The task has the objective to define a modelling framework to assess sustainability of land uses in water limited environments and to allow the selection of a list of suitable Best Management Practices (both based on non-structural/management and structural approach) that allow that water quality goals discussed and decided with stakeholders are met. From the experience gained, a general approach will be developed to be made available in all cases where the quality of surface water resources available is a matter of concern.
Water quality aspects are greatly relevant in areas experiencing water resources shortage since some uses can be impaired by excessive pollution levels. Several quantification tools have been developed to assess water and pollutants (mostly nutrients) balance at catchment scale to evaluate the impact of human activities (point and diffuse sources) on water re-sources quantity and quality. Activities in this field are greatly valued by the EC, which launched several research programs under the FP5 (CATCHMOD cluster, HARMONI-CA) in view of the implementation of the Water Framework Directive.
Particular attention is being increasingly paid to the improvement of existing hydrological simulation models to adapt them to Mediterranean semiarid conditions where most of the streams show intermittent behaviour (EU R&D projects as TEMPQSIM).
The Action can be divided into several tasks as follows.
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Discussion with stakeholders about water quality goals to be achieved
The definition of the goals is of course primarily related to the water quality standards referred to the actual different uses of water resources or to those ones that would be advisable to be added or achieved. A discussion with concerned stakeholders is thus fundamental and a pre-requisite.
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Data collection/management.
The modelling framework to be developed requires a list of data related to the fields of weather variables, soil classification, geomorphology, land cover, land use and management practices.
Discussion is needed with stakeholders about current management practices to be used as input and about water quality goals to be achieved.
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Setup of the SWAT model environmental database
Quality check of input data; formatting of data; preliminary examination of the actual environmental conditions
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Calibrate / validate the model in a split-in-time or split-in space approach (depending on data availability)
First runs of the model; analysis of results.
Calibration / validation scheme to be selected based on data availability and structure.
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Develop a “perceptual model” of the catchment’s functions/processes. Reporting and discussion with stakeholders
Source apportionment of nutrient release between the different point /diffuse sources. Develop a “perceptual model”: a textual description of the understanding of the principal processes acting in the catchment. The conceptualization is based on the analysis of measured data and on the insight offered by the validated model.
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Identification of “hot spots” as sources of pollutants (focus on nutrients and sediment)
Sub-catchments are divided into Hydrological Response Units (HRUs, areas featuring homogeneous land use / soil / management) whose simulated contribution to the discharge of the principal N and P forms in the river and in the groundwater can be mapped and ranked. Thus the HRUs that are responsible for the highest load can be highlighted as “hot spots” or “critical source areas” as indicated in the UE Nitrate Directive.
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Selecting a provisional list of BMP to be tested (simulated) in order to achieve the goals.
The modelled/measured water quality status in the river is compared with the goals set. On the basis of such comparison, a number of scenarios are simulated in which sets of BMP of various kind are selected and their respective efficiency in reducing nutrient load is modelled. The result of such task consists in the selection of some scenarios in which the selected BMP sets are planned, located and sized so to match the overall water quality goal.
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Discuss viable BMPs with stakeholders in order to select the optimum list to be implemented.
The set of BMP selected in the previous phase is discussed with stakeholders to come to a choice of a viable list of options agreed because of suitability based on tradition, experience and profitability.
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Definition of procedures to motivate farmers to adopt BMP by WB3, WB5 AND WB6
The development, test and evaluation of this option will involve two groups of local actors, namely the stakeholders and the end-users. By stakeholders we mean the actors involved in the local public stakeholder forum, which has already been set up and has been largely involved in selecting possible case studies. As pointed out above, they will be continuously involved in the process of developing best management practices to decrease the discharge of pollutants in the basin.
The end-users are in this case farmers. They need to be involved to:
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Ensure that accurate and up to-date information concerning the current management practices is used,
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Ensure that perspectives and interests of the people actually affected by the option implementation are taken into consideration,
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Help identify opportunities and problems with implementing new management practices during the (virtual) test and evaluation phase,
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Make sure that end-users are motivated to implement the options and understand why management practices should be changed and how,
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Increase the adoption rates of the new BMP by helping ‘market’ and disseminate them.
Since not all end-users can be involved in the project, a small group of farmers will be identified and invited to function as a ‘pilot group’ of the new management practices. It is intended to involve them at the same stages as the stakeholders, namely in the development of BMP as well as their (virtual) test and evaluation