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The study funded Swedish International Development Agency (Sida) predicts hydro dams on upper Srepok River Vietnam will reduce fish stocks make riverside agriculture impossible, with major negative impact on people's diets livelihoods, especially poorest households.

A draft final version study, "Environmental Impact Assessment on Cambodian part Srepok River due Hydropower Development Vietnam", obtained NGO Forum on Cambodia Swedish International Development Agency, which provided funding.

An estimated 11,000 people, mostly ethnic minorities, live along the Cambodian stretch Srepok River, depend upon river for fishing, drinking, household use, irrigation, livestock and transportation.

All these uses will seriously disrupted series dams Electricity Vietnam plans build on Srepok within five years, according study SWECO Groner Sweden.

The largest dam, 280-MW Buon Kuop, has been under construction since 2003 expected online 2008.

The study notes food security good most riverside population. No children are undernourished due abundant fish river, providing main protein sources. most villages, households have enough cultivation land even produce rice surplus, which together with fish animals can regenerate cash.

But protein deficiency especially growing children can be anticipated since seems available alternative replace fish major protein source, wildlife hunting regulated domestic animals are raised mainly selling not family food.

The study concludes comprehensive change may required riverside villages.

Unless mitigated, expected fish decline river will have a major negative effect on economy fishing households, especially poorest.

The solution, according SWECO Groner, is: Changes both food habits (eating meat more often) economic resources (other sources cash, more efficient animal raising, demanding more pasture land, extension training input introduction new fast-growing species, e.g. rabbits), guarantee future nutrition status riverside people.

Alternatively, Electricity Vietnam could change way its hydro dams are operated. study notes "daily peaking" most environmentally damaging mode operation.

"A major reconsideration dam operating schedules might needed," writes SWECO Groner, "in order avoid destructive effects on downstream areas."

The only way trying save many [fish] species possible try keep [the river] close possible natural conditions, says.

SWECO Groner recommends building specially-designed re-regulating dam near Cambodian border could even out flows to downstream Cambodia.

Sida has agreed public review SWECO's recommendations Phnom Penh later year.

SWECO Groner subsidiary SWECO, Sweden's leading engineering consulting firm longtime hydro adviser Electricity Vietnam.

The writer policy director Toronto-based Probe International, citizens' group monitoring environmental and economic effects foreign aid.