In the arid landscapes of Morocco’s High Atlas mountains, an age-old dance between water and land is playing out, one that could hold vital lessons for water management and energy sectors worldwide. A recent study, led by H. Bouimouass of the Center for Remote Sensing Applications at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, has shed new light on the intricate relationship between traditional irrigation practices and groundwater recharge in these semiarid regions.
The research, published in the journal *Agricultural Water Management* (translated from French as *Water Management in Agriculture*), focuses on the mountain-front areas of the Moroccan High Atlas, a critical recharge zone for the Haouz aquifer. These areas are not just vital for local agriculture but also have significant implications for the energy sector, where water is a crucial resource for power generation and cooling.
Bouimouass and his team employed a simplified water balance approach, corrected for groundwater-based evapotranspiration, to analyze a 20-year dataset of irrigation diversions and remotely sensed evapotranspiration. The results revealed stark spatial disparities in water allocation. “Upstream zones, benefiting from ancestral water rights, receive disproportionately higher water allocations, sustaining potential recharge in about 90% of months,” Bouimouass explained. “In contrast, midstream and downstream zones consistently face deficits.”
The study also highlighted the vulnerability of these traditional irrigation systems under climate and human pressures. Despite local recharge events linked to flood years, statistically significant declining trends in recharge were observed across all zones. “This reflects both reduced streamflow and intensified groundwater abstraction,” Bouimouass noted.
The findings underscore the urgent need for integrated water management strategies that safeguard ancestral irrigation practices while promoting adaptive measures such as managed aquifer recharge and climate-smart agriculture. For the energy sector, this research could inform more sustainable water use practices, ensuring a reliable water supply for power generation amidst growing demands and climate variability.
The study’s reliability was further attested by the close alignment of potential recharge estimates with values derived from the water table fluctuation (WTF) method. Sensitivity tests also revealed that neglecting rainfall and changes in storage (ΔS) introduces only modest biases, confirming the dominance of irrigation as the primary recharge driver.
As climate change and human activities continue to exert pressure on water resources, the insights from this research could shape future developments in water management and energy sectors. By understanding and preserving the delicate balance between traditional practices and modern needs, we can pave the way for a more sustainable and resilient future.