Water resource planning and development in the Northern Jordan valley

The Jordan River Basin epitomizes many of the problems of water resource management which occur in other parts of the world on a broader but equally complex scale. This paper examines the water problem in the Northern Jordan Valley with a view to obtaining a better understanding of the problems which were stirred up by the initiatives for the comprehensive development of that region. The argument put forward is that the existing water resources—if rationally exploited and managed-are adequate for meeting the bulk of demands for irrigation, industry and domestic uses of all coriparian states in the catchment area. Matters of major concern, however, are the imminent environmental and ecological issues which may compromise the operation of any intensive multi-purpose water system.