NAHR AL KALB AND THE JEITA

SPRINGS - AN IWRM CASE

STUDY

Nadim Farajalla, PhD Director of Research

Climate Change and the Environment Program

Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs

American University of Beirut

Note

• This presentation will draw heavily on work conducted

under a German-Lebanese Technical Cooperation Project

for protecting the Jeita Springs – most graphics are taken

from various reports produced under this project.

Key Definitions

• IWRM may be defined as a process which promotes the

coordinated development and management of water,

land, and related resources to maximize the resultant

economic and social welfare in an equitable manner

without compromising the sustainability of vital

ecosystems

• It involves the integration of natural and anthropogenic

systems – the former includes the integrated

management of surface and groundwater resources

Project Area Description

• Case study is for the integrated management of surface

and groundwater resources in the Nahr El Kalb area.

• Surface water component:

• Nahr El Kalb - catchment covers about 272 km2

• Average annual flow of around 254 million m3

• Groundwater component:

• Jeita springs – catchment covers about 400 km2

• Average annual flow is estimated at about 210 million m3

• Catchment areas include a multitude of land uses

Project Area

Project Area

Project Area Description

• Catchment area – within Nahr El Kalb - includes a

multitude of land uses and an equal number of threats

• Significance of area:

• Nearly 200,000 inhabitants

• Major water source for Beirut

• Major tourist attractions:

• Ski resorts

• Coastal resorts

• Natural attractions - Jeita cavern, Faqra natural bridge, etc.

• Archeological sites - Nahr el Kalb monuments, Kfardebian temples, etc.

• Religious sites – Harissa, Bkirke, etc.

• Shopping district - Kaslik

Agriculture

Urban

Industrial and Roads

Forests

Erosion and quarries

Mass Movement

Identification of Stakeholders

• Ministry of Energy and Water (Beirut and Mount Lebanon

Water Establishment)

• CDR

• Residents

• Farmers

• Industrialists

• Tourist resorts owners/operators

• Local and national NGOs

• Donors

Problem Identification

• Increasing pollution of surface and ground water

• Identified threats:

• Agriculture

• Gas stations and car shops

• Quarries

• Slaughter houses

• Feedlots

• Industries

• Restaurants, hospitals, other wastewater generators

• Increased tension over allocation of water between cazas

– Keserwan, Jbeil and Metn – and within cazas.

Actions Taken

• Series of public hearings with local citizenry to identify local perspectives of problems

• Involvement of CDR and MOEW in formulating plans for managing water resources – wastewater collection networks, water supply networks, environmental impact assessments guidelines, etc.

• Development of wastewater collection network and treatment facilities

• Proposal for increasing groundwater recharge through construction of a dam – as an adaptation measure to climate change

Precipitation

What is still missing?

• Institutional framework to manage the basins

• Targeted regulations

• Monitoring protocols for surface and subsurface

resources

• Sustainable buy-in by the stakeholders

Thank You