Jordan River Basin Research Articles

The Jordan River basin: at the crossroads between conflict and cooperation

Several previous manuscripts have identified an opportunity to create a positive-sum outcome for fresh water development and use by the five riparians of the Jordan River basin, in which all parties would receive enhanced resources concurrently, over time. This relies on the development of ‘new water’ coupled to the more efficient use of the existing water supplies. The application of the trans-boundary waters opportunity analysis in this study shows that the five riparians possess a major opportunity for regional economic development, coupled to protection against the possible negative effects of climate change. However, entrenched mindsets and historical competition over the existing water resources represent formidable barriers to more enlightened regional water management, and the riparians are presently at a crossroads as to whether conflict or cooperation will result in the future.

ALGAL VEGETATIVE ACTIVITY IN THE UPPER JORDAN RIVER (NORTHERN ISRAEL): AN IN VITRO GLASS SLIDE EXPERIMENT

Algal vegetative activity and intensity of self pur ification processes were determined via a two stage in vitro artificial substrates (glass slides) occupation experiment, conducted during winter 2006- 2007 and summer 2007 in the streams of the Upper Jordan River Basin. Daily measurement of temperature, conductivity, mineralization and pH we re performed. Once a week algal species where identified, snd their Abundance (cells/cm 2 ), Cell volumes ( �m 3 /cm 2 ) and richness of species (taxa encountered/600 algal cells) tabulated for each tax on. Algal communities where richer in the summer in all stations and contained mainly Diatoms or Diatoms/green algae mix. Only the Banias station winter community was dominated by the green algae. Highest self-purification activity was observed during the summer in the upper part of the basin (Banias stati on). Species richness grew with anthropogenic influence and self-purification intensity. Self-pur ification proceeded faster in conditions of high temperature and solar radiation. The Shannon index positively correlated with species richness in both winter and summer experiments. The artificial colon ization of substrates by algae took 2-3 weeks; formation of small celled green algae encouraged by high temperatures and solar radiation conditions increased colonization speed in the summer. Statist ically significant factors influencing algal activi ty were found to be pH and Total Dissolved Solids concentration.

New Insights Into The Natural Variability of Water Resources in The Lower Jordan River Basin

Water availability is naturally low in the Lower Jordan River Basin (LJRB) extending from Lake Tiberias to the Dead Sea, whereas water demand is high. Still, no basin-wide overview of naturally available surface water resources exists up to now. The aim of this study is to estimate these water resources through application of the TRAIN-ZIN model. This hydrological model combines physically-based and conceptual approaches to incorporate dominant processes of (semi-)arid areas in adequate temporal and spatial scale. An adequate space-time resolution is achieved by using rainfall radar data as model input. Three rainfall seasons are simulated: a drought, an average season and a wet extreme. Simulation results emphasize the non-linear behaviour of (semi-)arid systems and resulting impacts on the spatial and temporal variability of water resources. Basin averages of seasonal water balance components ranged between 65 and 489 mm (rainfall), 53 and 270 mm (evapotranspiration), 7 and 87 mm (overland flow), 4 and 129 mm (percolation). However, all values comprise enormous spatial variability. It is concluded that space-time variability must be considered for water resources assessment in the LJRB in order to make accurate predictions of future water availability.

A Water Resources Planning Tool for the Jordan River Basin

The Jordan River basin is subject to extreme and increasing water scarcity. Management of transboundary water resources in the basin is closely intertwined with political conflicts in the region. We have jointly developed with stakeholders and experts from the riparian countries, a new dynamic consensus database and—supported by hydro-climatological model simulations and participatory scenario exercises in the GLOWA (Global Change and the Hydrological Cycle) Jordan River project—a basin-wide Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) tool, which will allow testing of various unilateral and multilateral adaptation options under climate and socio-economic change. We present its validation and initial (climate and socio-economic) scenario analyses with this budget and allocation tool, and invite further adaptation and application of the tool for specific Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) problems.

