ABSTRACT
River basins have attracted the attention of those involved in planning and managing development because they offer relatively stable, discrete biogeophysical units within which water offers an integrative 'theme' between different facets of resource use and human activity. Development continues to take place within basins, often necessitating management of water resources which may be in private, common or state ownership, and often, shared by more than one group of people or countries. Reinforced concrete dams sometimes fail; there have been problems in warmer climates keeping concrete cool while it cures to prevent cracking and earthquakes may cause damage. Successful river basin planning and management requires more than an effective administrative structure, without a database on water resources status and behaviour and ongoing monitoring it is difficult or impossible to predict flows, seasonal water quality changes. With the possibility of climatic change in coming decades it is important that river basin planners try to predict and develop mitigation strategies where necessary.
