the resorts could only operate during low water level and the

resorts closed in 2007.

Another major development has been the declaration of Pedu as an Aquaculture

Industry Zone (AIZ). At present 340,000 m2 (3,300 nos. fish cages) have been

20

zoned in Pedu in 4 approved locations, while a further 89,000 m2 (890 nos. fish

cages) in 3 locations have been identified for Muda. Currently, investments in

aquaculture are still limited.

Only 157 cages currently operate in Pedu and its impact is imperceptible.

However, the full development of the AIZ may have a more prominent impact of

lake water quality.

It is clear that both Pedu and Muda reservoirs are not only crucially valuable

national assets in themselves, but also have precious biodiversity values that

have yet to be fully explored. Economic values such as recreational fishing and

ecotourism have also not been fully developed to their full potential. Existing

development efforts have been on an ad-hoc basis and have contradicting

objectives.

For instance, the pristine recreation waterscape that can be sold to tourists can

be marred by cage culture activities.

The underlying management problem facing both lakes lie in the lack a single

management authority that can coordinate and synergise the activities that the

lakes can and need to support. Though MADA is in charge of the dam and

sustaining reservoir levels, it has no say in how the catchment is managed and

developed. For that MADA has to work directly with 4 other government agencies

(Departments of Forestry, Wildlife Fisheries and District Office) and lake

communities and users and indirectly with a number of the others. This plethora

of management players leads to miscues and conflict in the overall management

of the resource.

The Ulu Muda forest (of which the Pedu and Muda are a part) has been

proposed for a State Park. If this transpires, then perhaps the State Park would

have the appropriate unitary authority to rationalize the management of MADA’s

lacustrine tag team.

21

2.8 Tasik Putrajaya, Putrajaya

A visitor to Malaysia’s administrative capital cannot help but be impressed by the

visually arresting architecture that is the hallmark of all its buildings. But the show

stealer is the lake, around which the buildings stand. Tasik Putrajaya is unusual

in that it the largest constructed recreational lake and wetland in the country.

Tasik Putrajaya is not simply an aesthetic extravagance. In the development of

Putrajaya, it was anticipated that major disturbances will occur in storm water

flow as a consequence of land clearing. In order to ensure the surface water run-

off not to be polluted and not to pollute the downstream area, a treatment plant or

wetland was constructed. In addition, a large proportion of the city area was

designated as green open space.

Combining both these considerations led to the creation of 600 ha of lake, 200ha

of wetlands, with 38km of the waterfront area. In fact, Tasik Putrajaya is the

largest man-made wetlands in the tropics. Planted with more than 70 species of

vegetation, the wetland functions as a natural filter for the lake. In addition, it is

also providing habitat and acts as a nutrient regulator. However, as it stands,

Hanguana malayana, which is also a problem in Bukit Merah, occupies most of

the wetland cells.

The source of the water comes from small river upstream of Putrajaya, that come

from the catchments of Sg Chua and Sg Bisa. Rock-filled weirs were constructed

across the small river tributaries to make up the 24 wetlands cells with depths

ranging 2-14 metres. The wetland and the accompanying lake is currently used

for recreation, fishing, water sports and water transport.

Unlike all the other lakes described in this document, Tasik Putrajaya has an

agency dedicated to championing its cause. The Putrajaya Corporation even has

a lake vision i.e.:

“To manage the lake in order to ensure its aesthetic viability, sustain good water

quality, and allow for different recreational uses, including primary and secondary

contact activities.”

22

Lake water quality is of paramount important to the Corporation as its location is

in the heart of the city and also a centre for water sports, recreation and tourism.

The management focus is on stormwater quantity and quality, emergency

preparedness and public awareness and participation. Management measures

include employment of Best Management Practices in construction, pesticide and

fertilizer use, housekeeping, weed control and grass cutting and removal of

floatables.

As a consequence, Putrajaya Lake supports a wide range of terrestrial fauna

including birds, insects, reptiles, mammals & amphibians, as well as rich

population of fish. The management plan for the lake calls for enhancement &

establishment of a balanced biodiversity including stocking of fish and protection

of rare and endangered birds.

