**2.4 Water consumption**

The total legislated water consumption for agriculture and domestic usage (source: National water authority) indicates the following: Until late 1990's it was ranged between 100 and 120 mcm (106 m3 ) per year of which 99% for agricultural irrigation: 42% -grooves' 48% - field crops, 7% -fish ponds, and 1% - human domestic supply. Later on, restriction was instructed to 85 mcm/y and further to 68 mcm/y were implemented with additional supply from Lake Kinneret to the Golan Heights of 19 mcm/y [8, 9] (**Tables 2** and **3**).

How does agricultural management accept such constraints of natural drought and the followed legislation of water supply restriction? The answer was given in [15]: During 20 years (1990–2010) the efficiency of water utilization aimed at the beneficial revenue of agricultural production increased from 41,100 to 81,420 US\$ per ha. It was the result of improvement of agricultural technology.

### **2.5 Land use land cover modifications in the Hula Valley**

Before Hula Drainage the Valley was mostly (6500 ha) covered by natural wetlands (Peat soil) and old Lake Hula (1300 ha), Hula drainage, converted natural wetland into agricultural land [7, 15, 17, 19]. It was an infrastructure development for an agricultural income source for the local immigrated residents. Between 1960 and 1990 the Peat-Land area cultivation has yielded economically sufficient products. Nevertheless, contributed nutrient to Lake Kinneret threatened its water quality. It was resulted by inappropriate irrigation methods. The outcome was peat soil destruction and subsidence, dust storms which blocked the drainage canals, underground fires and rodent population outbreaks. Agricultural crops were damaged and Kineret water quality became threatened. A reclamation


**Table 1.**

*Israeli agricultural land use (km2 ) in the Kinneret watershed as documented in 2004.*

### *Landscape Architecture - Processes and Practices Towards Sustainable Development*


### **Table 2.**

*Precipitation Regime: Geographical sub-units of the Lake Kinneret drainage basin, their surface area (Km2 ), annual precipitation gauge (mm/y) and calculated total rainfall volume (mcm/y) are given [8, 9, 13, 14, 16, 17].*


### **Table 3.**

*The history of land use/land cover included in the peat soil convention (PSC) in the Hula Valley (59 km<sup>2</sup> ; 5900 ha). Numbers are % of the total area. Historical events: 1952–1957 drainage and conversion to agricultural management; 1989–1995—Hula reclamation project (HRP) implementation [18, 19].*

project (Hula Reclamation Project, HRP) was consequently discussed and implemented. A shift of 500 ha Peat-Land from agriculture to eco-tourism usage was achieved. The HRP concept was aimed at ecosystem sustainability and therefore based on anthropogenic intervention combined with the introduction of natural plants. Reconstruction of the hydrological drainage system of the entire valley was renovated. The critical need for soil structure protection by maintenance of its moisture was achieved by implementation of irrigation method of moveable sprinkle line [14, 17].

### **2.6 The peat soil convention: Sustainable achievement**

The major significant variable of regional water balance is obviously rainfall contribution. Although a major part of the regional rainy waters input is transformed into runoff, flowing downstream into Lake Kinneret, significant volume of is migrated into unknown underground spaces in the Hula Valley. When climate is changed, and therefore, water consumption and possibly land use policy reduces, it will have an impact on lake water level. The second level of water consumption is due to Evapo-transpiration (ET). This variable of the regional water balance is strongly affected by climate conditions, land plant cover, water availability and soil properties. Dryness conditions enhance soil moisture reduction, which is affected

**125**

**Table 4.**

**Figure 1.**

*Sustainable Utilization of the Lake Kinneret and Its Watershed Ecosystems: A Review*

by land use policy of slow down crops cultivation (plant coverage restriction) and, therefore, reduce regional evaporation capacity. The management of the Kinneret watershed is a good example of protection of sustainability of an ecological ecosystem where natural and anthropogenic interests are together combating dryness in the hula

As a result of enhanced dryness and water supply limitations, the national policy of water pricing was reordered. Consequently, cost account of water consumption in the Hula Valley became more expensive. Nevertheless, as part of the National Water Authority recognition of ecosystem sustainable management, a formal confirmation was carried out of the special status of the Hula valley. Followed by legislated water price reduction accompanied by stakeholders' commitment to irrigate fields despite being bare in summer. Nonprofitable expenses were compensated by the lowering of water pricing. The difference between the National and the reduced tariff was dedicated to a stakeholder's managerial foundation to cover those

Results in **Table 4** indicate a reduction of Water-Swampy-Flooded area from 100% to less than 5% surface cover. As a result of enhanced dryness (water scarcity)

*Annual Total Hula Valley region average of ground water table (GWT) (m below surface).*

Below 214 32 (6) 214–213 65 (11) 213–212 89 (15) 212–211 104 (18) 211–210 144 (24) 210–209 125 (21) Above 209 30 (5)

**WL range (mbsl) Number of months (%)**

*Number of months with monthly means of WL with respect to 1 m WL interval in Lake Kinneret (1970–2018).*

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.93727*

Valley (**Figure 1**) [7, 13–15, 17].

irrigation expenses.

