River Basin Management Plan SEVAN RIVER BASIN in Armenia

Home , Akhpradzor, Astghadzor, Karchaghbyur, Lchavan, Makenis, Martuni (village)

EUWI+ supports River basin management plan SEVAN RIVER BASIN in Armenia

implemented by Sevan River basin Factsheet - Armenia

European Union Water Initiative for Eastern Partnership EUWI+  European Water Framework Directive, an support Water Policy Reforms innovative approach to water protection, to improve Water Resources Management  Water resource management through River with the Water Framework Directive (WFD) basin management plan,  Active participation of all players concerned, countries including NGOs and local communities, in ARMENIA AZERBAIJAN REPUBLIC 6 GEORGIA REPUBLIC UKRAINE water management activities. BELARUS MOLDOVA 10 River Basin districts 30 million inhabitants

Blue text for more information http://www.euwipluseast.eu Sevan River basin Factsheet - Armenia

Sevan River Basin District Sevan river basin total territory of Armenia, Hrazdan River district 1/6 originates from the lake. 4,721 km2 where Lake Sevan is 1,279 km2

Thousand inhabitants where 70% in rural 212 areas

agricultural land where 85% are 56% grassland and pastures Armenia © 2018, EUWI+ million m3 is a maximum annual amount of water outlets from Lake Sevan according to Law of RA. Outlets exceeding that amount should be made according to the relevant decisions of 170 the Government of Armenia. Sevan River basin Factsheet - Armenia

Water Needs – Quantity & Quality 284. million m3 abstracted per year from surface water sources : 265.4 mln. m3 or 93.2% Monitoring networks of the quality and from groundwater sources: 19.5 mln m3 or 6.8% quantity of surface and groundwater, as well as the frequency of observations and a list of 9 parameters should be revised in accordance with the rules and regulations of the EU Water of all surface water bodies is at risk. 4 of 6 of groundwater bodies in Sevan RBD Framework Directive are not at risk, status of other 2 bodies is unknown due to the lack of information. 18% According to the monitoring data for 2015-2017, 60% of rivers has a “good quality.

are drinking water losses due to the poor condition of water 55% supply system. Sevan River basin Factsheet - Armenia

Pressures - Pollution ~73% of urban wastewater is not collected neither treated. Diffuse pollutions from agriculture • The most cultivated lands are located in the Masrik, Gavaraget and Argichi River Basins. • Livestock production is centralised mainly in Masrik, Argichi, Gavaraget and Martuni River Basins.

Fish farms are mainly located in the Gavaraget, Karchaghbyur, Argichi and Martuni river basins. The total annual permitted water use for fish farms composed 12,634 thousand m3.

Mining activities in Sotk are one of the sources of non-point pollution. Diffuse mine water has an impact on water quality of Sotk and then Masrik Rivers due to the high concentration of heavy metals. Sevan River basin Factsheet - Armenia

Water for Aquatic life

11 disturbances for aquatic life, from which: 2 due to hydromorphological alterations in Sevan Lake (Major and Minor Sevan)

9 due to small hydropower plants

Main issues identified

WATER QUALITY WATER QUANTITY - pollution from municipal wastewater - Uncontrolled water abstraction - pollution from release of domestic solid waste directly into the streams - diffuse pollution by agriculture (fertilizers, manure) Lack of monitoring data on the -significant pressure from mining activities quality and quantity of water.

AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS RISKS

- Disturbance of aquatic life, due to - Flood risks excessive transfers of Lake Sevan’s water through Sevan-Hrazdan Cascade for generation of hydropower and irrigation WATER GOVERNANCE Sevan River basin Factsheet - Armenia

Main measures proposed I – water governance

REGULATIONS INSTITUTIONS

Improving water legislation for Lake Sevan ecosystem development of institutional capacity: conservation: -training the staff of state water management - water quality and quantity norms and standards for bodies to report the financial data for water use groundwater protection by sectors and provide an assessment of cost - water quality norms and standards for use in different recovery for water resources. sectors (for example irrigation use) - strengthening the control on fisheries and fishing in the Lake Sevan, on ecological norms in the mining sites in the Sevan RBD. - review water use tariffs in various sectors, as well as establish fees for water abstraction for hydropower generation. Sevan River basin Factsheet - Armenia Main measures proposed II – technical measures Improve drinking water supply and domestic wastewater Water quantity: ensure efficient use of water discharge system resources - Improvement or rehabilitation of drinking water - Strengthening supervision mechanisms for supply and irrigation water supply networks to reduce enforcement of water use permit conditions, water losses including determination of water allocation - implementation of pilot innovative wastewater between water users during the low-flow seasons treatment project and water use optimization. - Increase water storage through the construction Water quality: Prevent surface and ground water pollution of Argitchi and Astghadzor reservoirs -Development of solid waste management, -Rehabilitation of Sotk mining area dump slopes Aquatic ecosystems (vegetation cover) - Assess the ecological status of Sevan Lake and - Identification of best agricultural practices to improve its watershed ecosystem with chemical, biological farming and minimize its impacts on water bodies and quantitative monitoring development. - Construction of sanitary landfill for 7 urban settlements -Adapt to climate change impacts (increase water of 7 regions storage capacities, crops rotation, droughts resistant species, agroforestry) Risks Strengthening river banks to reduce the risk of floods and mudslides, Sevan River basin Factsheet - Armenia Main measures proposed – cost estimate

120 488 ; 0,3% 37 610; 0,1% Water Supply and Waste Water Systems of Vardenik, Yeranos and Zolakar Agglomerations

5 616 416; 13,0% Construction of Argichi and Astghadzor Reservoirs

Construction of Sanitary Landfill 8 748 000; 20,3%

28 562 665; 66,3% Construction of Septic Tanks and Waste Water Removal Systems in Akhpradzor, Lchavan, and Makenis Communities

Installation of SCADA system and Development of Software for Registration of Actual Water Use

Cost Estimate for the Implementing Proposed Basic Measures (million AMD / %)

10 Sevan River basin Factsheet - Armenia

The river basin in the future

Sustainable agriculture and modernized irrigation systems

Sustainable ecosystem of the Lake Sevan

Developed tourism infrastructure with emphasis on rural tourism

Renewable energy production and energy efficiency enhancement Sevan River basin Factsheet - Armenia

River Basin management Plan in Armenia balance between Armenian regulation and the EUWI+ supports Armenian water Institutions European Water Framework Directive, to elaborate and update their river basin river basin management plan = a operative management plans with document with all information on water, water uses, pollution, objectives and programme of  Latest EU methodologies measures  Accredited equipment for laboratories  Capacity building of experts and stakeholders  Knowledge transfer and regional exchange of practices.

Characterisation WFD working method River Basin Management Plan of the River basin (RBMP) Sevan River basin Factsheet - Armenia

You are concerned as well!  Who is consulted ? . All players concerned, including NGOs and st Feb. 1 public consultation on main challenges local communities, in water management 2019 & activities. work programme  Sevan Lake River Basin Management involves, representatives from : June 2nd public consultation on . Ministries, 2020 draft River Basin Management Plan (RBMP) . Basin Management organisations, . Water users, . Research centers and scientific academies . Public associations & NGOs, . International programmes Draft RBMP  Why ? for planning investment and achieving long term environmental objectives

Main challenges Approved RBMP Sevan River basin Factsheet - Armenia

Save the dates! River basin management plan timeline

WFD introduces a six-year cycle of river 2020 - 1st cycle of Sevan river basin management plan basin management planning, updated 2026 established with the support of EUWI+ every six years thereafter.

2026 - Update of Sevan river basin management plan: 2032 2024-2026 Implementation of the 2nd plan

Next cycle... Sevan River basin Factsheet - Armenia

Action beneficiaries Ministry of Nature Protection, Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy Armenia This project is funded by

This project is co-financed by

This project is implemented by Follow us http://www.euwipluseast.eu/ www.facebook.com/euwiplus [email protected] The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Commission