MASTER PLAN STUDY ON FLOOD MITIGATION AND RIVER MANAGEMENT FOR SG SELANGOR RIVER BASIN

The Sg Selangor Basin covers an area of about 1,960 km sq., which is nearly a quarter (24.6%) of the total area of the State of Selangor, and approximately 70 km long and 30 km wide. The Basin is located to the north of Kuala Lumpur City, bounded by the Sg Klang Basin in the south and Sg Bernam Basin in the north, and encompasses the Districts of Gombak, Kuala Selangor and Hulu Selangor in 19 Mukims. The Basin is rich with natural and ecological systems. The upper Basin provides a green and pristine upland with unique flora and fauna while the downstream areas have the natural wonder, internationally known firefly colony at Kg Kuantan. 

Rapid urbanization in the Sg. Selangor basin has resulted in many conflicting interests of water users and environmental problems. The control of both the quantity and quality of runoff is now being seen to be of major importance in basin management and its receiving waters. Key issues that beset the Basin include declining water quality in its rivers, encroachment into most of its riparian reserves, downstream flooding and significant loss of forest cover.

Recognizing the importance of alleviating adverse environmental problems and achieving sustainable development within the river basin, the Department of Irrigation and Drainage, Malaysia (DID) moves towards holistic approaches to flood management over the whole river basin so that the needs of the present are met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Towards this end, the generalized idea was to formulate an Integrated River Basin Management Plan (IRBMP) for Sg. Selangor to achieve sustainable development within the river basin and to provide integrated catchment models to examine issues of long-term environmental changes. The IRBMP formulated in this study is designed to be multi-functional and it is used as the basis for resolving conflicting interest of water users and establishing environmental objectives. The potential benefits of IRBMP lie not just in improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the DID's effort in flood alleviation and environmental enhancement, but also in a partnership approach to river basin planning between DID, local authorities and the general public. 

ASPEC was commissioned to undertake comprehensive environmental studies of this Master Plan Study in September 1999. The Final Report of the Master Plan was completed in October 2002.