to Shoreq Environmental Unit (Bet Shemesh, Mate Yehuda and Abu-Gosh)

Transcription

1 Protecting Judean Hills Springs PGW Master Plan to Shoreq Environmental Unit (Bet Shemesh, Mate Yehuda and Abu-Gosh)

2 Judean Hills Springs in Shoreq Drainage Basin

3 Used to be the best quality water

4 mg/l Natural nitrate concentration less than 10 mg/l; Raising up to more than 70* in few springs (*The Israeli standard for drinking water) עין קטלב עין לוזה עין גרס תחתון עין נטף עין הפירים עיינות תלם עין קובי עין עקור עין יואל עין דאר א-שיח עין אמיר עין אל-קוף עין אל בלד עליון עין לימון עין כסלון עין נקופה עין חוד עין תנור עין חנדק עין נקעה עין אזן עין כפירה עין אל בירכה עיינות תלתן עין יעל עין שריג מעיין מרים עין מטע עין אל בלד עין מבשר עין מבשר מעיין - רמת מעיין - אבו גוש עין לבן עין ציפורים עין ארזים עין רזיאל עין מוצא עליון עין אל בלד תיכון עין חנה עין ספיר

5 PPB ריכוזי קרבומזפין במעיינות הי יהודה Pollution Carbomeziphine is clear indicator for domestic sewage source מתוך: ממצאי בדיקות לסמנים אנטרופוגנים במעיינות שעונים בהרי יהודה/רשות המים

6 Where the pollution comes from

7 Moshav Even Sapir Hendak Recharge Area

8 Mapping the intensity of dwellings and other human activities Potential hazards in the springs recharge zones

9 Natural and Cultural landscape

10 The Landscape Survey In the 7 springs about 230 observations were recorded and mapped Main categories were: antiques, Botany, Geology, and potential hazards "הכותל הקטן"

11 Ancient trails and irrigation canals

12 Degradation of the ancient terraces

13 Potential to cultural heritage rehabilitation Clearing garbage and debris, Rehabilitation/reconstruction of the canals and the irrigated terraces. Maintenance or terraces through real usage of the traditional cultivation and irrigation practices Open safe trails to the attractions and sceneries connection to the Israel National Trail Balance is needed between development for visitors and preservation

14 Rehabilitation construction works Unprofessional spring rehabilitation may reduce the physical complexity of the spring ecosystems and impact biodiversity in a negative way Things to take care of in order to protect and enhance biodiversity: The size and structure of the spring pull and overflow channel Polls Discharge and flow regimes Natural flow continuity between the seepage location and downstream pools Channel slope Type of the channels and pool bottom bed (Bedrock, pebble, sand or fine sediment); Usage of local stone and sediment. Water temperature Water vegetation : submerged and floating types

15 פלישת חמציצים עין חנדק Invasive species e.g. Bermuda buttercup

16 Scooping exotic fishes

17 Recharge area Open forest Ein Hendak - Planning Accessibility / Preservation

18 Next tasks for planners and survey teams: Finding all relevant תודה master and development plans Cost analysis Defining the relative value of springs according to a set of scales on preservation versus development parameters and status Expanding the detailed survey to all springs

19 Protecting Groundwater The Springs of Judean Hills Stakeholder Mapping Analysis and Recommendations Iris Bernstein and Sofia Rosner-Sela

20 Forum of stakeholders Ministry of Environment Regional Council Nature Park Authority Forests Authority (JNF) Water Authority Farmers Env. NGOs: SPNI, EcoPeace Drainage Authority Local activist groups Antiquities Authority

21 Needs and Objectives of the Stakeholders The General Public Nature Enthusiasts Experience the intimate Semi Natural state of the springs, without any development Vacationers Groups/Events Religious groups Vacation experience, some degree of development and access ability to vehicles Catering and camping areas and accessibility Rituals and exclusive ceremonies Need distance from others

22 Tourism pressure...

23 Safety and insurance problem Land managers are reluctant to take responsibility over springs because legal courts tend to hold them responsible for any potential damages "The law protects land managers against lawsuit if they took proper safety measures which are required by the specific site level of development (Shmulik Shapira) Setting clear cut safety regulations by senior level officials at the relevant responsible institutes: the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Environmental Protection

24 Farmer communities Command, control and profit Some don t see springs as resources for the moshav

25 Ein Rafa Village Council Sees rehabilitation of the Ein La mor spring and surrounded area as a resource for Eco-tourism, connected to the to the traditional agricultural and social setting of the village

26 Israeli Antiquities Authority Keeping all the springs under the Law of Antiquities: Authority is engaged in education, helping local activists with budget costs All springs/fountains built on ancient remains All changes made to the spring must obtain the approval of the director of the Israel Judea Antiquities All springs have a manager's approval of the Department of Antiquities reserved All archaeological excavation in a spring area should be approved by the authority. Excavation parameters must be set in accordance with the law.

