1. Small-scale water harvesting technologies for Lebanese farmers

        At the request of Dr Wafa Khoury, National Project Manager in Lebanon, Dr Theib Oweis, water harvesting expert at ICARDA, and his assistants Mr Hayek and Mr Abdullah provided technical support and in-field training, at Nabha and Arsal on 8-13 October 2000 and 20-23 November 2000 on the construction of small-scale water harvesting structures to enhance biodiversity in the selected monitoring areas. Farmers, project staff and extension agents attended these events.
        Visits to prospective sites took place to determine the appropriate technologies to adopt. The following observations were made based on the conditions in the project sites:

Arsal
The target area is located at high, middle and low elevations. A high elevation area is usually covered with snow during winter and receives substantial amounts of precipitation. The snow that melts slowly during spring creates little runoff.
        Microcatchment water-harvesting in these areas may not be feasible. Small reservoirs along the spring streams such as the one currently under construction seem to be the most feasible water-harvesting option. Microcatchment may be feasible in lower elevation areas where precipitation is mostly in the form of rain that causes enough runoff, which is essential for water harvesting. In low areas rainfall is less than 300 mm, making water harvesting necessary. Microcatchment could help fruit trees and range.
        A site was selected near Arsal to demonstrate the contour ridge technique for improving shrubs and grasses. On the last day of the training, the project staff, some LARI staff and farmers participated in planning and constructing contour ridges for an area of about one hectare. Participants were trained to identify contour lines using the simple transparent tube method, and watched the use of a regular tractor to initiate contour ridges and finish them in order to secure proper ridges.
        The sites will be used to demonstrate the potential for in situ conservation of biodiversity. Another site was selected to construct microcatchment for fruit trees.

Nabha
The visit started in areas that were under irrigation some years ago but whose water supply was cut off. Their steep landscape is generally stony and any water harvesting work requires substantial stone and earth movement and, hence, investment. The only water harvesting system suitable is the runoff terrace, which requires financial support from development projects. Other techniques are not suitable for this area because of the conditions.
        The undulating areas downstream are more suitable for intervention. These areas include natural range with medium vegetative cover. The range area produces runoff, which flows to the wadi beds and supports crops. The wadi bed slopes, however, are medium to high and prone to erosion. Water flows at high velocity, not allowing enough opportunity for infiltration.
        The proper water harvesting/soil conservation technique is cross stonewalls. They are very effective and have been successful in similar situations. It was suggested that the technique be demonstrated in one of the wadi beds near Nabha. The experts provided guidelines for determining the wall dimensions, spacing and other parameters.

Ham
At Ham, snow covers the area all winter. Runoff seems to be minimal on agricultural lands, and micro catchments may not be suitable in these areas. However, snow melt from chilly marginal lands produces streams in the springs which are usually lost out of the areas. The area has experienced drought in recent years and wells are drying up. Farmers desperately need water during spring and summer.
        A very good opportunity for harvesting water at the macro level does exist. Small earth dams across the streams can be constructed at low cost and can store water for use during spring and summer. The earth dams, however, will need adequate spillways lined with stone or concrete. Reservoirs with a capacity of 20,000 to 50,000 m³ can be constructed on selected locations along the stream way. These locations need to be properly selected in terms of hydrology, topography and relative to the lands to be irrigated. Professional engineers should design and supervise the construction of these dams.
        Based on the recommendations contour ridges as well as strip-planting with contour ridges were built in Arsal with full cooperation of farmers, local NGOs, LARI staff and ICARDA staff at Terbol. This demonstration site is fenced to show the effects of reseeding of medics and water harvesting in rehabilitating rangelands. Barley is also planted using alley cropping at this site. Two stone walls 29 and 30 m in length were constructed in three days at Nabha with the help of 10 workers. Cereals were planted in the demonstration area and the fruit trees will be planted later in the season along with cereals or forage crops. They will be fenced for protection, with participation of other cooperating projects and the local community.

2. Water harvesting activities in Jordan

Water harvesting structures were planned and constructed at two sites in Ajloun. The areas are stony, have shallow soil and high slopes. The method adapted was to construct semi-circular micro-catchments in random fashion to support tree production.
        Farmers used to reclaim these lands by digging and constructing large stone terraces along the contour. The cost of this land reclamation may reach up to 2,000 JD/dunum. This approach, however, may endanger wild species and may cause land degradation in the long run. The method adopted was to make minimum intervention so as to maximize water harvesting for tree production and minimize degradation of lands and wild species.
        In Muwaqqar, about 10 dunums were selected as a demonstration site. The land has deep soil with different slopes ranging from mild to steep. A small wadi runs along the field and carries winter flows from an upstream road culvert. Three types of water harvesting were suggested for this field. Contour ridges were implemented on the part of the land with moderate slope, and diamond-shaped micro-catchments were implemented in the mild slope area of the land. We suggested to the farmer, who planned to plant barley on one part of the land, that he plant trees in the diamond-shaped micro-catchment area. Planned water spreading structures and stonewalls will be implemented on the wadi to spread water to the surrounding area.