An Israeli perspectives of a coordinated regional project

By:

Avital Gasith; Ram Aviram; Aliza Rapoport-Rootman

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The rehabilitation of the Lower Jordan River

(LJR) and the development of the border

region along the Jordan River

(Phase A)

Albatros

About this presentation This presentation of the project of rehabilitation of the LJR and

adjacent region (Phase A) is an overview of three year team effort of planners, consultants and steering committee, led by the Mr. Ramon Ben-Ari, head of the LJR Drainage Authority.

The presentation was prepared by representative of the above team: Prof. (Emeritus), Avital Gasith; Ambassador (ret.) Ram Aviram and Landscape architect Ms. Aliza Rapoport-Rootman.

In this internet version the animation was removed.

At the conference the lecture was given by Mr. Ram Aviram.

Presentation citation: Gasith A., Aviram R. and A. Rapoport-Rootman. 2014. The rehabilitation of the Lower Jordan River and the Development of the border region along the Jordan River (Phase A). Nir David, Israel (PPT - Session 1).

About the authors:

Prof. Avital Gasith, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Life

Sciences and The Porter School of Environmental Studies,

Tel-Aviv University; Consultant for the LJR Rehabilitation

Project and a member of the steering committee.

(avitalg@tauex.tau.ac.il).

AMB. (Ret.) Ram Aviram. BIT – Consultancy, Consultant for

the LJR Rehabilitation Project (raviram@bit-consultancy.com).

Ms. Aliza Rapoport-Rootman, Environmental planner, head of

the Planning team of the LJR project (Office@alizarr.co.il)

“And they that bare the ark came unto the Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark dipped into the Jordan, and the Jordan over flow in his banks” Joshua 3:15-16 “ “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened… “ Matthew 3:16-17 “We made from water every living thing” Quran 21:30

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Where in the world ......?

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LJR watershed

Why are we here?

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SAVING THE RIVER

DEVELOPING THE REGION

The River’s transformation from abundance to

scarcity

Reversing the process: Taking the initiative for

Saving the River

Two banks of one river: working with our Jordanians

neighbors

The project (Phase A):

The River – planning and implementation

The Region: Developing the region while

protecting its resources

Promotion of economic growth

What next? 9

Yarmuch tributary during flood (A. Gasith 30.3.03)

Wide and plentiful

The LJR once carried

1,300,000,000 MCM yearly

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Yarmuch tributary during flood (A. Gasith 30.3.03)

Wide and plentiful

The LJR once carried

1,300,000,000 MCM yearly

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Remains of Naharyim Power station

In the 20th Century a dramatic increase of the pressure

on all water resources!

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Population increase in the respective drainage states

Total West of Jordan R.

East of Jordan R.

Syria year

5 1 0.5 3.5 1950

43 12 9 22 2014

X9

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Water diversion

by the

respective LJR

riparian states

Israel Syria Jordan ~ ~

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Sea of Galilee (SOG) (A. Gasith, 2004)

Israel

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Sea of Galilee (SOG) (A. Gasith,

2004)

Israel

200 - 400MCM

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Degania Dam regulating

the outflow of SOG

Illustration – Soffer

48 DAMS

total storage capacity 300 MCM

Syria

Illustration – Soffer

SOG

Wadi al Harir

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El Wahda Dam

Jordan

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El Wahda Dam

Jordan

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Total storage capacity 265 MCM (FOEME 14)

http://foeme.wordpress.com/

The LJR paid a heavy toll

a dwindled river

<10% of the original flow

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A. Gasith, 3.11.05

The LJR version of “Rio Blanco and Rio Negro”

Compounded adverse effect of

loss of water and organic pollution

A. Gasith, 3.11.05

Damage of aquatic habitats

Reduction in species richness

The LJR version of “Rio Blanco and Rio Negro”

Compounded adverse effect of

loss of water and organic pollution

Salinity levels along the River (data NPA)

Alumot

..... and salinization

KM

... and a barrier was built

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Jordan River, Gesher (A. Gasith 13.3.14

Fenced River

The consequences of security needs

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A change is in the air…

Unfortunately, Decades of misery of Human and Nature

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and then

Peace between people and with Nature

1994 – signing the

Peace Treaty between

Israel and Jordan

2004 – recognition of nature’s

right for water in Israel;

implementation initiated

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Now is the time to act

Rehabilitation of the LJR

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View from King Hussein Bridge (6.5.13 Glazman)

South Jordan river authority

Israel ministry of environmental protection

Israel ministry for regional development

Israel ministry of agriculture& rural development

Israel ministry of interior

Israel ministry of tourism

Israel ministry of Defense

Israel ministry of foreign affairs

Israel water authority

Kineret drainage& rivers authority

JNF (Jewish National Fund)

Springs Valley Regional Council

The city of Bet She’an.

