The Monte Novo Irrigation Scheme covers an area of 7700 ha in the Évora and Portel municipalities of the Alentejo region, Southern Portugal. It forms part of the Alqueva Global Irrigation System, which concerns an area of about 115000 ha, and is still in the development phase.
Currently, the 7700 ha of the Monte Novo irrigation scheme are ready to start operating. Ηowever, only 45% is currently being used for irrigated crops. Overall, the Irrigation Scheme forms part of the Alqueva Multi-Purpose Project (EFMA-Empreendimento de Fins Múltiplos de Alqueva), one of the largest investments ever made in Portugal, in order to support the economic development of one of the poorest regions of Europe. The EFMA is linked to the Alqueva reservoir (usable capacity of 3150 hm³), used to provide water to meet agricultural, urban, industrial and tourism demands.
The Monte Novo Irrigation Scheme is primarily supplied by the Loureiro reservoir, an intermediate point in the Alqueva Subsystem. Through a channel, water is transferred to the Monte Novo reservoir, which supplies the studied irrigation scheme. Since 1982, the Monte Novo reservoir has been used for water supply in the municipality of Évora, and for the irrigation of some agricultural sites. With its integration into the EFMA, the reservoir will almost exclusively supply demands in the Évora district. The local irrigation system was designed to supply water on demand, enabling farmers to use water in the desired quantity and without time restrictions. Water is delivered to users by gravity, low or high pressure, according to the characteristics and location of the irrigation block components.
According to the relevant Environmental Impact Assessment, the implementation of the Monte Novo scheme, the consequent crop substitution and the impacts of irrigation on the soils will contribute to the (a) disappearance of upland habitats; (b) degradation of soil quality, including the aggravation of the effects of erosion by irrigation, and salinisation, alkalinisation, and degradation of soil structure; (c) surface water quality degradation, due to runoff and inflow of nutrients in water courses; and (d) contamination of the Évora Aquifer, due to the more intensive use of fertilizers and pesticides.
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