Institutional resilience and climate variability in international water treaties: the Jordan River Basin as “proof-of-concept”

Climate-driven changes in precipitation distribution have implications for the long-term sustainability of international water-sharing and hydropower agreements. This research analyses water allocation methods, estimates the resilience of existing water supply arrangements, and examines the role of modified institutional arrangements in addressing possible vulnerabilities in transboundary basins. Specifically, we analyse the resilience of the 1994 Israel–Jordan Treaty of Peace during climate extremes. While the absence of a drought provision in the Treaty left Jordan and Israel vulnerable to drought-induced conflict, the Treaty did establish a Joint Water Committee (JWC) to resolve conflicts without making permanent amendments to the original agreement. During the drought of 1998/99, Israeli and Jordanian members of the JWC brokered a temporary arrangement to modify allocations in order to reflect water availability. Even though water availability restricted the parties from fulfilling Treaty obligations, the institutional arrangement created by the Treaty enabled the parties to peacefully cooperate in time of severe drought. Citation Odom, O. & Wolf, A. T. (2011) Institutional resilience and climate variability in international water treaties: the Jordan River Basin as “proof-of-concept”. Hydrol. Sci. J. 56(4), 703–710.

Water Disputes in the Jordan River Basin

Water Disputes in the Jordan River Basin

Using the WRF Model in an Operational Streamflow Forecast System for the Jordan River

AbstractThe Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model was employed to provide precipitation forecasts during the 2008/09 and 2009/10 winters (wet season) for Israel and the surrounding region where complex terrain dominates. The WRF precipitation prediction has been coupled with the Hydrological Model for Karst Environment (HYMKE) to forecast the upper Jordan River streamflow. The daily WRF precipitation forecasts were verified against the measurements from a dense network of rain gauges in northern and central Israel, and the simulation results using the high-resolution WRF indicated good agreement with the actual measurements. The daily precipitation amount calculated by WRF at rain gauges located in the upper parts of the Jordan River basin showed good agreement with the actual measurements. Numerical experiments were carried out to test the impact of the WRF model resolution and WRF microphysical schemes, to determine an optimal model configuration for this application. Because of orographic forcing in the region, it is necessary to run WRF with a 4–1.3-km grid increment and with sophisticated microphysical schemes that consider liquid water, ice, snow, and graupel to produce quality precipitation predictions. The hydrological modeling system that ingests the high-resolution WRF forecast precipitation produced good results and improved upon the operational streamflow forecast method for the Jordan River that is now in use. The modeling tools presented in this study are used to support the water-resource-assessment process and studies of seasonal hydroclimatic forecasting in this region.

Blue and White ‘Black September’: Israel's Role in the Jordan Crisis of 1970

Many accounts of the civil war in Jordan during September 1970, later labelled by the Palestinians as ‘Black September’, have appeared. These accounts have included such varied genres as personal m...

Cooperating Rivals: The Riparian Politics of the Jordan River Basin. By Jeffrey K. Sosland. Albany: State University of New York Press, 2007. 310p. $80.00.

Follow this and additional works at: http://engagedscholarship.csuohio.edu/clpolsci_facpub Part of the Islamic World and Near East History Commons, Other International and Area Studies Commons, Political Science Commons, and the Water Law Commons Publisher's Statement Copyright 2010 Cambridge University Press. Available on publisher's site at http://journals.cambridge.org/abstract_S1537592710001994.

Book Reviews

Book Reviews

The Upper Jordan River Algal Communities are Evidence of Long-Term Climatic and Anthropogenic Impacts

Spatial and temporal algal diversity changes were studied in the major drinking water source of Israel - the Upper Jordan River. During 2006-2009, we found 232 species and infraspecies of algae and cyanobacteria: 85 of which were new for the Upper Jordan River Basin including three new for Israel. During many years of study of the Upper Jordan River, we collected information for the database of algal diversity. Historical analysis from 1883 to 2009 shows fluctuation of the whole algal diversity. Environmental indicator species show peaks in 1951, 1965, 1978, and 2009. Salinity impact was found in 1938 and 2000; acidification was detected in 1938, 1996, and 2000, and organic pollution, in 1996. Therefore, we can conclude that 1938, 1996, and 2000 were critical periods for the Upper Jordan River ecosystem. Indication of the trophic status shows stress of organic pollution since the 1970s, which was marked by dramatic increases in eutraphentic and hypereutraphentic species. The present analysis shows three peaks in the fluctuation in diversity throughout the river canal, which correlated with the organic pollution impact from the Masade village effluence in the middle reaches and near Lake Kinneret. Pollution was significant in rainy winters and stimulated species diversity development. The different approaches in comparing diversity in each river of the Upper Jordan Basin revealed that hydrology is a major regulating factor in species composition of the algal communities, which were formed under the influence of regional climatic factors. Therefore, the river can be highlighted as a natural system with high buffering and a self-purification capacity at the present time.

