Integrated Management of the Litani River Basin, Lebanon’s Vital Water Resource

The Litani River is the largest river in Lebanon, crossing more than 140 kilometers as it meanders through the Beqaa Valley on its way to the Mediterranean Sea. Along this journey, the river contributes in many ways to the country’s economy – supplying irrigation for farmers, drinking water for residents, a resource to local industry, and power generation for Lebanon’s energy grid. The river’s environmental and ecological contributions are noteworthy as well: Lake Qaraoun, created by the damming of the Litani river, is a vital source of water and refuge for migratory and wintering birds.

Despite the river’s important profile, the Litani River Basin faces many threats. Pollution from residential, industrial, and agricultural activities, as well as from garbage, contaminates the river and spreads to soils, crops, animals, and water systems, threatening the well-being of local communities. Competing demands from farmers, industries, and residents have become a source of conflict. These pressures are compounded by declining groundwater levels and increased instances of water shortages. This makes conserving and adequately managing the Litani River Basin essential to promoting inclusive economic growth, supporting local farmers’ livelihoods, and preserving a healthy natural environment.

Between October 2009 and April 2014, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Government of Lebanon partnered with us to improve the management and utilization of water resources in the Litani River Basin.

Strengthening the Capacity of the Litani River Authority

The project partnered with the Litani River Authority (LRA)—a governmental agency operating the Qaraoun Dam, hydropower plants, and irrigation systems—to build its capacity in integrated river basin management (IRBM).  IRBM focuses on several key areas, including infrastructure development, monitoring and enforcement of withdrawals and releases, water governance, and water user awareness and participation. This goal was to establish sustainable management practices and enable all water users to equitably access and benefit from the basin’s water resources.

To support the LRA’s capacity to implement IRBM, the project team:

• Helped to prepare a river baseline assessment and a five-year basin management plan;
• Assisted with the formation of a water federation with municipalities located in the basin;
• Constructed a pilot wetland as a low-maintenance alternative to wastewater treatment plants; and
• Upgraded the data and communication networks of the LRA for improved data collection and monitoring capacities.

Improving Litani River Basin Water Monitoring and Increasing Data Usage

Sound management and decision-making rests on reliable information. The project’s technical assistance to the LRA improved the collection, quality control, storage, and dissemination of surface water and groundwater data in the Litani River Basin, in terms of both quality and quantity. This included procuring water monitoring equipment, installing automated gauging stations and groundwater observation wells, and generating a computer model to help LRA staff forecast future levels and test different management strategies. With this data, the LRA established a monthly bulletin to inform local municipal authorities and residents on various water quality parameters.

Integrated and Participatory Irrigation Management

Irrigation uses a large share of water resources in Lebanon and heavily draws from groundwater. Therefore, it was important to work with local farmers to improve irrigation practices and increase water use efficiency to avoid over-exploitation. Activities included developing an operations and maintenance (O&M) plan for Canal 900, a pressurized irrigation system covering approximately 2,000 hectares, installing O&M equipment on the canal, and constructing two gravity diversions to increase the served area. Using the improved water monitoring data, we also created a computer model of the irrigation network to facilitate planning and optimize water delivery.

Working directly with farmers, our team helped to establish the Canal 900 Farmers Committee and developed a capacity building program covering on-farm water management and irrigation scheduling, soil management, rational use of fertilizers and pesticides, and modern irrigation and crop production.

Flood Risk Management and Dam Monitoring

Two primary concerns in the Litani River Basin are to effectively monitor the Qaraoun Dam and manage the risk of flooding. For the Qaraoun Dam, the project carried out a failure mode analysis to determine safety monitoring needs, conducted two underwater inspections of the dam to detect and repair leaks, and drafted an emergency management plan to prepare Lebanese authorities for the hypothetical (yet unlikely) event of dam failure.

For flood management, the project conducted a flood field survey and developed a river flow model to predict the extent and magnitude of different flood levels and to test various flood management approaches. The project also developed a flood management plan to assist the LRA and municipalities with planning for potential flood events.

Our integrated approach to river basin management demonstrates that social equity, economic efficiency, and environmental sustainability can be seamlessly intertwined to enhance natural resource governance, facilitate economic growth, and support local livelihoods while reducing pressure on the natural resource base.