1. An Israeli perspectives of a coordinated regional project
By:
Avital Gasith; Ram Aviram; Aliza Rapoport-Rootman
1
The rehabilitation of the Lower Jordan River (LJR) and the development of the border region along the Jordan River (Phase A)
Albatros

2. 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).

3. 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)

4. “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
4

5. Where in the world ......?
5

7. LJR watershed

8. Why are we here?
8

9. 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

10. Yarmuch tributary during flood (A. Gasith 30.3.03)
Wide and plentiful
The LJR once carried 1,300,000,000 MCM yearly
10

11. Yarmuch tributary during flood (A. Gasith 30.3.03)
Wide and plentiful
The LJR once carried 1,300,000,000 MCM yearly
11
Remains of Naharyim Power station

12. In the 20th Century
a dramatic increase of the pressure on all water resources!
12

13. 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
13

14. Water diversion by the respective LJR riparian states
Israel
Syria
Jordan
~
~
14

15. Sea of Galilee (SOG) (A. Gasith, 2004)
Israel
15

16. Sea of Galilee (SOG) (A. Gasith, 2004)
Israel
200 - 400MCM
16
Degania Dam regulating the outflow of SOG

17. Illustration – Soffer
48 DAMS total storage capacity 300 MCM
Syria
Illustration – Soffer
SOG
Wadi al Harir
17

18. El Wahda Dam
Jordan
18

19. El Wahda Dam
Jordan
19
Total storage capacity 265 MCM
(FOEME 14)

20. http://foeme.wordpress.com/
The LJR paid a heavy toll
a dwindled river
<10% of the original flow
20

21. A. Gasith, 3.11.05
The LJR version of
“Rio Blanco and Rio Negro”
Compounded adverse effect of loss of water and organic pollution

22. 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

23. ... and a barrier was built
23

24. Jordan River, Gesher (A. Gasith 13.3.14
Fenced River
The consequences of security needs
24

25. A change is in the air…
Unfortunately, Decades of misery of Human and Nature
25
and then

26. 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
26

27. Now is the time to act
Rehabilitation of the LJR
27

28. 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
28

29. LJR watershed
Rehabilitation project boundaries of Phase A
29

30. 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;
30

31. Land use Ecology Landscape
Environment
Tourism Archeology Economics Water
Design and decision processes
31

32. Example of material produced for the Master Plan
Landscape & Environm.
Ecological
sensitivity Plant
formations
(habitats)
Open land
continuity

33. 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
Public Participation
33

34. 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

35. Rehabilitation of the LJR
Phase A
35
The River

36. 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.
36

37. Albatros
Allocating water
Upgrading water quality
The Water Plan
37

38. 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

39. 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
39
?

40. Rehabilitation of the LJR
Phase A
40
The Region

41. protected
Human impacted
Choosing the planning strategy
Flexible planning of time and uses which is based on a dialogue that promotes coexistence
41

42. Rehabilitation Project
Nature Conservation
Agriculture
Tourism
Resolving conflicts
Coexistence
Development
Cooperation
42

43. LJR
Regional planning: suggested land uses
OPEN AGICULTURAL LANDSCAPE
PROTECTED
ECOLOGICAL CORRIDORS
AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPE
WITH RELEVANT STRUCTURES
TOURISM DEVELOPMENT
A LANDSCAPE MOSAIC
43

44. Jordan River (A. Gasith 13.3.14)
Clearing the Minefields
Planned to be completed by the end of 2015
44

45. Rehabilitation of the LJR
Phase A
45
Economic opportunities

46. 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
46

47. 47
Example of a proposed project: Scenic road of “Geon HaYarden”
64 km of unique landscape

48. Scenery and scenic roads
48

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

50. Overlooking the Jordan River flood plain (A. Gasith 13.3.14)
Harvested field
Natural area

51. A. Gasith 13.3.14
A flock of relatively rare black storks resting in the field
Harvested field

52. Example of a proposed project: Bird Watching center – Kfar Rupin
major migration route to 400 species
500,000,000 birds every year
52

53. Jordan River at Gesher (A. Gasith 10.6.14)
Example of a proposed project:
Old Gesher: A Baptism Center
53

54. Example of a proposed project: Old Gesher - A Boutique Hotel
54
Old British police station

55. Example of a proposed project:
Old Gesher: Hands across the River
Albatros
55

56. Example of a proposed project:
Old Gesher: Hands across the River
Albatros
56

57. Two banks – economic bridges
Industrial zone Jordan Gate
57
Naharyim
Old Gesher
Sheich Husein bridge

58. Gesher (A. Gasith, 10.6.14)
The Italian “BRIDGE”…the two banks
Let us build many more bridges!
58

59. 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
59

60. International conference steering committee
60

61. One of the many meetings of the LJR steering committee
We are greatly indebted to the devoted steering committee, the planning team and consultants
61

62. LJR after flood (A. Gasith 30.2.05)
Thanks for your attention
62