*Sustainable Utilization of the Lake Kinneret and Its Watershed Ecosystems: A Review DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.93727*

by land use policy of slow down crops cultivation (plant coverage restriction) and, therefore, reduce regional evaporation capacity. The management of the Kinneret watershed is a good example of protection of sustainability of an ecological ecosystem where natural and anthropogenic interests are together combating dryness in the hula Valley (**Figure 1**) [7, 13–15, 17].

As a result of enhanced dryness and water supply limitations, the national policy of water pricing was reordered. Consequently, cost account of water consumption in the Hula Valley became more expensive. Nevertheless, as part of the National Water Authority recognition of ecosystem sustainable management, a formal confirmation was carried out of the special status of the Hula valley. Followed by legislated water price reduction accompanied by stakeholders' commitment to irrigate fields despite being bare in summer. Nonprofitable expenses were compensated by the lowering of water pricing. The difference between the National and the reduced tariff was dedicated to a stakeholder's managerial foundation to cover those irrigation expenses.

Results in **Table 4** indicate a reduction of Water-Swampy-Flooded area from 100% to less than 5% surface cover. As a result of enhanced dryness (water scarcity)

### **Figure 1.**

*Landscape Architecture - Processes and Practices Towards Sustainable Development*

**(km2 )**

Eastern-Northern Galilee 542 800 434 Jordan-Hermon 788 900 709 Hula Valley 200 450 90 Golan Height 580 900 522 Western Basin 450 450 202 Small Southern Basins 170 450 77 Total 2730 (Mean: 658) 2034

**Geographical region Surface area** 

project (Hula Reclamation Project, HRP) was consequently discussed and implemented. A shift of 500 ha Peat-Land from agriculture to eco-tourism usage was achieved. The HRP concept was aimed at ecosystem sustainability and therefore based on anthropogenic intervention combined with the introduction of natural plants. Reconstruction of the hydrological drainage system of the entire valley was renovated. The critical need for soil structure protection by maintenance of its moisture was achieved by implementation of irrigation method of moveable

*5900 ha). Numbers are % of the total area. Historical events: 1952–1957 drainage and conversion to agricultural* 

*The history of land use/land cover included in the peat soil convention (PSC) in the Hula Valley (59 km<sup>2</sup>*

*management; 1989–1995—Hula reclamation project (HRP) implementation [18, 19].*

*;* 

*),* 

**Used-cover type 1949 1958 1976 1986 2010** Water 24% 0 0 2% 2% Swamps 54% 7% 7% 3% 7% Flooded 22% 0 0 0 0 Field Crops 0 59% 79% 58% 68% Uncultivated 0 17% — 14% 5% Other 0 8.5% 3% 10% 7% Orchards 0 0 3% 8% 9% Fish ponds 0 8.5% 8% 5% 2%

*annual precipitation gauge (mm/y) and calculated total rainfall volume (mcm/y) are given [8, 9, 13, 14, 16, 17].*

*Precipitation Regime: Geographical sub-units of the Lake Kinneret drainage basin, their surface area (Km2*

**Annual rainfall (mm/y)**

**Annual rain volume (mcm/y)**

The major significant variable of regional water balance is obviously rainfall contribution. Although a major part of the regional rainy waters input is transformed into runoff, flowing downstream into Lake Kinneret, significant volume of is migrated into unknown underground spaces in the Hula Valley. When climate is changed, and therefore, water consumption and possibly land use policy reduces, it will have an impact on lake water level. The second level of water consumption is due to Evapo-transpiration (ET). This variable of the regional water balance is strongly affected by climate conditions, land plant cover, water availability and soil properties. Dryness conditions enhance soil moisture reduction, which is affected

**2.6 The peat soil convention: Sustainable achievement**

**124**

sprinkle line [14, 17].

**Table 3.**

**Table 2.**

*Annual Total Hula Valley region average of ground water table (GWT) (m below surface).*


### **Table 4.**

*Number of months with monthly means of WL with respect to 1 m WL interval in Lake Kinneret (1970–2018).*

driven by climate change during the recent 15 years field crops area in the watershed was restricted by 35% and Fishponds by 43%. Although agricultural land-use in the Watershed was reduced as well as water availability (from 110 mcm/y to 68 mcm/y) crops and revenue per areal unit were improved simultaneously. This was resulted by technological improvements and land beneficial significance. In other words, natural constrains of water scarcity were achieved by water and land utilization efficiency aimed at sustainability maintenance.