The Jordan River basin: 3. Options for satisfying the current and future water demand of the five riparians

Two previous papers in this series have demonstrated that the existing allocation of fresh water amongst the five riparians of the Jordan River basin is inequitable, but that equitable allocations could be attained within the framework of a volumetric positive-sum outcome. The present manuscript proposes a general framework for the reallocation procedures over time, coupled to options for the development of new water in specific fashions selected to satisfy the within-basin and wider geographical demands of all five riparians. It concludes that a positive-sum volumetric outcome is both attainable and affordable, and would provide great benefits to the regional populations, as well as a highly significant “peace dividend”.

Water and Diplomacy in the Jordan River Basin

(2009). Water and Diplomacy in the Jordan River Basin. Israel Journal of Foreign Affairs: Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 95-115.

Effects of Land-Use Changes on Saint Louis Bay Watershed Modeling

Abstract Saint Louis Bay Watershed is a coastal watershed located in southern Mississippi, which composes two basins: Jordan River Basin and Wolf River Basin. Two land use/land cover (LULC) datasets: the Geographic Information Retrieval and Analysis System (GIRAS) and the National Land Cover Data (NLCD) are applied on these two basins to simulate the hydrologic and water quality parameters by using the Hydrological Simulation Program - FORTRAN (HSPF) and the Better Assessment Science Integrating Point and Nonpoint Sources (BASINS). The difference of GIRAS dataset and NLCD dataset for the Saint Louis Bay represents the LULC change from 1977 to 1992. The area percentages of Forest Land and Urban or Built-up Land decrease for both these two basins. However, the area percentages of Wetlands and Barren Land increase. The Rate of Soil Erosion has a great increase in the area changing from other LULC classifications to Barren Land. As a result of the loss of vegetation and the aggravation of soil erosion, the To...

Multi-disciplinary modeling, in stratigraphy and groundwater stratigraphy of the Jordan River basin

The study area is located along the Dead Sea Rift, the climate is considered arid in its southern margin near the Dead Sea, which is the lowest water reservoir found on the globe (412 m BSL), to semiarid in its northern part. During the last few decades, the water resources became depleted limiting the natural development of the agricultural settlements, which are the most common type of communities in the region. Previous studies suggested that a large amount of freshwater is lost as the result of salinization processes, which occur when fresh groundwater from the mountain aquifers, flow into the saline clastic Neogene aquifer complex. In order to comprehend this complex system, a detailed outlining of the regional hydrogeological system is essential. Since there are no boreholes, which penetrate the aquiferous rock sequences within the Rift, it was necessary to interpolate a large variety of data from several fields of geosciences. The methods applied included geological mapping, geophysical modeling based on interpretation of seismic profiles and geochemical modeling based on chemical and isotopic analysis of runoff, sediments and groundwater. The combined modeling based on results from the different types of analyses implied to several conclusions relevant to the regional water management policy: (1) groundwater becomes saline as it flows from the margins of the Rift to its center. Therefore, it is recommended to exploit it along the foothills of the rift escarpment. (2) Geophysical modeling indicated that the foothills and the Karstic mountain aquifer extend into the subsurface of the valley and can be farther exploited (up to 15 mm3 per annum) by relatively shallow wells. (3) Several mechanisms of groundwater salinization were deciphered: (a) the dense vertical faulting systems act as potential conduits for saline water, which flow-up from deep-seated sources and penetrate into the fresh aquifers. (b) Fresh groundwater in the clastic aquifer complex is rare, furthermore, two evaporates bodies were encountered (Auja and Zaharat el Qurein), also acting as sources for fresh water salinization. (c) Although the quantity of runoff recharge to the Jordan Valley aquifer complex is negligible, the increase in its salt-content (TDS) turns this negligible freshwater recharge to a significant contributor of salts.

Dealing with Closed Basins: The Case of the Lower Jordan River Basin

During the past 50 years, the Lower Jordan River basin experienced a rapid and comprehensive process of development of its rare water resources. This led to its progressive closure; almost no water is left that can be mobilized and used while demand, notably in urban areas, keeps increasing. Despite the need to consider demand management options to alleviate the Jordanian water crisis, the potential of these options appears limited in the mid-term; the growing demand of the population and the sustaining of agriculture are unlikely to be met without supply augmentation measures which will reopen the basin.

