Background

The Badia Water Benchmark Site Workshop October 18-23, 2003 – NCARTT, Jordan has stated in its draft report under the Activities at the Satellite sites of Libya and Saudi Arabia that Libyan and Saudi Arabian satellite sites have to define their own activities and work plan through participatory assessment with their national program.

The relatively large area of Saudi Arabia in comparison to the bench mark site, the ambiguity and the absence of an agreed upon definition of Badia the vague understanding of water harvest concept and techniques, and the missing or record of indigenous knowledge associated with water harvest will make the task as hard and challenging. However, the following is a record of the activities that have been taking place since October 2003 to formulate a proposal for work plan and activities for the Badia satellite site in Saudi Arabia

Objectives

• i. Development and distribution of water harvesting in each site (Wadi)
• ii. Increase fodder production of range shrubs for livestocks in the area
• iii. Combat desertification and promote soil conservation through erosion control
• iv. Develop and improve the area for recreation purposes (using both resource oriented and area oriented multiple use management

Site Selection

Two sites were selected because each has concrete dam for water harvesting. The dams were constructed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Water to control flooding damage. The areas have not been studied before, therefore the data is limited

West Hosaidah Valley (Wadi) -West Hosaidah Dam

This valley is located west of Al-Quaryat district, northwest of Saudi Arabia. This valley is deep, gravelly at the bottom and moderately steep, approximately 200-300m wide. The area behind the dam and down stream to be developed is about 300 hectare and the soil is deep enough for range shrub development and rehabilitation. Annual grasses grow during rainy season and range shrubs are dominant such as Tamrix aucheriana. Grazing is practiced in the area and drinking water for nomads and for animals (livestock) is obtained by digging 30-50 cm hole deep in the gravelling soil.

The valley was used in the past as a drinking water resource since the ground water in the district is relatively saline. Nowadays, the area is used for camel grazing and little activity of sheep grazing due to poor range productivity. The area behind and down the dam of the valley was used to take gravel through excavations by loaders and trucks for building purposes. Therefore, filling and leveling are to be made in the development process.

Baier Valley (Wadi) – Baier Dam

It is similar to West Hosaidah Valley in characterization but plant communities are slightly different. Soil and valley bottom are more gravelly. Run off is more during rainy season & runoff water run more than 72 hours in many rainstorm events in winter season. Grazing was the main use of the area. But nowadays downstream area is developed and used as farms and most rural people work with agriculture. Because of damage of farms due to seasonal flooding during rainy season a concrete damn was constructed few years ago to control flooding damage. The storage capacity of the damn is relatively high and would be potential use for increasing range productivity and water would be distributed properly for range improvement as well as rehabilitation of indigenous (native) shade trees for recreation.

Output

• i. Guidelines of an effective water harvesting technique
• ii. Guidelines for improved livelihoods, ecology and biodiversity
• iii. Guidelines for improved vegetation cover.
• iv. Guidelines for socioeconomic benefits.
• v. Decisions for grazing strategy
• vi. Recommendation and suggestion for natural resources and environmental sustainability

Activities

• i. Collect data for actual storage capacity of the dam and define major problems
• ii. Select participants (farmers)
• iii. Survey the two sites for plant communities, measurement & specification of vegetative cover
• iv. Mechanical practices such as contour lines and soil depression for water harvesting and seed collection
• v. Monitor the vegetative cover and range shrubs grown
• vi. Range development works at down stream

Methodologies

• i. Collection and review of available data about the site
• ii. Characterization of the watershed area that include the selected site
• iii. Characterization of the community and its activities
• iv. Recording the indigenous knowledge of water harvesting in the community
• v. Identification of relevant stakeholders and beneficiaries
• vi. The introduction of improved water harvesting technique
• vii. The adoption of the main features of the project which has been agreed upon on Oman workshop
• viii. Develop working mechanism with the communities

 Time Frame- S.Arabia