This paper analyses the effectiveness of traditional water governance in Flood-based Livelihood Systems (FBLS), which harness floods that could have caused environmental degradation. Ostrom’s Governing the Commons Principles, widely recognized for the effective management of shared resources, is used as a framework. The paper draws from discussions with 300 farmers and pastoralists in Tana River FBLS, the oldest traditional system in Kenya. The traditional floodwater governance does not satisfy Ostrom's Principles and livelihood needs. Small-scale farmers and pastoralists frequently experience floodwater scarcity while large-scale farmers use excessive floods often causing waterlogging. This floodwater sharing disparity generates conflicts and threatens small-scale farmers’ and pastoralists’ livelihoods. Large-scale farmers are primarily concerned with inadequate floodwater management infrastructure that hampers maximizing their harvest. For increased sustainability and equity, fairer floodwater sharing systems and enforcing institutions should be introduced before infrastructural development. These lessons from Tana River can contribute to a larger livelihood potential for flood-based agriculture globally.

本文分析了基于洪水的生计系统 (FBLS) 中传统水治理的有效性，该系统利用可能导致环境退化的洪水。奥斯特罗姆的公地管理原则被广泛认可为有效管理共享资源，被用作一个框架。该论文来自与肯尼亚最古老的传统系统塔纳河 FBLS 的 300 名农民和牧民的讨论。传统的洪水治理不能满足奥斯特罗姆的原则和民生需求。小农和牧民经常遇到洪水短缺，而大农使用过度洪水经常导致内涝。这种洪水分担差距会产生冲突，并威胁到小农和牧民的生计。大型农户主要担心洪水管理基础设施不足，这会阻碍他们的收成最大化。为了提高可持续性和公平性，应在基础设施开发之前引入更公平的洪水共享系统和执行机构。塔纳河的这些经验可以为全球洪水农业带来更大的生计潜力。