Despite the quality of infrastructure and management that is in place, Tasik

Putrajaya suffers from development pressures from outside its boundaries. The

catchment of Putrajaya Lake straddles both the Putrajaya administrative area

(70%), and the State of Selangor (30%). The catchment areas also lies within 3

different municipalities i.e. Majlis Daerah Sepang, Majlis Perbandaran Subang

Jaya and Perbadanan Putrajaya. There are 5 institutional entities operating

within the catchment (Universiti Putra Malaysia, MARDI, Tenaga Nasional

Berhad, Universiti Tenaga Nasional) while property developers (IOI Corp., West

Country, Cyberjaya) are active in the catchment as well.

In addition, there is a small area under individual ownership in Sungai Merab.

There is no one body that coordinates the activities and functions of these

stakeholders and lake continues to be the victim of this fragmentation. Future

development within the catchment is expected to increase run-off and pollutant

concentration will either be maintained or increased. There must be mechanisms

to control direct discharge of fertilizer, detergent and sewage to the system by

controlling its sources in the catchment. Proper maintenance and implementation

23

of the management measures is the key to the success of the wetlands and lake

in achieving its management and operational objectives.

There is thus a need for all these stakeholders to work in concert to enable the

integrated management of the lake catchment. Active participation from all

stakeholders within the catchments is crucial to ensure proper implementation of

the catchments management’s recommended programmes. Therefore, there is a

need to determine the feasible mechanism where strategic intervention can be

made to mitigate the impacts to Putrajaya Lake via catchment protection and

control.

3.0 Achievements and Issues in Malaysian Lake Management

Comparing the 8 lakes reviewed above, it is clear that almost all support a multiplicity of

functions (Table 2). The multi-functionality particularly is pronounced in Kenyir and Pedu

and the least in Terip. Multiple uses have also been thrust on Bukit Merah and Timah

Tasoh, while heritage issues loom prominently in Loagan Bunut and Chini.

Despite this functionality, it is pertinent to note that all the reservoirs examined were

originally constructed for a single (or at most, dual) function, and have newer roles thrust

upon them with little consideration of their ability to support their inclusion.

In particular, lakes have now been looked upon as tourist attractions, with potential for

development of water sports, angling and lake tours. While tourism activities are

generally non-consumptive of impounded water, and thus do not detract from the original

function of the reservoir in that regard, attendant issues such as sewage, sullage and

solid waste generated from these activities have become cause for concern, causing

pollution and proliferation of water weeds.

Another role that many reservoirs are now expected to support is aquaculture,

specifically cage culture. Cages can generate effluent, and if flushing rates are limited,

lead to localised eutrophication. The presence of cages and the effluent they generate

24

detracts from the aesthetic qualities of the lake and conflicts with its use as a tourism

product.

The totality of functions these lakes support, or are expected to support in the future,

have not been fully quantified, though there have been some sporadic studies. The

absence of such studies has stymied a cost-benefit approach to lake development. In

addition, such studies would also underscore the extent to which these lakes are central

to the economy of the areas in which they are located and the extent to which local

communities are dependent on their health.

3.1 Taking Care of a Valuable Resource – where do we stand?

Having established the value and importance of lakes to ourselves – whether at a

national or personal level – it only needs to be asked how well we manage it.

This answer can be drawn from the summary of issues and challenges provided

in Table 3.

The answer in brief, is that, the problems facing our lakes are immense and our

successes in managing them, somewhat limited. Having said that, it is not all

doom and gloom, where lake management is concerned. Table 3 brings to the

fore certain key control points that need to be addressed in bring Malaysian lake

management in line with sustainable management principles.

