What if I told you that right here in Marrakesh stands an agency safeguarding a precious resource? This is the Hydraulic agency of Tensift basin. It is an organization with a vital mission. The agency works to plan, develop, and sustainably manage water resources. Its goal is to benefit the local economy while protecting this essential resource for future generations.
The Hydraulic agency of Tensift basin operates within the Tensift-Ksob-Igouzoulen hydraulic basin. This extensive area covers 24800 square kilometers. It is home to approximately 2.8 million people across six administrative districts.
Why is this agency so important? In the Haouz Plain near Marrakesh irrigated agriculture consumes about 85% of the total water. Since 1990 droughts and increased groundwater pumping have caused the Haouz aquifer to drop. The water level declines up to two meters per year.
To address this critical issue the Hydraulic agency of Tensift basin embraced innovative solutions. Since 2010 the agency has used remote sensing technology. This helps them estimate water availability and irrigation demand. This allows them to adapt groundwater abstraction accordingly.
The Hydraulic agency of Tensift basin uses daily satellite imagery. It provides information on snow cover. It also measures its water equivalent. This allows the agency to estimate water availability upstream. Downstream the agency combines land cover maps with data from various sources. These sources include satellite imagery hydrometeorological ground stations and piezometric sensors. They estimate evapotranspiration. They also assess water demand for agriculture.
This integrated approach is a result of collaboration. Local and foreign water management entities research institutes and French and German cooperation agencies partner with the Hydraulic agency of Tensift basin.
Brahim Berjamy Head of Information Systems at the Hydraulic agency of Tensift basin said satellite imagery allows better estimation of water availability. It also helps to estimate demand from agriculture. This ensures efficient and effective use of this resource in the long term.
The integrated model provides a permanent long-term and accurate overview. It shows land use evolution of irrigated areas and irrigation water demand. This enables the Hydraulic agency of Tensift basin to plan measures effectively. They balance water availability and demand. This is especially important in the southern Mediterranean regions. Weather stations are scarce particularly in mountain areas.
The Tensift Hydraulic Basin Agency plays a crucial role in water resource management. It uses satellite information to improve practices. The agency ensures the sustainability of water. It balances the needs of the economy with the environment. The Hydraulic agency of Tensift basin helps to secure water resources.