Water resources status to global changes in the Taznakht plain ,Draa basin, Morocco

The southern part of Morocco is mostly an arid area despite the geographical situation of Morocco on the Atlantic and Mediterranean coast. Extreme water scarcity exists in the Taznakht region, the study area, which is located in the central part of southeastern Morocco. The water resources are mainly drawn from groundwater using wells and Khettaras known as traditional irrigation systems. This study analyzes how climate and anthropic factors impact the state of water resources in the plain of Taznakht throughout the last decades (1985-2015). A statistical analysis was conducted using climate data to identify climate trends in the area. With remote sensing, the diachronic evolution of vegetation into the plain was tracked to observe the impact of the resulting trends. Then, a spatial distribution of Khettaras all over the plain was established and their state of functioning was related to the evolution of agricultural fields. The results showed a clear impact of drought phases on vegetation throughout the 30-year study implying a vulnerable water state. Focusing on one particular village, it was also determined that the disappearance of Khettaras due to climate change, extensive pumping, and lack of maintenance by locals and depending on less ecologic irrigation systems contributed to the disappearance of agricultural fields. This situation indicates that global warming and climate change are very serious problems for water management in Taznakht region. It was also discussed that after 2005, due to the Green Morocco Plan (PMV), these climate and anthropic impacts did not affect vegetation as much as in previous years. These impacts do not only affect the ecosystem of Taznakht plain, but also the socio-economic situation of its population, so continuing with applying similar PMV strategies along with encouraging the process of Khettaras renovation and recovery is the right path for a well-balanced lifestyle in the area