Washington, D.C. (October 8, 2024)-A new database developed by the Global Dam Watch (GDW) consortium is set to revolutionize our understanding of river barriers and reservoirs worldwide. The database, known as the GDW database, integrates existing global datasets to provide the most comprehensive and globally consistent resource for large-scale analyses to date.
Researchers and policymakers can learn more about the GDW database in a new peer-reviewed journal article in Scientific Data and access the full dataset to gain valuable insights into these crucial water management systems here.
"This database provides a major step forward toward a comprehensive and consistent global database of river barriers and reservoirs. A wide range of hydrological and water resources analyses are now possible, with major implications for water resources management and conservation of freshwater systems-the lifeblood of humans and nature across the globe," said Michele Thieme, Deputy Director, Freshwater at World Wildlife Fund.
With millions of river barriers scattered across the globe, ranging from wooden navigation locks to concrete dams, it is crucial to have accurate and up-to-date information on their characteristics and geographical distribution. However, existing global datasets are often created from national or basin scale inputs, making them inconsistent and unreliable for global analyses. The GDW database aims to address this issue by bringing together existing global datasets to create a single, globally consistent repository of instream barriers and reservoirs and their attributes.
"It is astonishing how little we know about the global distribution of river barriers and reservoirs given their importance. Yet we need to know their precise location within the river network if we want to fully understand both their benefits for humans and their environmental tradeoffs," said Bernhard Lehner, Associate Professor of Geography at McGill University
Version 1.0 of the GDW database contains 41,145 barrier locations and 35,295 associated reservoir polygons. These barriers represent a cumulative storage capacity of 7,420 km3 and an artificial terrestrial surface water area of 304,600 km2.
"The Global Dam Watch (GDW) database consolidates the world's largest open-access global datasets into a unified, comprehensive resource with consistent dam attribute information. Together with other tools available at www.globaldamwatch.org, its release aims to empower the community to enhance our understanding of the socio-economic and environmental costs and benefits of dams," said Mark Mulligan, Professor of Physical and Environmental Geography at King's College London.
River barriers and their associated reservoirs play an important role for water supply, flood control, hydropower production, and navigation. Yet at the same time there are negative ecological consequences caused by the fragmentation and regulation of river ecosystems and the trapping of sediments. The GDW database will enable large-scale analyses of the environmental and social trade-offs associated with river barriers and reservoirs, shedding light on their impacts and facilitating informed decision-making. The GDW database fills a crucial gap in our understanding of these artificial structures and facilitates a more sustainable and informed approach to managing river barriers and reservoirs worldwide.
