When the World Commission on Dams (WCD) produced its final report in 2000, it published all of the components of the knowledge base (cases studies, thematic reviews, consultations, submissions etc.) on its website. With the passage of time, it has become increasingly difficult to locate these documents online as both the WCD site at dams.org and its successor at Dams and Development (UNEP) have closed.
This archive site presents all of the final knowledge base documents in downloadable pdf format, as extracted from the official WCD CD-ROM that was circulated when the commission completed its work and disbanded.
Social considerations
Balancing Pains and Gains - A perspective Paper on Gender and Large Dams.pdf
Displacement Resettlement Rehabilitatio, Reparation and Development in China .pdf
Report of Social Impacts of Dams - Distributional and Equity Issues in Latin America.pdf
Social Impacts of an African Dam: Equity and Distributional Issues in the Senegal River Valley.pdf
Some Evidences on Overall Distribution and Equity Impacts.pdf
The Alta Case in Norway - how a Hydro-electric Dam Project was Forced Through in Norway.pdf
The Chixoy Dam - The Maya Achi Genocide and Forced Resettlement.pdf
Options assessments
Contributions from the Latin American Experience in irrigation.pdf
Example of Demand Side Management - A neglected heritage provides profitable alternatives.pdf
Irrigation and Agriculture Experience and Options in Israel.pdf
Lessons learned from the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.pdf
Managed Flood Releases from Reservoirs - Issues and Guidance.pdf
Managing for Unforeseen Consequences of Large Dam Operations.pdf
Operation Monitoring and Rehabilitation of Dam reservoirs in Japan.pdf
Operation Monitoring and Decommissioning of Large Dams in India.pdf
Options Assessment and the Planning System in the Indus Basin Irrigation Scheme Pakistan.pdf
Privatisation of Infrastructure Hydraulic Work – Chilean Experience.pdf
Technological Potential for Improvements of Water Harvesting.pdf
Water Efficiency Case Studies from California - The reservoir that toilets built.pdf
Institutional and planning considerations
A Case Study on the Proposed Epupa Hydro Power Dam in Namibia.pdf
Dams in the Context of Transboundary and International Waters.pdf
Implementing World Commission on Dams Guidelines within an International Certification System.pdf
Los Consejos de Cuenca an al Desarrollo des la Presas en Mexico.pdf
Report on International and Comparative Water Law Applicable to Large Dam Construction.pdf
Review of the Role of River Basin Organisations in Latin America.pdf
River Basins - Institutional Framework and Management Options for Latin America.pdf
Transboundary River Basin - Proposed Principles and Discussion Papers.pdf
Environmental consequences
Climate Change and Dams- An Analysis of the Linkages Between the UNFCCC Legal Regime and Dams.pdf
Dams and Biological Diversity - Establishing Strategic Linkages under the Conventions.pdf
Fundamental Legal and Ethical Principles in Adjudging the Merits of Development Projects.pdf
Information Needs for Appraisal and Monitoring of Ecosystem Impacts.pdf
Economic approaches
Best Practice Methods for Valuing Flood Control Benefits.pdf
Financial, Economic and Distributional Analysis- Review paper.pdf
Financial, Economic and Distributional Analysis- Review Paper Version 1.pdf
Financing Statistics Trends and Policies of International Financial Institutions.pdf
Methodological Approach for the Distributional Effectiveness of Large Dams.pdf
Survey of Multilateral Bank Practice on Financial and Economic Analysis of Large Dams.pdf