25

Table 2: Assets and Functions of Selected Lakes in Malaysia No. Lake Function and Assets

Drink- ing

Water

Hydro electri-

city

Irriga- tion

Bio Diver- sity

Water Sports

and Recrea-

tion

Fishing- Arte- sinal

Fishing- Rec-

reational

Aqua culture

Eco tourism

Heritage

1. Timah Tasoh + + + + + +

2. Terip + 3. Bukit

Merah + + + + + + + +

4. Loagan Bunut + + + +

5. Kenyir + + + + + + + + + + 6. Chini + + + + + 7. Pedu/

Muda + + + + + + +

8. Putra Jaya + + + +

26

Table 3: Summary of Issues/Challenges Facing Selected Lakes in Malaysia No. Lake Issues/Challenges

Unplanned Catch- ment

Develop Ment

Pollu- tion

Proliferation

of Aqua-

tic Weeds

Endan- gered/

Declin-ing Biodiversity

Alien Invasive Species

Sedimentation

Declining fish catch

Absence of an

overall ILBM based

management plan

Impair ment of lakeside commu

nity values

Absence of a Central manage

ment Authority

1. Timah Tasoh + + + DNA DNA + DNA + DNA +

2. Terip DNA DNA DNA + 3. Bukit Merah + + + + DNA + DNA + + 4. Loagan

Bunut + + DNA + DNA + + + +

5. Kenyir + + + + + + 6. Chini + + + + + + + + + 7. Pedu/

Muda + + DNA DNA DNA DNA DNA + DNA +

8. Putra Jaya + + + DNA DNA + DNA + DNA

DNA = Data Not Available

27

(a) Unplanned Catchment Development Was the Most Pervasive Issue facing

Malaysian lakes

All lakes suffered from the inability of authorities to see lake health as a function

of catchment health. The upstream development of the catchment in all lakes,

however laudable in themselves ended up affecting the lakes of which they were

a part. The impacts of unplanned lake development usually lead to sedimentation

or pollution. Pollution issues were raised for almost all the lakes described.

Pollution mainly came from sullage and sewage discharges and nutrient run-offs

from agriculture and land clearing activities.

Future development will exacerbate the problems at hand. For instance, the

development of a large swath of the Bukit Merah catchment for animal production

can potentially affect water quality in the reservoir if not properly mitigated.

(b) The Majority of the Lakes Did Not Have an ILBM based Management Plan

Outside Loagan Bunut and Putrajaya lake, none of the other reservoirs and lakes

had ILBM based management plans i.e. there was no common platform to which

management agency agencies could subscribe to. While Loagan Bunut did have

a management plan, these were not based totally on ILBM principles, addressing

only the lake and its immediate surrounds but not the lake basin itself. The

closest that came to a ILBM compliant management plan was that employed by

the Putrajaya lake. Putrajaya’s success is often attributed to the fact that its

managers were adequately funded. While clearly this is true, it is also important

that the lake’s basin, which falls in the Selangor state, has been largely sustained

by the planning regimes employed by the Lembaga Urus Air Selangor (LUAS)

(please refer to Appendix II).

LUAS is a state agency that actively advocates and pursues a basin

management approach where development of Selangor’s water resources is

concerned. The agency’s role in the sustainable development of the larger basin

within which the Putrajaya lake has been a crucial factor in management of the

water body. Given the fragmented institutional environment that confronts lake

28

management throughout the county, LUAS is a useful model for other states to

emulate.

( c) Most did not have a central management authority

Only Putrajaya, Kenyir, Terip and Loagan Bunut had a designated central

management authority. Even then the authority did not extend to the upper

catchment of the respective lakes.

Given the overwhelming tide of problems that Malaysian lakes face, it becomes

easy to disregard its successes. The most successful lake management was in

Terip, which ranked lowest on issues faced. Its success can be attributed to the

following:

o Clear functional goals. Terip was a water supply reservoir and no other

function was attributed to it.

o Clear management goals. The reservoir was managed in relation to water

supply. Its managers were not burdened with additional goals, for which

they were ill-prepared.

o Single management authority. The lake was managed by Syarikat Air

Negeri Sembilan Sdn. Bhd., the state-owned company licensed to

undertake water supply.

o Comity of Action. This basically means there is a consensus among all

agencies that controlled the lake and the land surrounding it on the

manner on which their actions pertaining to catchment is to be guided.

