While annual floods have the potential to cause damage to unprepared communities, spoil crops and endanger food security, they also play a vital role in agriculture. Additionally, annual flood pulses sustain the world-renowned productivity of Mekong freshwater fisheries.
The average annual cost of the repercussions of floods in the Lower Mekong Basin (LMB) ranges from US$60 to 70 million, while on the positive side of the ledger, the average annual value of flood benefits is approximately US$8-10 billion. The goal – and challenge – of flood management is to reduce the costs and impacts of flooding while preserving the benefits.
The cost of drought in the LMB dwarfs the cost of flooding. Furthermore, unlike floods, droughts provide no apparent benefit.