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Project Programme of Research on Hill Reservoirs in the Semi-Arid Zone of the Mediterranean Periphery

- HYDROMED is a program of research on hill reservoirs in the semi-arid zone of the Mediterranean periphery. It is sustained by the European Commission in the framework of the INCO-DC program. It begun in November 1996.
- The research provided guidance for small and medium hydraulic works in soil and water conservation in semi-arid hill areas identifying natural and human constraints to the development of hill reservoirs and provide tools for assistance to decision makers at regional and national levels.
- It demonstrated the importance of small catchment areas for water resources mobilisation, particularly during dry periods.

Project number IC18-CT-1996-0091
Subject(s) no translation available
Acronym HYDROMED
Geographical coverage Morocco, Tunisia, Sweden, Syria, Spain, United Kingdom
Budget (in €) n/a
Programme INCO MED (FP4)
Objectives The main objectives are as follows :

* To study an optimal management of each type of hill reservoirs. The use of the supplement of water resource by users raises both technical and social questions such as, what is the duration of life of a reservoir (siltation) ? or what are the possible social organization of the users ?

* To define an optimal land use planning upstream and downstream the artificial lake. To protect the reservoir, soil conservation works have to be planed on the slopes of the watershed. The development of lands close to the lake downstream (gravity irrigation) or on slopes (pumping requires adequate management. Fish breeding is a possibility to valorize the new water resource, just as the tourist exploitation of some sites.
To assess the impact of one or several lakes on the environment. The hill reservoir is considered as an artificial structure of little size with very few impacts on the environment. This postulate has often occulted researches on real impacts and on ecosystems modifications.
Results - The work carried out in this project should provide guidance for small and medium hydraulic works in soil and water conservation in semi-arid hill areas. It should identify natural and human constraints to the development of hill reservoirs and provide tools for assistance to decision makers at regional and national levels.

-  It should also highlight the importance of small catchment areas in water resources mobilization particularly during dry periods. Starting from the Tunisian example, Hydromed will deepen the reflection on projects of small and medium hydraulic systems and transfer it to the totality of the semi-arid Mediterranean periphery.
Period [01/11/1996 - 01/04/2001]

Partners

  • Institut de recherche pour le développement
    Représentation en Tunisie
    Coordinator acts as project coordinator
    Type
    Country Tunisia
    Web site http://www.bondy.ird.fr
    Contact Albergel Jean,
    Position: WP Coordinator
    Phone/fax: 04 99 61 27 64, 04 67 63 26 14
    Email: Jean.Albergel@ird.intl.tn
  • ACSAD
    Water Resource Division
    Type
    Country Syria
    Contact Mr. Jean Khouri,
    Position:
    Phone/fax: +963 11 574 3039, +963 11 574 3063
    Email: brunel@scs-net.org
  • Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II
    Département des Sciences du Sol, Laboratoire de Physique et Conservation
    Type
    Country Morocco
    Web site www.iav.ac.ma
    Contact Mr. Abdelaziz Merzouk,
    Position:
    Phone/fax: 00212-737-632784 , 00212-7-77 12 85
    Email: a.merzouk@iav.ac.ma
  • Institut National de Recherche du Génie Rural et des Eaux et Forets (INRGREF)
    Département de Conservation des Eaux et du Sol
    Type
    Country Tunisia
    Contact Mr. Nasri Slah,
    Position: PROFESSOR
    Phone/fax: +216 1 709 033, +216 1 717 951
    Email: nasri.slah@iresa.agrinet.tn
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