The example of Terip clearly underscores the fact that sustainable management

is not some kind of rocket science that is beyond us. Indeed, much of the

institutional and regulatory infrastructure is already in place, though some

tweaking is no doubt required. What is required is the will to work together in

29

concert, defining collectively what we want to achieve and how, for sustainability

to be the centerpiece of our efforts.

4.0 The Way Forward

The previous section sets the pace for the way forward. We don’t have one lake in the

country. What we have are dozens of lakes, of different sizes and shapes. We have

millions who depend on those lakes. We have heritage values over some of the lakes. In

short, our lake resources are diverse and dispersed.

As exemplified by the 8 lakes described in this document, the core issue still remains in

the lack of an integrated governance framework that would view the lake and its basin as

a single management entity. Managers are hamstrung particularly by the absence of

data on the health of the water bodies under their control. Without such data, managers

are unable to assess the health of the resource at hand, and consequently, prescribe

effective solutions to overcome them. Indeed any discussion of management is futile in

the absence of appropriate data.

The issue of data is symptomatic of the fact that most of the lakes described lack

integrated management plans to ensure their sustainability and appropriate governance

mechanisms to ensure their implementation. The LUAS model is a step in the right

direction and it is hoped that it will become a template for other states to emulate.

In short, there is need for a common platform that all those who manage these lakes can

subscribe to. It must be accepted that we are a federated nation and institutional

fragmentation will always be with us. However, common consensus will draw institutions

to the same goal.

Towards this end, the strategies that have been formulated towards integrating efforts to

manage lakes on a more rational basis should serve to set the stage for a more

comprehensive and holistic management of our lake resources.

5.0 Acknowledgment

30

NAHRIM and ASM would like to express our sincere appreciation to the agencies that

own or manage the eight lakes (Bukit Merah, Chini, Kenyir, Timah Tasoh, Putrajaya,

Loagan Bunut, Pedu-Muda and Terip) for their support and cooperation given to us as

secretariats in completing the first phase of lake brief programme in Malaysia.

A special thanks to these individuals who have played such an important role in

information gathering, write-up phase and completion of lake brief for the eight lakes, for

their commitments, efforts and time:

a) Dr. Alexander K. Sayok, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), Sapuan Ahmad,

Sulaiman Jambahari and Johing Ngayop (Sarawak Department of Forest);

Loagan Bunut,

b) Ir Hor Tek Lip, Muda Agricultural Development Authority (MADA) ;

Pedu-Muda Lake,

c) Prof. Dato’ Mushrifah Idris, The National University of Malaysia (UKM) ;

Tasik Chini,

d) Ir. Hidzrami bin Shamsul Anwar, Kerian District Bagan Serai Department of

Irrigation and Drainage (DID); Bukit Merah Lake

e) Prof. Dr. Fatimah Md. Yusoff, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Zukaimi Ahmad

(KETENGAH) and Nik Nabeelah binti Nik Ibrahim (TNB); Kenyir Lake,

f) Prof. Dr. Wan Ruslan Ismail, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM);

Timah Tasoh Lake

g) Mr. Akashah Hj Majizat, Environment Lake and Wetland Division, Perbadanan

Putrajaya ; Putrajaya Lake

h) Syarikat Air Negeri Sembilan Sdn. Bhd.; Terip Lake

Appendix 1

31

ASM Task Force on ILBM

28th September 2010

Gap Analysis by Prof. Dr. Nakamura (Tasik Chini and Tasik Bukit Merah)

New interface of research cooperation with Malaysian government

Gap analysis is not too difficult if we know where we are and where to go. Success of

gap analysis depends on also socio-economic factors besides of lake knowledge. 6 pillars seem to be going on well. 2 cases I have been reviewed have done a good job.

Situation of Lake Chini is serious. Intervention is heard between the canal and the lake. There are also illegal logging and mining activities. The issues are sometimes overlooked. Those are needed to be involved in decision making.

More comprehensive analysis of all 6 pillars is necessary. Regulating services of ecosystem services is especially important. For the 4 types of ecosystem services, industries in Malaysia have been gaining resource provision services. But there are resource services have associated with tourism, livelihood of indigenous people. Those are related to regulation services, such as food chain. It is difficult to transfer these values in economic system by themselves. Regulation services are crucial for resource provision services. This is the key for Lake Chini.

