Water Resources Management in Mountain Regions

High-altitude regions offer several challenges for the management of surface and subsurface water resources, due to their unique weather patterns, geology and topography. In this grand survey of mountain region hydrology, the assessment, dynamics and modeling of glaciers, rivers and lakes is explained in detail, and the impact of climate change and anthropogenic activities on the mountain ecosystem is analyzed. Challenges for the sustainable management of water resources are discussed, including hydroelectric power generation, irrigation, drinking water supply, pollution and the risk of flash floods. The final section of the book looks at indigenous methods of water resource management and their importance for 21st century strategies, as well as the potential for socio-political conflict as the demand on water resources rises.