The change in flood regime along the Lower Jordan River: its influence on flood plain land use

Cooperation among riparian parties along the Lower Jordan River (LJR) may promote development of the region's natural resources. Cooperation requires understanding of the river's present flow regime, water quality and current land use in the flood plain. The average annual flow in the LJR has decreased from 1166 Mm(3) year(-1) (1926-1945) to 167 Mm(3) year(-1) (1978-2000), of which about 70%, (120 Mm3), are of good water quality. Due to the extremely dry years, the allocation of water to the state of Jordan of 50 Mm(3) year(-1) after the 1994 Peace Agreement and the barrage built on the Yarmouk (YR) at Adasia, the average yearly flow of the last decade was less than 120 Mm(3). At present the river's cross section area is in a re-adjustment phase and is becoming much smaller. The LJR flood plain is not inhabited and the population lives outside the area, yet the flood plain is used for agricultural purposes.