Initiatives & Projects
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 | ||
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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. |
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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. |
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Period | [01/11/1996 - 01/04/2001] |