27 Green bodies - SPNI, NPA Reference to ecosystems: Springs do not work as traditional farming areas for decades The terraces and spring areas are richly covered with local vegetation Therefore, the framework has to introduce ecological aspects of design, such as: Springs located in areas with high ecological sensitivity Springs that are ecological corridors Springs that comprise a unique biodiversity that has developed within and around them.

28 Groups of local active citizens: Maintenance Cleanup, pruning, fine clearing Activity that alters the land Excavations, construction and planting and introduction of exotic species

29 Field Managers Mate Yehuda Regional council Common objectives between field managers Protecting the Spring and its Natural Heritage Nature and Parks Authorities Protecting interests of the communities Aspects of tourism, recreation and promenades Ongoing maintenance and Enforcement Slight recreation for hikers and travelers

30 33 Springs - NPA + forest department Other springs in the agricultural areas Division of springs Proposed Nature Reserve Declared Nature Reserve Natural forest for cultivation Proposed National Park Declared National Park Planted forests; humans existed Natural forest for Conservation

31 Conflicts around the springs Spring biodiversity and cultural heritage Limited and sensitive carrying capacity Public usages Area Managers: NPA, JNF and Antiques Authority Problems of safety and insurance ; un-professional excavations; noise, dirt; exotic species ; maintenance Events Activists and religious groups Planning and permit processes Long bureaucracy; conflict with preservation; Development for recreation

32 Summary of the current state of springs For most springs, only extreme solutions exist: No development Full development Springs at agricultural lands are at higher risk than springs at the management of the official institutions Three land managers: Local authority, Ministry of Env. protection and JNF, recommend to develop a small number of springs while the rest of the springs remain untouched Some kind of development undeveloped

33 Combined solution Multi-institutional decision taking and implementation Systematically advancing plans for development and conservation Encouraging local activists to interact with land managers Setting goals and objectives for sharing the issue with a wider public

34 According to Israeli water law, all water sources, including the perched springs are state/public domain. In order develop and manage them safely and sustainably government committee with all relevant ministries, institutions and NGOs representatives have to clearly define statutory policy for rehabilitation and sustainable development of those springs Safety & other land/water users needs Conservation & Sustainable Development Spring conservation policy Statutory guidelines with specified funds and corpus of necessary regulations

35 The springs in the agricultural lands are more prone to degradation and destruction, since no authority to protect and maintain the springs area Permanent Springs Management body in the Municipal Authority with representatives from all authorities and other stakeholders. Roles of the Springs Management Body: - Fundraising and allocating the funds needed to protect and develop the springs area - Coordination between all authorities and other stakeholders in any planned development in the springs area and on going maintenance - Facilitating mechanisms of regulation of local activist groups before using hard enforcement - Encouraging further public awareness, and involvement of new sectors

36 The difference between a committee and an administration A multi-institute committee: A one time mission Objective: setting national policy for spring conservation including budgets Participating: government ministries treasury, agriculture, environment, infrastructure, interior. Administration: On-going procedures Objective: monitoring springs management at Mate Yehuda RC Participating: land managers and other stakeholders On-going work: coordination, information sharing, empowerment, maintaining simple mechanisms for cooperation between stakeholders

37 Judea Hills Springs Survey and Master Plan Work team Uri Ramon, Survey Director Amit Mendelson- Landscape and Cultural Heritage Uria Oren Botany Dr. Amir Eidelman, Geology Ariel Cohen Hydrology Gidon Sylimani Archeologist Iris Bernstein and Sofia Rozner-Sela Landscape Architects Dr. Youval Arbel Project Director and Scientific review Gilat Bartana, Initiative and Project Management