Brussels, 16 February 2012

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

2. Introduction Three main partners: EVREN (SME), EMWIS (International network), CHJ (Gov.). 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.

3. EVREN 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…).

4. EMWIS • Euro-Mediterranean Information System on know-how in the water sector • Initiative of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership. • 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

5. CHJ 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.

6. 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. 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.

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

8. Deliverables & timetable 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

9. CHJ Júcar RB main features Surface: 42.851km2. Population (2009): 5,1 million. Mediterranean climate (average temp. 14-16ºC; average annual rainfall 500 mm). High season variability. Relevant groundwater resources. Water scarcity & droughts. • Drought management plan since 2007. Desertification: overexploitation of aquifers and salinization of soils. Relevant demographic and touristic pressures. A river basin facing most of the water resources challenges!

10. CHJ Júcar RB main features The Júcar RBD is comprised of a group of nine river basins:

11. CHJ Júcar RB hidrology Mean Annual Rainfall 21.446 hm3/year Runoff 3.933 hm3 Spatial Distribution of Annual Rainfall (mm/year) Time period: 1980/81–2008/09. High spatial and temporalvariability; Mediterranean Basin Feature

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

13. CHJ Agriculture water demand (2009) TOTAL AGRICULTURE DEMAND 2.457,53 Hm3/year Irrigated crop Surface = 369.003hectares NET UNIT DEMAND= 4.020 m³/ha/year GROSS UNIT DEMAND = 6.660 m³/ha/year

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

15. CHJ Urban Water Demand (2009) Total water demand: 549 Hm3/year Water Supply (hm3): Urban Demand Units (UDU)

16. CHJ Treated Wastewater reuse Treated wastewater vs. reused wastewater (2009) • Total treated waste water volume: 625 hm3/year • Total reused volume:143 hm3/year • Total Future maximum consumptive reused volume: 271 hm3/year (by applying RBMP, PoM). • Main uses: agriculture and environment. Wastewater Reuse Plants

17. 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

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

19. EMWIS Experience related to the action 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

20. GW Network EMWIS Experience related to the action

21. EMWIS Experience related to the action 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

22. EMWIS Pilot activity on data harmonization in Jordan

23. Thank you for your attention! Questions and comments: evargas@evren.es; arancha.fidalgo@chj.es www.evren.es; www.chj.es