Israel Nature and Parks Authority

Representative of various Israeli green NGOs

Israel lands administration

Israel antiquities authority

Regional Water provider- Afikey maim

Public representatives

Jordan River Rehabilitation Administration

In 2011

Governmental Authorities – 6 Government Ministries – 7 Local Authorities – 3 NGOs and Public reps. - 3

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LJR watershed

Rehabilitation project

boundaries of Phase A

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The project’s vision:

to revive the Jordan River and its natural surroundings;

to maintain continuity of the open countryside

while pursuing mutual acknowledgment and productive co-existence of the riparian neighbors;

to enhance the livelihood of the local residents;

to build bridges and develop reciprocal

cooperation that crosses borders;

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Land use

Ecology

Landscape

Environment

Tourism

Archeology

Economics

Water

Design and decision processes

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Example of material produced for the Master Plan

Landscape & Environm.

Ecological

sensitivity Plant

formations

(habitats)

Open land

continuity

Survey and Analysis

of Current Status

Vision and goals

Examination of

alternatives

Land use

Ecology

Landscape

Environment

Tourism

Archeology

Economics

Water

Design and decision processes

Approval of the plan

Choosing a strategy

Planning

Detailed Planning and implementation

Pu

blic

Pa

rtic

ipa

tio

n

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Any project which relates to the course of the River

Ecological rehabilitation of the Jordan River.

Nature reserves and protected areas.

Environmental planning and exchange of information

of projects with potential impact on the their

surroundings.

Implementing the Peace Treaty and good neighborly relations

Within the Peace

Treaty, Jordan and

Israel agreed to

cooperate on the

following issues:

Israel: Rehabilitation

Administration

Jordan: Jordan Valley

Authority Jordan Valley Authority, Jordan

Rehabilitation of the LJR

Phase A

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The River

The Vision for the River

Flow of the LJR will be restored replenishing the river channel with sufficient, high quality water which will enable recovery of aquatic habitats and of biological integrity.

Gradual replenishment of river flow will follow the long-term restoration and support of the water potential of Israel as well as by adequate actions taken by other users in the drainage basin.

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Albatros

Allocating water Upgrading water quality

The Water Plan

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Allocating water

Increase release from

SOG

Release captured springs

Upgrading water quality

Remove sources of pollution

WWT Bithynia

WWT Beit

She’an

Remove sources of

salinity

2013 ca. 9 MCM

Expected in the near future up

to 40 MCM

Recycle fishpond

water

The Water Plan

38 Albatros

Upgrading water quality

WWT Bithynia

Remove sources of

salinity

Removal sources of

salinity (Phase a)

Desalinate SOG salt

springs (~9MCM/Y)

Salinity target

<1000 PPM Cl-

Options for brackish wat. removal

Brine + Salt Springs (Mix.) water

DEAD SEA

Fish

ponds

Jordan River

Reservoir

Irrigation

Water Plan

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?

Rehabilitation of the LJR

Phase A

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The Region

protected

Human impacted

Choosing the planning strategy

Flexible planning of time and uses

which is based on a dialogue that

promotes coexistence

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Rehabilitation Project

Nature

Conservation Agriculture

Tourism

Resolving conflicts

Coexistence

Development

Cooperation

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LJR

Regional planning: suggested land uses

OPEN AGICULTURAL LANDSCAPE

PROTECTED

ECOLOGICAL CORRIDORS

AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPE

WITH RELEVANT STRUCTURES

TOURISM DEVELOPMENT

A LANDSCAPE MOSAIC

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Jordan River (A. Gasith 13.3.14)

Clearing the Minefields

Planned to be completed

by the end of 2015

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Rehabilitation of the LJR

Phase A

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Economic opportunities

LJR (A. Gasith 30.2.05)

The economic

resources of

the region

Archeology

Existing

tourism

infrastructure

Cooperation

between Israel

and Jordan

Heritage

Landscape

Sustainable

agriculture

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Example of a proposed project: Scenic road of “Geon HaYarden”

64 km of unique landscape

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Scenery and scenic roads

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Scenic road by the Jordan River (A. Gasith 13.3.14)

Overlooking the Jordan River flood plain (A. Gasith 13.3.14)

Harvested field

Natural area

A. Gasith 13.3.14

A flock of relatively rare black storks resting in the field

Harvested field

Example of a proposed project: Bird Watching center – Kfar Rupin

major migration route to 400 species

500,000,000 birds every year

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Jordan River at Gesher (A. Gasith 10.6.14)

Example of a proposed project: Old Gesher: A Baptism Center

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Example of a proposed project: Old Gesher - A Boutique Hotel

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Old British police station

Example of a proposed project: Old Gesher: Hands across the River

Albatros 55

Example of a proposed project: Old Gesher: Hands across the River

Albatros 56

Two banks – economic bridges

Industrial zone Jordan Gate

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Naharyim

Old Gesher

Sheich Husein bridge

Gesher (A. Gasith, 10.6.14)

The Italian “BRIDGE”…the two banks

Let us build many more bridges!

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Conclusions What do we expect to achieve?

Reversing the process – repairing the damaged LJR

ecosystem and adjacent landscape

Promoting coexistence of Nature, Agriculture,

tourism and sustainable Economic development,

supporting the livelihood of communities on both

side of the River

Strengthening peace and good neighborliness

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International conference

steering committee

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One of the many meetings of the LJR steering committee

We are greatly indebted to the

devoted steering committee, the

planning team and consultants

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LJR after flood (A. Gasith 30.2.05)

Thanks for your attention

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