Groundwater Depletion in the Jordan Highlands: Can Pricing Policies Regulate Irrigation Water Use?

Jordan is one of the countries with the scarcest water resources in the world. The aquifers of the Lower Jordan River Basin, a region of prime importance for the country, are exploited well beyond their sustainable rate. In 1997, Jordan’s officials designed a new water strategy, with emphasis on demand-management instruments. Water pricing policies, and notably the bylaw no. 85 of 2002, were deemed to assist in controlling agricultural groundwater abstraction with the ambitious task of taking the abstraction rate close to the annual recharge. While much hope has been placed in such strategies, this paper argues that substantial increases in volumetric charges would not result in major water savings but would further decrease the income from low-value or extensive crops. A shift towards high-value crops would raise water productivity but would also entail a transfer of wealth to the government and to wealthier entrepreneurs. It is therefore essential that negative incentives be accompanied by positive measures offering attractive alternatives (market opportunities, subsidies for modernization, technical advice, etc.) and exit options with compensation. Prices are unlikely to enable regulation of groundwater abstraction and significant reduction will only be achieved through policies that reduce the number of wells in use, such as buying out of wells.

Cooperating rivals: the riparian politics of the Jordan River Basin

Cooperating rivals: the riparian politics of the Jordan River Basin

The Effect of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict on the Water Resources of the Jordan River Basin

Abstract The article analyses the interaction between security and environment in the Mediterranean, focusing on the paradigmatic example of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict over water resources in the Jordan River basin. Control of water can hardly be considered the main cause of conflict between Israel and Palestine, but it certainly has increased the potential for conflict and had a long-term negative effect on the environment. The article starts with an historical reconstruction of the main attempts to reach a cooperative solution to water management in the Jordan River basin. These attempts failed as a consequence of the emergence of a zero-sum game between the co-riparian countries of the basin. The lack of cooperation has had a heavy impact on water quantity and quality. Two third of the deep wells in the centre of Israel are polluted, partly due to the infiltration of untreated wastewater from West Bank sites. The level of the coastal aquifer has fallen and sea water has penetrated it. As a consequence, much of the population of the Gaza Strip now has access only to brackish water that does not meet the WHO standard for drinking water. The 1995 Oslo Interim Agreement recognised the water rights of Palestinians and the need to share water resources. Its aftermath witnessed new cooperative efforts involving offi cials, experts and people of both sides. The so-called “Second Intifada”, however, blocked cooperation in many sectors and provoked large-scale damage to the water infrastructure. The violent outbreaks of October 2000 had a serious impact on the wells, the water infrastructure and the wastewater disposal system. Reportedly, the Israeli deliberately filled up wells in Gaza as retaliation against the Palestinian attack on Israeli settlements, did not allow the Palestinians to buy spare parts for pumps, and kept water tankers from reaching the Palestinian villages. The Israeli authorities did not directly plan these acts of vandalism - they are mainly the consequences of an escalation of violence among the settlers - but were responsible for not taking action to prevent them and forbidding the use water as a weapon against Palestinians. The separation barrier Israeli has been building since 2002 does not follow the Green Line, but creates a de facto annexation of 16% of the West Bank. The wall keeps people on either side of the Wall separated from their land, water resources and socialties.

Reducing the cost of inter- and intrastate conflict over water in the Jordan river basin

The five riparians of the Jordan river basin share a number of transboundary watercourses. These include the surface waters of the Jordan river itself; several other smaller surface waters; and a number of aquifers. Interstate conflict between the riparians is well documented and has been ongoing for the last 60 years, with tensions over access to fresh waters being considered a significant contributory factor. But much less has been published to date on intrastate conflicts relating to access to the same watercourses, and these are reviewed here. The financial costs of continuing conflicts in the region are documented to far outweigh those pertaining to the resolution of the regional water deficiencies, which would rely on increased levels of desalination and wastewater reuse, plus the possible importation of bulk water supplies from elsewhere. Such a resolution of the water-related conflicts would lead to improved intra and interstate relationships, and could be an important trigger for a much broader peace initiative for the region.