EXTENDING YOUR KNOWLEDGE

These questions are more general than the Interactive computer corrected questions. In fact, many of the questions may not have one correct answer. The purpose of these questions is to provide the users of the RAK with an opportunity to evaluate and apply their understanding of river rehabilitation and mitigation.

In order to answer these questions you can return to the material in the main text to review information on each topic, you can get some ideas about the answer by discussing the issues they raise with some of your colleagues, or you can utilize the RAK web site and Bulletin Board to get help from other RAK users or from one of the content experts that participated in the development of the RAK.

1. Describe the present status of the Mekong River system with respect to impacts from development and other forms of human use and give your opinion about potential future threats and their possible impacts.

2. Discuss the importance of water quality to river "health" and describe the most common sources that contribute to a loss of quality.

3. Discuss the applications and value for river rehabilitation of methods that could be described as "High Technology " and "Low Technology." What are the special advantages offered by the "Low Technology" methods?

4. Discuss the possible methods that can be used for rehabilitation of the floodplain and for the longitudinal connectivity of a river.

5. Based on your general understanding of the Mekong River system and the methods of river rehabilitation, what priorities and programs do you think should be implemented to protect the present, and improve the future, environmental and ecosystem health of the Mekong.