Japan National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management Delegation Visits IWR

Left to right: Dr. Eugene Stakhiv, Mr. Toshihisa Ozeki, Mr. Bob Pietrowsky, Dr. Jeff Arnold, Mr. Akira Yamamoto, Dr. Tony Eberhardt, Mr. Norihiko Yoda, Mr. Yoichi Kogure and Dr. Will Logan.

WASHINGTON, DC – February 18, 2010. A delegation of engineers from the Japan National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management (NILIM) (a division of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport) and the director of the Japan Water Forum visited IWR on January 20, 2010 to discuss potential effects of and responses to climate change.

Mr. Akira Yamamoto, Director of the NILIM River Department, and Mr. Toshihisa Ozeki and Mr. Norihiko Yoda, researchers in the NILIM River Department, were joined in their visit by Mr. Yoichi Kogure, Director of the Japan Water Forum. Attendees from IWR included Mr. Bob Pietrowsky, Dr. Eugene Stakhiv, Dr. Tony Eberhardt, Dr. Will Logan and Dr. Jeff Arnold. Dr. Tom Evans from the IWR Hydrologic Engineering Center (HEC) in Davis, California, participated by phone, as did Mr. Kevin Knuuti from the USACE Sacramento District office, Dr. Andrew Garcia from the USACE ERDC laboratory in Vicksburg, Mississippi, and Ms. Heidi Moritz from the USACE Portland District office.

The topic of discussion selected by the visiting delegation was water management adaptation measures against climate change effects, particularly sea level change. Mr. Knuuti presented information on the background process and technical content of USACE Engineering Circular 1165-2-211, “Water Resource Policies and Authorities Incorporating Sea-Level Change Considerations in Civil Works Programs” (pdf, 457 KB). This led into a general discussion of how practical measures for adapting to sea level change and other potential climate change effects might best be incorporated in water management planning.

Both IWR and NILIM look forward to future discussions on our many mutual interests in water-related climate change effects.

More about the Partnership

USACE and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport established a partnership in 2003 to exchange technical information relating to flood control and water resources management. The implementing agreement was extended for an additional five years in 2008. Technical exchanges and meetings have facilitated the sharing of information and best practices, allowing both organizations to benefit from each other’s expertise.

Learn more:

• USACE partnership with MLIT
• Extension of the Implementing Agreement
• The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport