LITANI RIVER BASIN MANAGEMENT PLAN VOLUME 1: CURRENT SITUATION FEBRUARY 2012 This report was made possible by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). It was prepared by International Resources Group (IRG). The author’s views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government. FOREWORD “Proper management starts with knowledge.” This document is not a scientific encyclopedia on the status of water resources in the Litani River Basin (references are provided in chapter 6 to specific reports which provide more technical details). It has the modest ambition of being an overall assessment and pedagogic document to be read by any water user or resident of the Litani River Basin, and to alert decision makers of the serious water challenges threatening the Litani River. As a quick overview, the rushed reader can simply refer to the Executive Summary, while: Chapter 1 is an introduction, with the definition of key terms; Chapter 2 presents basic information on the Litani River Basin and a visual journey along the River; Chapter 3 describes the legal, institutional and policy environment which guides (or constrains) water management in the Litani River Basin; Chapter 4 provides a summary of the key water challenges in the Litani River Basin, that is water quality, water quantity, and overall water management; Chapter 5 presents solutions, defines the Integrated Water Resource Management approach, and lists positive signs (opportunities) that already exist in the Litani River Basin; Chapter 6 proposes concrete next steps to plan the effective tackling of water issues; and Chapter 7 lists references of recent technical reports providing more in-depth information; these reports were the basis for the current document. The non-specialist reader should focus on chapter 2, 5 and 6 first. Chapters 3 and 4 are somewhat more technical. Section 1.3 provides key definitions. Note: While the management of water resources should cover the entire Litani River Basin, the current report tends to focus on the upper basin, as far south as Qaraoun Lake. The lower basin is difficult to access both for logistical and political reasons, and is much less impacted than the upper basin. Conversely improvements of the upper river basin will also benefit the lower basin. TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. INTRODUCTION ················································································ 1 1.1. Background ............................................................................................................................................ 1 1.2. Purpose and Contents of this Document ....................................................................................... 2 1.3. Key Definitions ...................................................................................................................................... 3 1.3.1 Geographical Terms ................................................................................................................................................. 3 1.3.2 Water Management Terms .................................................................................................................................... 4 2. RIVER BASIN CHARACTERISTICS ······················································· 7 2.1. Overview ................................................................................................................................................ 7 2.2. Physical Description ........................................................................................................................... 10 2.2.1 Haouch Barada to Rayak ....................................................................................................................................... 10 2.2.2 Rayak to Bar Elias .................................................................................................................................................... 12 2.2.3 Bar Elias to El-Mansoura........................................................................................................................................ 13 2.2.4 El-Mansoura to Lake Quaroun ............................................................................................................................ 15 2.2.5 Lake Quaroun .......................................................................................................................................................... 16 2.2.6 Lower Litani River................................................................................................................................................... 17 2.2.7 Summary of Findings ............................................................................................................................................... 18 2.3. Population and Land Use .................................................................................................................. 19 2.3.1 Population .................................................................................................................................................................. 19 2.3.2 Land Use .................................................................................................................................................................... 21 2.4. Water Resources & Availability ...................................................................................................... 21 2.4.1 Precipitations ............................................................................................................................................................ 22 2.4.2 Surface Waters ........................................................................................................................................................ 23 2.4.3 Extreme Events: Droughts and Floods .............................................................................................................. 24 2.4.4 Groundwater ............................................................................................................................................................ 26 2.5. Water Quality ..................................................................................................................................... 28 2.5.1 Background ............................................................................................................................................................... 28 2.5.2 Water Quality Monitoring .................................................................................................................................... 29 2.5.3 Current Surface Water Quality .......................................................................................................................... 29 2.5.4 Current Groundwater quality ............................................................................................................................. 32 2.5.5 Suitability for Human Uses ................................................................................................................................... 32 3. WATER MANAGEMENT ····································································· 34 3.1. What is Management? What is Governance? .............................................................................. 34 3.2. Water Legal Framework ................................................................................................................... 35 3.2.1 Overview ................................................................................................................................................................... 35 3.2.2 Strengths and Weaknesses ................................................................................................................................... 36 3.3. Water Institutional Structure .......................................................................................................... 37 3.3.1 Overview ................................................................................................................................................................... 37 3.3.2 Strengths and Weaknesses ................................................................................................................................... 39 3.4. Water Policy Environment ............................................................................................................... 40 3.4.1 Overview ................................................................................................................................................................... 40 3.4.2 Strengths and Weaknesses ................................................................................................................................... 41 4. MAIN WATER ISSUES ········································································ 43 4.1. Pressures on Water Quality ............................................................................................................ 43 4.1.1 Main Sources of Pollution ..................................................................................................................................... 43 4.1.2 Domestic Sewage from Urban areas ................................................................................................................. 44 4.1.3 Agriculture ...............................................................................................................................................................