Da Nang establishes monitoring teams for river protection

Community-based water monitoring

The Cu De River originates from the Truong Son mountain range, winding through forests before flowing into Nam O Bay (Da Nang). The river is not only a tourist destination but also plays an important role in the city's water supply, ecosystems, and the livelihoods of communities in the city's northwestern area. Particularly, within the strategy to ensure water security, the Bac reservoir area upstream of the Cu De River is considered a crucial water reserve for Da Nang, helping reduce dependence on the Vu Gia River.

However, alongside socio-economic development, the Cu De River basin is facing significant pressure from production and daily activities. Farming on sloping land, small-scale livestock farming, forest exploitation, and uncontrolled waste discharge have all affected water quality and ecosystems. Prolonged heatwaves have also reduced upstream water supplies, while some unsustainable fishing practices have negatively impacted the environment.

In response to this situation, the Center for Environment and Community Research (CECR), in coordination with local authorities, has implemented the "Community-based Water Monitoring" model under the project "Promoting public participation in environmental protection and sustainable water management in Da Nang for the 2024–2027 period." Notably, local residents are not only trained and informed but also directly serve as on-site monitoring forces.

In Ta Lang and Gian Bi villages (Hai Van ward), monitoring teams conduct weekly activities, checking water color, turbidity, aquatic life, discharge sources, and behaviors that may pose pollution risks. They also directly remind residents and tourists to raise awareness of environmental protection when visiting and bathing in streams.

Mr. Nguyen Van Trung, Deputy Head of the Front Work Committee of the Ta Lang residential group, shared that the river is the lifeblood of local residents, inseparable from daily life. Therefore, river health is the most critical factor for the community.

Since participating in the model, awareness and actions of local people have significantly improved. Many previously harmful practices, such as illegal gold mining, the use of toxic chemicals, and electrofishing, have been brought under control. Residents now proactively detect, record, and promptly report violations to functional agencies.

Beyond monitoring, the teams actively encourage residents not to litter and to dispose of waste at designated locations. When illegal gold mining or activities affecting water sources are detected, residents will immediately report them so that functional forces can take timely prevention action.

Community-based sustainable water management

According to CECR, one of the model’s notable outcomes is the development of a baseline dataset on "river health," including assessment reports on hydrology-hydraulics, water quality of the Cu De River, and habitat conditions. In addition, maps identifying areas at risk of flooding and landslides have been completed, providing an important foundation for local management and risk response.

At the same time, training activities have enabled residents to early detect signs of changes in water sources while equipping them with simple yet effective monitoring skills suited to practical conditions. More importantly, the model has transformed environmental information from "technical data" into a "community tool," helping communities become more proactive in protecting water resources and coordinating with authorities in resource management.

Ms. Nguyen Ngoc Ly, Chairwoman of the Management Board of CECR, said the project aims to promote the community’s substantial participation in environmental protection and sustainable water management in Da Nang. After a period of implementation in seven villages and residential groups along the Yen, Tuy Loan, and Cu De river basins (Ba Na, Hoa Vang, and Hoa Tien communes and Hai Van ward), the model has clearly demonstrated the central role of local residents in environmental and water protection in line with legal provisions.

Beyond raising awareness, the project has also driven behavioral change. Through training and expert support, residents have gained a better understanding of the role of indicator species such as Nien fish and freshwater snails, thereby forming monitoring teams and adopting sustainable fishing practices while limiting destructive methods.

In the field of waste management, the project has also recorded new progress by applying digital technology to track domestic waste. Recording waste data, particularly for recyclable waste, not only enhances transparency but also encourages more active participation in waste sorting at the source. As a result, linkages among residents, collection units, and scrap buyers have improved, gradually forming a sustainable, community-based waste management chain.

The practical experience of community-based monitoring teams shows that protecting water sources cannot rely solely on management agencies but must start with the community itself. When residents become the key actors in monitoring and action, each river gains a more sustainable "protective shield." This is not only a short-term solution but also a fundamental approach to ensuring water security amid increasing urbanization and climate change.

"The implementation of the 'river health' monitoring model enables residents to access simple yet effective methods for tracking water quality. From measuring pH and turbidity to maintaining regular records, communities can proactively detect signs of pollution and respond in a timely manner," said Ms. Nguyen Ngoc Ly, Chairwoman of the Management Board of the Center for Environment and Community Research (CECR).