We need to take it as a national issue but not only the lake-basin and local state. Economy development and lake conservation need to be balanced, especially for Lake Chini case. Intangible value is important but difficult to be valued and the consensus is therefore important for policy making in the national government level, as a decision to balance with national economic policies.

How that can be done in terms of institution, participation, policy aspects? That is the immediate challenge for Lake Chini. Unless looking at the entire Pekan river system, and gradually catching the long-term view, it is not possible to take care of the fundamental issues. Without knowing the silt it is difficult to know how much impact for the lake in a long term. This should therefore be regarding as a long term issue, especially in terms of regulation services, in land, fishery, water supply.

For Lake Merah, the conflict is among provisional services themselves comparing with provisional services and regulation services. The entry point to resolve the conflict seems to be gained from participants’ consensus in the pillars of participation, policy, institution. The time is right for the participants to come together and decide what the public in general on what is the priority use of the resource value there beside of water supply. In terms of water quality, it is not so much an issue but the quantity issue. Whether sand extraction and mining is important is unsure, because the state has enough revenue from private sectors. Therefore it is necessary for the government to re-consider whether it is necessary to ask all the parties to improve water quality, ecosystem services in the mouth of the river instead of sand mining.

32

That is to decide the priority use of the resources. One complicated aspect is the jurisdiction of entities and direct control is not in place. These policies and institutional conflicts can be addressed given the comprehensive picture. With the lake brief, it is clearer to view the issues and search for possible directions for solutions. Especial that a common table is not easier to create comparing with the previous sectoral picture.

The gap analysis is also to look at communities and their activities with the issues that are commonly faced by the communities. Conclusion is that the lake brief is very good in facilitating information for making the platform useful for next year’s work. Lake Chini is really on regulation services, and Lake Merah is on resource provision conflicts. To get priority setting and involvement of public is not limited on sand mining and resort themselves.

Gap Analysis by Prof. Dr. Walter Rast (Tasik Kenyir and Loagan Bunut)

Most issues are reviewed by Dr. Nakamura. One neglected issue is usually that ILBM is difficult to implement, as a concept in need of various fields. Ecosystem services with the notion of lake brief has been created to pull people’s senses on resource provision services. However regulation service is even more crucial.

My questions are on PPT presentation. The general descriptions on lakes and reservoirs are provided, as to support science as one pillar. It would be important to see nutrient contents etc to guide understanding. How can we use the information, especially one obvious issue of tourism with the sustainable quality to maintain and the mutual positive feedback on the environment quality and tourism development.

Another particular is on institution. Synergy is the impression that is given to the public but the inner content is not apparent. Another aspect is politicians and the effectiveness of policies. Another challenge that I caught was the coordination of institution.

The conclusion that good governance is addressed while sustainability especially on finance is also addressed. Some cultural services are also mentioned, besides of regulation and resource provision services. It is difficult to see the actual causes in practice and how sustainable is each proposed solution needs evaluation.

Management plans are mentioned with a long list of contents. That is good information to know. I am impressed by the efforts on lake management in Malaysia here.

33

Appendix 2 Gap Analysis by Dr. Low Kwai Sim (Tasik Putrajaya and Tasik Muda-Pedu)

Review

Chapter ElementsReview (Gaps in information)

(Muda and Pedu Lakes)

Putrajaya Lake

1. Introduction Socio-economic context

Location Importance of the

lake and its drainage basin

2. Description of the Lake

Overview The profile and

characteristics Situational

descriptions Benefits and losses

derived from the lake management

34

ReviewChapter Elements

Review

(Muda and Pedu Lakes) Putrajaya Lake

3. Management of the Lake and Its Basin

Divided into two parts:

(a) Resource use and management

(b) Conflict resolution

(a) Three key questions: Major use and how they

were exploited Major socio-economic and

political implications on the drainage population

What are the resource use conflicts and how are they managed – their stories.

(b) Conflict resolution Stakeholders’ perception of

the overall lake resource use. Are their perceptions consistent with scientific findings.

What are the apparent/non-apparent root causes?

