Foundation: Environmental Grace & Problems in Brantas River Watershed and Its Coastal Area

Brantas River originates from Community Forrest Park, Arjuno Mountain and flows until Eastern Java sea for 320 km, The inhabitants in the watershed are more than 45% of the population in East Java. Brantas River is a source of people's lives in East Java and also Bali. An important contribution is in particular, to supply of electricity with installed capacity of 239MW to hydroelectric power stations that generates annual production of 1 billion kW-hours
supported by 14 dams. Brantas river also serves; as flood control equivalent to 60,000 hectares (ha) in major rivers,
irrigation source for agricultural area of 340,000 ha (83,000 ha directly from the main river), plays a role in the
provision of raw water for the people for 240 million m3 per year and 135 million m3 for industrial and provide open
water for fisheries around 15,000ha. The extensive Brantas watershed (1,118,559 ha) is classified into upper zone
(238,148 ha with 3 sub-watersheds), the middle zone (606 290 ha with 4 sub-watersheds), and a lower zone 344 121 ha
with 3 sub-watersheds). Brantas River is inter-administrative body river that flows through 14 districts, viz Malang,
Blitar, Tulungagung, Trenggalek, Kediri, Pasuruan, Sidoarjo, Mojokerto, Jombang, Nganjuk, Gresik, Madison,
Pasuruan, and Ponorogo, and 4 cities viz Malang, Mojokerto, Kediri, and Surabaya. Populations, industrial activities,
residential area, commercial and social activities in the watershed are rapidly being increased. This situation has led to
increase in demand for water availability year by year. A water demand calculation by BBWS Brantas has indicated
required amount of water 4,963,813, 5,528,316 and 5,853,317 million m3/year in 2005, 2020, and 2030, respectively.
The demand is not only quantities, but also the needs are recognized for conservation of water quality and watershed
level environmental rehabilitation to mitigate threats of available amount of water too. The situation is further
exacerbated by global climate change. The degradation of Brantas watersheds and river does not only occurr by the
effect of the bio-physical and chemical environmental processes, but it is also significantly affected by regional
socio-economic development. Under these circumstances, the government of the Republic of Indonesia has designated
Brantas river basin as a critical watershed and highest priority for restoration since 2008. Brantas River flowing into the
east coast of Surabaya is causing coastal and marine environmental degradation. According to several studies about the
impacts, actual information is still lacking, particularly that for sustainability of marine and coastal life. It is indicated
that costal area management is also necessary to enter in to the integrated watershed planning. The importance of
conservation and rehabilitation of Brantas river watershed is rapidly gaining significance. Hence, a comprehensive
research, technical and social engineering capacity development is needed, which is also including the environmental
education for the future Brantas watershed inhabitants. Simultaneously, an increase in public awareness for the grace of
the watershed should be improved. Various agencies have been ever committed to act quickly and precisely, and the
integrated institution is also already associated among various stake holders