PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Israel’s coastal plain is crossed by 10 major rivers and their tributaries. Until the 1940s, most of them drew water all year long, and supported diverse ecosystems in which fauna and flora thrived. However, due to large population increases, accelerated urbanism and industrialisation, and low environmental awareness, the coastal rivers have progressively become receptacles for insufficiently treated wastewater and solid waste of diverse origins. However, over the past few years, river rehabilitation has emerged as one of the central issues of environmental protection in Israel. In addition to preventing waste and pollutant discharges to riverbeds, rehabilitation calls for assurances of adequate water sources (in terms of both quality and quantity), preservation of habitats and special sites, and the development of recreational sites.
OBJECTIVES
The project aimed to rehabilitate Israel’s coastal zone, its main rivers, and adjacent areas. The project’s expected activities were: · Preparation of a masterplan for five of the major national rivers (i.e. Na'aman, Taninim, Hadera, Soreq and Lachish); · Characterisation of pollution sources;· Identification of habitats to be preserved; · Assessment of quantities of water demanded by water bodies to return to their original status; and · Preparation of proposals for zoning areas close to the above rivers to seek a balance between conservation and development.
RESULTS
The projects provided the following four masterplans: 1. The Besor Stream Masterplan for Restoration and Development; 2. The Lachish Stream Masterplan for Restoration and Development; 3. The Soreq Stream Masterplan for Restoration and Development; and 4. The Taninim Stream Masterplan for Restoration and Development. It should be noted that the project replaced Hadera and Na'aman with the Besor River. The masterplans cover pollution sources, measures for pollution control and prevention, estimates of water quantities and quality, surveys of sensitive areas, river infrastructure (roads, bridges, etc), tourism infrastructure, maps, and guidelines for activities to be encouraged or discouraged in areas adjacent to the rivers. The project also produced: · Documentation of pollution sources; · Detailed surveys of ecological values and sensitivities; · Estimates of water quantities and qualities required for the restoration of the rivers; · A project newsletter called “Streams of our land”; · Two seminars on river restoration, one for the general public (February 1998) and another one for professionals in river management (March 1999); and · Databases on polluters and pollution loads discharged into the rivers. The work carried out during the project had already borne fruit soon after the end of the LIFE funding, for example: 1. A strong commitment by various local bodies to cleaning the river environment was translated into practical actions, such as the removal of 3,000 tons of rubbish from the Besor riverbed, and the construction of a modern wastewater treatment plant which began operating in March 2002. 2. The masterplans have served as a template for statutory plans aimed at controlling development and building in the rivers' vicinity. 3. The Water Commission was to start the allocation of fresh and reclaimed water for revitalising streams and habitats in 2004. The project document Evaluation of the economic benefits of restoration of the Soreq River has served as a basis for this process. 4. Work on the legal aspects of drainage led to a transformation of Draining Authorities to River Authorities, with a mandate to handle environmental issues. 5. Enhanced law enforcement, which was made possible by the provision of improved information, has led to significant decreases of pollution in the Taninim and Soreq Rivers. The projects provided the following four masterplans: 1. The Besor Stream Masterplan for Restoration and Development; 2. The Lachish Stream Masterplan for Restoration and Development; 3. The Soreq Stream Masterplan for Restoration and Development; and 4. The Taninim Stream Masterplan for Restoration and Development. It should be noted that the project replaced Hadera and Na'aman with the Besor River. The masterplans cover pollution sources, measures for pollution control and prevention, estimates of water quantities and quality, surveys of sensitive areas, river infrastructure (roads, bridges, etc), tourism infrastructure, maps, and guidelines for activities to be encouraged or discouraged in areas adjacent to the rivers. The project also produced: · Documentation of pollution sources; · Detailed surveys of ecological values and sensitivities; · Estimates of water quantities and qualities required for the restoration of the rivers; · A project newsletter called “Streams of our land”; · Two seminars on river restoration, one for the general public (February 1998) and another one for professionals in river management (March 1999); and · Databases on polluters and pollution loads discharged into the rivers. The work carried out during the project had already borne fruit soon after the end of the LIFE funding, for example: 1. A strong commitment by various local bodies to cleaning the river environment was translated into practical actions, such as the removal of 3,000 tons of rubbish from the Besor riverbed, and the construction of a modern wastewater treatment plant which began operating in March 2002. 2. The masterplans have served as a template for statutory plans aimed at controlling development and building in the rivers' vicinity. 3. The Water Commission was to start the allocation of fresh and reclaimed water for revitalising streams and habitats in 2004. The project document Evaluation of the economic benefits of restoration of the Soreq River has served as a basis for this process. 4. Work on the legal aspects of drainage led to a transformation of Draining Authorities to River Authorities, with a mandate to handle environmental issues. 5. Enhanced law enforcement, which was made possible by the provision of improved information, has led to significant decreases of pollution in the Taninim and Soreq Rivers.