Who and what suffer from the impacts arising from the problems?

Main use: irrigation and some for domestic supply to northern Kedah, Langkawi and Perlis

Other uses: aquaculture Basin: forest products –

honey and forest products

Two types of stakeholders direct stakeholders – (6) Indirect stakeholders who

derive benefits from the water in the lakes (3 – DID, SADA and MADA farmers)

Farmers and fishermen are NGOs and have no role in the management of the lakes and basins.

More discussions needed in Section (b).

Concentration on the lakes for ecology, aesthetics and recreation and tourism.

Conflicts occur mainly of the 30% land in the upstream lake basin contributing silt and pollutants into the lake.

More discussions on how to resolve the issues.

35

ReviewChapter Elements

Review

(Muda and Pedu Lakes) Putrajaya Lake

4. Major Impact Stories

Refer mainly to human interventions dealing with the challenges faced by the lakes and the basin or faced by the drainage population.

Eg provided:

Engagement of political leaders and civil society

Policy frameworks that enhance cross-sectoral coordination

Institutions that address specific needs in resource development, use and conservation

4 major impact stories cited which are challenging:

resort development fishing and aquaculture underwater logging in Pedu minor development or

illegal/uncoordinated activities in the basin

Major gaps: need discussions on policy and cross-sectoral coordination

Each department is carrying out their own portfolio functions irrespective of the other stakeholders and departments. Need more discussions on this. Can a co-ordination committee be formed to co-ordinate as in Kenyir Lake?

Putrajaya Lake represents a success story.

Reason: a concerted effort (political, management and administrative) that oversees the implementation of all the programmes as laid down in the Putrajaya Masterplan

Have an in-house dedicated administrative and research team in daily operations

Result: Very well managed lake

Any conflicts: yes, as indicated in the paper because of upstream-downstream impacts.

36

ReviewChapter Elements

Review(Muda and Pedu Lakes) Putrajaya Lake

5. Major Lake Basin Governance Issues (1)

Key players

Existing legal and policy basis

Plans and policies introduced for managing lakes and the lake basins

Role of the general public and NGOs in managing lakes

5 direct stakeholders: S.Forestry Dept, S. Wildlife Dept, S. Fisheries Dept, S District Office and MADA.

No single organization for overall management

Sectoral governing legislations and regulations.

Basins are in Rank 1 in the NPP where logging, development or agriculture are not permitted except for low impact tourism, research and education.

In reality: they have to:1. Control public access – basins

gazetted as non restricted areas 2. Prevent illegal logging3. Control collection of forest produce4. Prevent poaching of wildlife5. Enforcing the methods of fishing in

the lakes Farmers and fishermen are NGOs

and have no role in the management of the lakes and basins.

Lake: I major stakeholder – PjC

Basin: 7 major stakeholders

Single organization to look after the Lake but not the Basin

Lake: Lake Management Guidelines; very effective for the lake and wetlands.

Basin: Catchment Management Guidelines. Not effective in areas outside the Putrajaya administrative areas

Not much information here

37

Review

Chapter ElementsReview

(Muda and Pedu Lakes) Putrajaya Lake

5. Major Lake Basin Governance Issues (2)

Major control measures introduced/challenges

Major financial mechanisms used to facilitate the control measures

Key challenges in: Formation of State Park Formation of high

conservation value forest (HCVF)

MInimising the impacts of development

Preservation of the eco-system and biodiversity

Not discussed, and this section is very important in view of the challenges faced in going forward to manage the lakes and the basin sustainably in the long-term.

Key challenges in: to ensure lake water quality

meets the required standards for body contact

Catchment management –to protect the water quality and quality

Best management practices

Maintenance of wetlands as a first line of defence against pollutants from outside the administrative area.

The financial aspects not discussed. As this is a well managed lake, good to have an indication of the costs.

38

ReviewChapter Elements

Review

(Muda and Pedu Lakes) Putrajaya Lake

6. Key Lake Basin Governance Challenges

Will attempts be made to establish sustainable institutions to address multi-national, multi-issues and multi-stakeholder interest

Any emergence of political interest and/or commitment to manage the lake more sustainably and the reasons?

