Halting Desertification in the Júcar River Basin Preparatory Action on development of prevention activities to halt desertification in Europe Brussels, 16 February 2012 Elisa Vargas, Arancha Fidalgo

Scale: Jucar River basin District, in the east of Spain (pilot RBD in the fist stage of the WFD implementation). Aim: obtain and assess socio-economic, environmental and climatic data, feed systems/models and provide recommendations to save water resources. Transfer results: dissemination to EU and non-EU countries through EMWIS. Introduction Three main partners: EVREN (SME), EMWIS (International network), CHJ (Gov.).

Environmental Consulting Firm (SME). 23 years of experience. Offices in Spain (Madrid, Valencia) and Ecuador (Quito). Areas of work: Water resources Agronomy and forest resources Coastal management Land planning Solid wastes Sustainable touristic developments Environmental Impact Assessment Industrial environment International projects Projects developed for Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment, River basin authorities, regional governments, international entities (EC, Plan Bleu- UNEP…). EVREN

Euro-Mediterranean Information System on know-how in the water sector Initiative of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership. EMWIS Strategic tool for exchanging information and knowledge in the water sector. Technical unit since 1999: 22 National Focal Points. Steering Committee: Water Directors from 13 Mediterranean countries. Joint Process: Coordinating working groups on water scarcity/Droughts and water quality monitoring Support non-EU countries in implementing National Water Information Systems able to feed SEEA-W Member of H2020 monitoring and ENPI-SEIS Med team

Júcar River Basin Authority (CHJ)-Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment. Autonomous public entity. Responsibilities of the authority: Development, follow-up and update of the RBMP. Administration and control of the water public domain. Water resources management, supply follow-up (municipalities). Specific hydraulic works. Monitoring networks. Flood and water quality control hydrological studies. Hydrological planning. Rights, concessions, abstractions, discharges… Development of plans and programs for water saving, economic efficiency and environmental improvement. Definition of water quality and demand management action plans and programmes. Technical services related to the objectives and assessment to other administrations, institutions and individuals. CHJ

Data gathering (river discharge, rainfall, evapotranspiration, climate, groundwater, demands…). Data integration: propose methodology, gather and assess data. Assessment and results: recommend most feasible water saving options, propose management measures and targets. Dissemination activities. Objectives of the Action Feed ECRINS, SEAA-W and future Blueprint optimization model. Obtain useful water accounts. Reach managers and local stakeholders by reviewing measures to save water.

1.Establishment of background and context. (Jan.-Feb.) EU strategies, policies, SEEA-W, ECRINS, Júcar RBD features. 2.Collection of data and contacts with administrations and other partners. (Feb.-Apr.) Data delivery feasibility, improvement of datasets. 3.Apply method by SEEA-W and ECRINS specifications. (Apr.-July) Disaggregation, detailed water resources balance, identification of measures. 4.Assessment and recommendations. (Sept.-Dec.) Estimate optimizations and water saving potentials, propose feasible targets. 5.Meetings and deliverables. (12 months) 6.Dissemination and capacity building. (12 months) Web-site section EVREN, EMWIS e-bulletin and website. Tasks

Meetings: 4 main working team meetings (EVREN+CHJ). 3 Partnership meetings (EVREN+EMWIS+CHJ+Stakeholders). 2 Video conferences with EC officials. Reports 3 main reports + recommendations. Other: brochure, web-site sections, dissemination through e- bulletins, non-EU session, event at the final Blueprint Conference. Timetable Deliverables & timetable

Surface: km 2. Population (2009): 5,1 million. Mediterranean climate (average temp ºC; average annual rainfall 500 mm). High season variability. Relevant groundwater resources. Water scarcity & droughts. Drought management plan since Desertification: overexploitation of aquifers and salinization of soils. Relevant demographic and touristic pressures. A river basin facing most of the water resources challenges! Júcar RB main features CHJ

Tourism equivalent population (2009) Irrigation surface (ha) Total water demand from sectors (hm 3 /año) The Júcar RBD is comprised of a group of nine river basins: CHJ Júcar RB main features

Mean Annual Rainfall hm 3 /year Runoff hm 3 Júcar RB hidrology High spatial and temporal variability; Mediterranean Basin Feature CHJ Spatial Distribution of Annual Rainfall (mm/year) Time period: 1980/81 – 2008/09.

UNESCO Humidity Index There are 3 categories of Climatic Regions within the Júcar Basin District: Semiarid Sub humid Humid The UNESCO Humidity Index is an expression of the ratio: Júcar RBD: water resources CHJ

Irrigated crop Surface = hectares Agriculture water demand (2009) GROSS UNIT DEMAND = m³/ha/year NET UNIT DEMAND= m³/ha/year TOTAL AGRICULTURE DEMAND 2.457,53 Hm 3 /year CHJ

Main irrigated crops and irrigation systems CHJ Sprinkle Irrigation System in Albacete Drip Irrigation System in Valencia

Urban Water Demand (2009) Urban Demand Units (UDU) Total water demand: 549 Hm 3 /year CHJ Water Supply (hm3):

Wastewater Reuse Plants Treated wastewater vs. reused wastewater (2009) Total treated waste water volume: 625 hm 3 /year Total reused volume:143 hm 3 /year Total Future maximum consumptive reused volume: 271 hm 3 /year (by applying RBMP, PoM). Main uses: agriculture and environment. Treated Wastewater reuse CHJ

Some of the most relevant water issues (identified in the draft RBMP). Water guarantee improvement and efficiency of traditional irrigation systems. Sustainable management of the Mancha Oriental aquifer. Overexploitation of GW in the Vinalopó area. Adjustment of ecological flows Ecosystem degradation Control of exotic species Adjustment and improvement of water treatment in specific municipalities Pollution control and eutrophication (Serpis and Albaida rivers) Flood risk reduction (low reach of Júcar River) Achievement of GES of the Albufera lake Water rights regularization Further assessment of wetland water requirements Priority substances follow-up CHJ

Poor status: 34 groundwater bodies Good status: 56 groundwater bodies WFD & RBMPs works: Quantitative GW bodies status: Global status CHJ

Pilot activity on data harmonisation in Tunisia 2 technical missions in 2009 Meetings with all the institutional stakeholders Inputs for the financial agreement with the African Water Facility Memorandum of understanding signed between 5 ministries for data sharing under SINEAU Potential technical assistance to the beneficiaries for: Joint preparation of the reference data sets by the national partners Ensuring coherency with international standards EMWIS Experience related to the action

GW Network Nappes phréatiquesNappes profondes RégionPuits PiézomètresTotalForagesPiézomètresTotal Nord Centre Sud Total puits ; 1376 piézomètres (500 équipés) ; 64 forages 3748 points d’observations Experience related to the action EMWIS

Pilot activity on data harmonisation in Jordan 2 technical missions in 2010 Meetings with the main stakeholders Validation with and commitment from the Minister of water and irrigation Endorsement by the Jordanian Prime Minister Draft concept note for a funding request under preparation EMWIS Experience related to the action

Pilot activity on data harmonization in Jordan EMWIS

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