Utilizing Satellite Based Observations and Physical Hydrological Modeling for Freshwater Ecosystem Health in The Lower Mekong River Basin

This presentation will show an ongoing freshwater health assessment stemming from a partnership between the National Aeronautical and Space Agency (NASA) and Conservation International (CI) that is dedicated to improving natural resources assessment for conservation and sustainable management. The goal of this work is to develop a calibrated satellite- and hydrologic modeling-based tool to support the assessment of hydrologic environmental health and value natural capital in the Lower Mekong River Basin. Vollmer et al., (2018) have presented the social-ecological framework named the Freshwater Health Index (FHI), which takes account of the interplay between governance, stakeholders, freshwater ecosystems and the ecosystem services they provide. The FHI framework and its accompanying indicators are oriented toward management and stakeholder engagement, and they make a significant contribution by providing a systematic, evidence-based quantitative tool that supports the integration between social and ecological nature of fresh waters at the basin level. Since the FHI is intended to be used iteratively, we leverage multiple data products and hydrological modelling capabilities specifically created to improve decision support in the Lower Mekong basin (Mohammed et al., 2018). Mohammed et al. modelling capabilities enable the integration of satellite-based daily gridded precipitation, air temperature, digital elevation model, soil characteristics, and land cover and land use information to drive watershed model water simulations over the Lower Mekong River Basin. Multiple dam reservoirs scenarios have been envisioned and tested based on stakeholder engagement to enhance the results of the integrative social and ecological nature of fresh waters at the Srepok, Sesan, and Sekong (3S) River Basins of the Lower Mekong. This assessment provides a comprehensive picture of freshwater ecosystem health, the services it provides and the status of its governance at the Lower Mekong.