Any efforts for new legislative framework and/or policies?

Stakeholder participation Are there plans and

programmes developed to strengthen linkages with the broader national and regional water resources management efforts?

Incorporation of scientific information and research results

Financing and subsidizing mechanisms?

This section seems to have been merged with Chapter 5 when the key challenges were presented.

This has not been fully articulated.

This is one of the gaps in information regarding whether there is a need for a new legislative framework since there is mention of no single agency that is responsible for managing the lakes and the basin.

Not stated

There are attempts to resolve multi-stakeholders issues.

Already inherent in the continual management of the lake.

Already exist but not fully discussed.

Recognised the major stakeholders but need more discussions.

Not fully explored.

Not stated

Not stated

39

Appendix 3 Gap Analysis by P. Loganathan (Tasik Terip and Tasik Timah Tasoh)

SUNGAI TERIP RESERVOIR AND TIMAH TASOH RESERVOIR Lake Description Timah Tasoh Reservoir Sungai Terip Reservoir

1. Basic Information

1.1 Name(s) 1.2 Location

1.2.1 Latitude (range from West to East)

1.2.2 Longitude (range from South to North)

1.2.3 Elevation of water surface (relative to mean sea level)

1.3 Origin 1.4 Basin and/or Watershed Map(s)

1.4.1 Major inflowing and out-flowing rivers

1.4.2 Main cities and other relevant points of interest in the basin

1.5 Basin Demography, Map(s) 1.5.1 Population numbers, density and

distribution 1.5.2 Other relevant information

(maps and other resource materials containing geographical, demographical,

Partial paper provided

Provided

Provided

Provided

Provided

Provided

Provided

Provided

Provided

Provided

Provided

No full paper provided

Provided

Provided

Provided

Provided

Provided

Provided (in brief)

Provided (in brief)

Not provided

Not provided

Not provided

40

land use, geohydrological information for the lake and its basin and/or watershed, etc.)

1.6 Landscape and Waterscape 1.6.1 Visual features of the lake and

its basin (photos of various kinds, including landscape, physical facilities, water quality problems, land and water uses in the riparian and upstream regions, biological and ecosystem conditions, including unique fauna and flora, etc.

2.0 Morphology 2.1 Bathymetric Map (if available) 2.2 Lake Volume (km3) 2.3 Lake Surface Area (km2) 2.4 Lake Length and Width (km) 2.5 Length of Lake Shoreline (in km)

2.6 Maximum Depth (m) 2.7 Mean Depth (m) 2.8 Intra- and inter-annual changes in

water level and volume; and water level changes due to flow regulation, if available

3. Water Balance

3.1 Inflows (annual average, expressed in

Provided

Provided (in brief)

Provided

Provided

Provided

Provided

Not provided

Not provided

Not provided

Not provided

Not provided

Not provided

41

m3/year)

3.1.1 Precipitation 3.1.2 Rivers (including indication if

they are controlled) 3.1.3 Groundwater 3.1.4 Water diversions

3.2 Outflows (annual average, expressed in m3/year)

3.2.1 Evaporation 3.2.2 Rivers (including indication if

they are controlled) 3.2.3 Groundwater 3.2.4 Water diversions

3.3 Water Retention Times (in years, if information is available) 3.3.1 Theoretical filling time (lake

volume/annual inflow) 3.3.2 Theoretical flushing time (lake

volume/annual outflow) 3.3.3 Information on Any Long-Term

Changes

4. Climate

4.1 Monthly Average, Minimum and Maximum Temperature (OC)

4.2 Monthly Average, Minimum and Maximum Precipitation (mm)

4.3 Prevailing wind directions by season; wind strength

Provided

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42

4.4 Seasonal and Inter-annual Variability (description)

5. State of Ecosystem

5.1 Description of State of Ecological Health, including Conservation of Fauna & Flora

5.2 Description of State of Biodiversity Conservation

6. Physical Characteristics

6.1 Water Temperature

6.1.1 Versus time 6.1.2 Versus depth

6.2 Freezing Period and Extent of Freezing

6.3 Lake Mixing

6.3.1 Vertical 6.3.2 Horizontal (main bays and sub-

basins of lake) 6.3.3 Lake Stratification (Period and

Extent of Stratification)

