Water Resources Management in New Reclamation Lands

Abstract

Egypt is currently establishing several projects in arid areas for the development of agricultural land such as North Sinai Agricultural Development Project (NSADP). The project aims to reclaim about 415,000 acres. Two-third of the total area is irrigated by Nile water in a 1:1 ratio mixed with the drainage water. The remaining area still needs a source of water. This study aims to investigate the hydraulic performance of the channels system conveying 5 Mm3/day from Bahr El-Baqar drain that will be treated to cover the extra required water for NSADP. A 1D hydraulic model using HEC-RAS is developed to find solutions for the potential hydraulic problems and propose the best operating scenarios for the required hydraulic structures. Four alternatives were studied; the study showed the need to implement two drops in the proposed channel bed in order to avoid the change in the water level of the sub drains and canals in the study area. In addition to the recommendation to construct three regulator structures one of them on Bahr El-Baqar drain and the two others on the new proposed channel, to solve water level and velocity problems. The study provides an integrated and overlapping management reference for the operation of the proposed regulators to ensure continuous flow of the required water amount will pass from Bahr El-Baqar drain to the proposed channel, despite the fluctuating discharges throughout the seasons.