Author(s): Ammar Jarrar; Niranjali Jayasuriya; Maazuza Othman; Anan Jayyousi
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: Integrated management; Natural resources; Semi-arid regions; Water allocation; Agriculture-dominated watersheds
Abstract: Arid and semi-arid regions are generally characterized by water scarcity and low per capita water allocation. In such areas, intensive agricultural activities associated with high population growth cause a further exacerbation of this problem. The Faria watershed located in the northeastern part of the West Bank, Palestine is one of these semi-arid regions where the lack of proper management of natural resources has negatively affected the existing obtainable surface water and groundwater resources including springs water which supplies more than 50% of the water supply to agriculture. For that, assessment and modeling of the sustainable-yield limits of water resources within the watershed including groundwater and surface water is carried out considering possible climatic changes. Furthermore, alternative conventional and non-conventional water resources need to be utilized including the use of surface runoff, wastewater effluent and brackish water. Therefore, optimal water allocation policies and decision criteria have to be developed to account for the socio-economic ramifications, environmental consequences, and water resources availability. This paper conceptually demonstrates a management framework to integrate diverse modules of surface water and groundwater models, precipitation-spring yield statistical correlation, a planning model for economic evaluation, a multi-criteria decision analysis model, and a GIS technology to facilitate processing and visualization. The framework incorporates an assessment of the existing data and future needs, and a formulation of management scenarios and decision criteria based on data synthesis for Faria watershed as a case study.
Year: 2005