Assessing Water Withdrawals in Scarce-Data Transboundary Areas by Use of Dynamic Precipitation–Flow Relationships: The Case of the Hasbani River Basin

The present study proposes a nonstandard solution to the problem of assessing water withdrawals (AWW) in the scarce-data transboundary basin. The applied AWW method operates with the open-source available data on precipitation and river flow and thereby overcomes the usual restriction due to lack of data on shared water use in the Middle East. Analysis of dynamic precipitation-flow relationships enable to separate the effect of water withdrawals from the total decline of river flow under the decreasing precipitation. This study is the first which provides complete information (1972–2020) on water withdrawals from total, surface, and base flow of the Hasbani River (Lebanon). The resulting values that exceed by far earlier published estimates were confirmed by (i) indirect indices (area of irrigated land and population), and (ii) validation of the AWW method based on independent data on water use (Israel Water Authority). The study results are useful for water balance estimations, as well as for management of water resources in the Jordan River headwaters basin and in the entire Lake Kinneret Basin. The AWW method can be applied to other transboundary basins and enables historical and real-time monitoring of water withdrawals as a necessary database for settlement of riparian water relations.

WATER RESOURCES TRANSBOUNDARY RIVERS REGULATION ISSUES

The article concentrates on the water management situation of two transboundary basins of different scales taking into consideration the individual characteristics of the system of water resources using. The water management and environmental problems of the Euphrates (Turkey-Syria) and Karkotis (Cyprus) rivers are analyzed and their water management potential is estimated based on their generalized hydrological parameters. The chosen river basins have catchment areas (440 thousand km2 and 90 km2) that differ by several orders of magnitude, but the essence of the problems remains regardless of the scale and requires an equally detailed analysis and an individual methodological approach. The historically tense Mesopotamian region in terms of water resources is considered on the example of the Euphrates River. The existing and projected hydraulic units and water management systems in the Euphrates basin on the territory of Turkey and Syria predetermine a potential conflict of interests. Without focusing on the political aspects of the problem, the current situation and the real water potential on the border of Turkey and Syria are analyzed. The Karkotis River (another name for Klarios), originates in the north-east of the Troodos mountain range and fl ows into the Morphou gulf, Mediterranean Sea. The project «Kariotis» (the name of the project differs a little from the river name) was created in the 90s of the last century by a group of Soviet specialists on the terms of a contract. The project was not implemented for political reasons, but it is of interest in terms of the project tasks to be solved and cross-border features. The most important areas of the scientifi c research related to the hydrological and water management justification of project solutions for water resources management are formulated. This is a primary condition for effective joint water use in transboundary basins.

"Cross-border basins today and forever"

This note presents an account of transboundary basins on a global and regional scale throughout history. The authors introduce the special section on transboundary basins, presenting their constant increase and profound complexity. Regions & Cohesion has shown a permanent interest in this subject, from its first publications and, in particular, with the 2014 special issue that addressed different theoretical, methodological, and case studies in different continents. The three readings that make up this section address contemporary water border contexts and Mexico–U.S. policy where multi- and transdisciplinary challenges continue.