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43

7. Chemical Data

7.1 Concentration (general chemical water quality, including state of eutrophication (e.g., oxygen demand; nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations (organic, inorganic, particulate, and total, if available); salinity; organic and inorganic chemical pollution)

7.2 Pollutant Loadings (tons/year) from Rivers, Groundwater and the Atmosphere

8. Biotic Data (Main Species, Exotic Species, Productivity Changes Over Time)

8.1 Overall state of lake ecosystem, including biodiversity

8.2. Phytoplankton; zooplankton; fish 8.3. Benthos; avifauna 8.4. Linkages (e.g., briefly describe the

ecosystem/biodiversity issues in general in regard to littoral wetlands, rivers, atmosphere (birds, etc.)

9. State of the Lake Basin 9.1 Description of Catchment Area

(including size (km2); general geography of the region in relation to lake and other neighboring water bodies (e.g., other lakes connected in

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44

cascade); catchment (draining-in) system; catchment area of out-flowing river (draining-out) system)

9.2 Basin Hydrology (briefly describe basin hydrology, including active and non-active parts)

9.3 Soil Types (refer to soil map, if available)

9.4 Land Cover, including Changes Over time (briefly describe seasonal land-use changes, via reference to land use map)

9.5 Sub-surface Drainage (briefly describe underground water flows, referring to hydrographical and hydrological maps, if available)

10. Uses of the Lake and Its Resource Development Facilities

10.1 Water

10.1.1 Flood/drought control facilities

10.1.2 Drinking water withdrawals and facilities

10.1.3 Agricultural water withdrawals and facilities

10.1.4 Industrial water withdrawals and facilities

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45

10.2 Fisheries and Facilities

10.3 Tourism Facilities

10.4 Other Uses

11. Impairments to Lake Resource Uses

11.1 Increased Algal Growth

11.2 Increased Salinity

11.3 Destruction of Wetlands

11.4 Declining Fish Stocks

11.5 Other Impairments

12. Causes of Impairments

12.1 Upper-watershed Degradation (including erosion and siltation)

12.2 Point and Non-point Source Runoff from Urban Areas

12.3 Shoreline Degradation and Alterations

12.4 Other Impairments

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46

13. Structural Management Response

13.1 Sewerage Systems

13.2 Industrial Wastewater Treatment Systems

13.3 Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Systems

13.4 Other Relevant Systems

14. Non-structural Management Responses

14.1 Rules 14.1.1 Informal (informal community

rules; voluntary restrictions) 14.1.2 Formal (industrial effluent

regulations; protected areas (land use restrictions, ecological reserves); etc.)

14.2 Economic Incentives (subsidies, taxes, etc.)

14.3 Awareness Raising (public awareness, including environmental education, environmental campaigns, activities of environmental NGOs and CBOs, etc.)

15. Socioeconomic Information (partial duplication of item 1.5

Not provided

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47

above) 15.1 Population Dynamics (numbers,

distribution, main cities, percent urban/rural, etc.)

15.2 Education (extent and types of education, literacy rates, etc.)

15.3 Culture (languages, ethnicities, including indigenous peoples, religion, legends and beliefs about the lake)

15.4 Economic Sectors (major industries and production statistics; regional economic development issues, including transportation, commerce sectors, livelihood issues in different parts of lake basin (i.e., coastal, upland and upper watershed regions; Gross National Income per capita within basin [noting also how it might differ from national average(s)])

48

Appendix II LUAS Model – comprehensive data on ponds, reservoirs, lakes and ex-mining ponds in Selangor.

Province

No. of ponds/reservoirs/lakes

Names of

ponds/reservoirs/lakes

Areas

(hectare)

Distance from river (m)

Volume

(m3)

Nearest

Water Intake

Land Status

Water Quality Analysis

(Accredited Lab/Chemistry Department)

Suitability with Selangor State Development Committee’s Rules and Conditions

Notes