the Water Harvesting and Spring Water Management Project
Project Title: Developing a Master Plan for eco-tourism and Preparing Technical and Engineering Studies for the Water Harvesting and Spring Water Management Project
Location: Wadi Mousa, Petra
Client: Petra Development & Tourism Region Authority
Description of Project: Wadi Musa is located at the entrance of Perta’s Archaeological Reserve in Petra District which is enclosed in Maan’s administrative governorate borders and it is 250 km far to the south of Amman the capital of Jordan. The project seeks to develop an integrated concept of water harvesting and spring water management in Wadi Mousa by collecting, storing and distributing water at the edge of the main valleys, increasing the vegetation cover in the vicinity of these valleys, reducing flood and flood hazards, protecting water springs, and providing a sustainable eco-tourism product. The total area for this project is around 6,000 Dunum. The project consists of an eco-tourism path, approximately 2 km long, including the entrance and exit areas, which are located at the beginning and end of the ecological path. It includes service buildings and rest areas. The works include refining and cleaning the path and provide stairs, stone chains, fences, wooden bridges, or retaining walls where needed. The path also includes guiding or identification boards along the path. It should be noted that the path contains many tourist attractions, including the Mill area, water channels, springs, water pools, farms, parks and tourist service and food with the participation of the local community. Based on the hydrological studies conducted for the three (3) Wadis in Wadi Musa region; 10 collective dams have been proposed and designed with the aim of reducing floods and collecting rainwater, as 5 sites were identified in Wadi Al-Sader, 3 sites in Wadi Ein Musa, and two sites in Wadi Al-Maqar, as shown in the figure below. Stone dams were proposed that are compatible with the nature of the region and its touristic and archaeological importance, and the recommendations were consistent with the cultural heritage of the region in establishing stone dams and Nabataean water harvesting systems, and this was discussed with the Petra Region Authority. It should be noted that these dams are small water harvesting systems and are not typical dams, but rather stone dams (check dams) and their construction does not require any environmental precautions because they are excavations in addition to some simple stone constructions. The dams were designed on the basis that they are filled annually as sustainable water harvest systems. Providing them with a small reduction in the event of a large flood that exceeds the storage capacity. These dams play a major role in mitigating the effects of devastating floods, as well as collecting water as a Nabatean water harvest system and feeding springs in the western regions, noting that coordination between the Petra region and the Jordan Valley Authority is necessary to facilitate work and implementation of the project.
Services Provided:
- Preparation of technical, environmental and hydrological studies in addition to social and economic studies aimed at stopping the environmental degradation in the Wadi Mousa area and reducing its impact on the archaeological site in Petra through restoration of vegetation and development of a new eco-tourism product and reducing the effects of climate change
- Preparation of master plan and detailed engineering designs and architectural, civil, mechanical and topographical plans necessary for the implementation of the project.
- Develop a plan for investment operation and sustainability of the environmental-tourist routes
- Develop an operational plan for the project according to the proposed stages