Preliminary Report, Wadi el-Far’a Project 2001 — Outline
Preface
1. How the project was conceived
2. Executive summary (revised acc. to progress made)
3. The UPLINK Grant
I. Introduction
Kamal Abdulfattah and Bert de Vries
A. Research Goals (revised from proposal)
1.
A. Research Goals (revised from proposal)
Hydrology of the Wadi el-Far’a
Salem Thawabeh
The study area is a natural catchment area of 330 square meters with a population of 47,320.
Inhabitance starts from the West Bank's eastern slopes at the Tubas area in the north and Nablus in the
west. It continues through Ras al-Far’a, Wadi al-Far’a, Tammun, al-Badhan, al-Aqrabaniya, al-Nassariya,
Ein Shibli and finally ends at the al-Jiftlik area near the Jordan River.
This area is very rich and fertile. It is considered a highly sensitive recharge area in the West
Bank with its twenty-four irrigation wells, and seven main springs that flow through the main channel,
which irrigate about 500 donums of agricultural lands.
The soil of this area can be classified as either sandy or clay-like, or a mixture of the two. The soil
formation of this region improves the cultivation conditions. The climate of this area is hot in the summer
and relatively warm in the winter.
This area is rich in historical and archeological sites. These are located in the Al-Badhan area
(Khirbet el Farwa), Far’a village (Burj el Far’a and Tel el-Far’a), Tammun village (Khirbet Basaliyah and
Khirbet A’touf), and Tubas village (Khirbet Ei’noun, Khirbet Yarza, Khirbet el Ghrour, Tell el Radgha,
Khirbet Jabarees).
The Wadi al-Far’a and its watershed comprise a valley 20 km long, descending east from Nablus
to the Jordan River, and up to 2 km wide. The wadi’s perennial flow is supplied by fourteen springs, the
most famous of which is ‘Ayn al-Far’a (Overview of Middle East Water Sources, USAID, 1998, p. 26). The
Wadi comprises the largest traditional water source still available to the Palestinian population of the West
Bank, and is the second largest source of agricultural produce.
Selection of this region fits well into the USAID’s water development projects completed in 1999
(deep-well water supply in the Hebron-Bethlehem area, and water distribution in villages of the Jenin
district). Focus here is on population and agricultural needs in the central West Bank area of Nablus. Given
much has been done on regional water supply/need in general for the region at large (see Appendix VIII,
“Selected Literature.”), it is time to move to specific localized study (Julie Trotter, see Appendix VIII),
which is already being pioneered by the Birzeit members of the proposed team. (See appendices III, “Brief
Resumes,” and VIII.) Their advantage over mainly foreign-staffed inquiries, familiarity with local Arabic
dialects, is preserved by the bilingual makeup of this team. At the same time, the development goals of this
project will benefit from recent theoretical discussions on the prioritizing of water uses in the face of
growing awareness of the finite quantity of available potable water everywhere, but especially in arid
regions like Palestine.
The Wadi el-Far’a Project also aims to implement a comprehensive approach to hydrology, that is,
the expansion from the usual treatment of water in terms of supply, demand and purity to its role in the total
landscape. As Jad Isaac has pointed out, the variation in vulnerability of water sources “presents the need
for a comprehensive study to locate the sensitive areas ….. To be effective, it needs to include geological
structure, soil, rainfall, topography along with groundwater table, watershed and flow” (Status of the
Environment 300). In addition, the comprehensive “landscape” approach will include study of the human
and natural environmental factors as they impinge on water use, recycling and disposal.
2.
Birzeit-Calvin Institutional partnership
For the past six years Calvin College (Grand Rapids, Michigan) and Birzeit University (Bir Zeit)
West Bank, have been pursuing the development of a partnership for the mutual enhancement of teaching
and research in fields related to the environment, specifically, Geography, History, Environmental Studies
and Archaeology. (See Appendix V for descriptions of Birzeit University and Calvin College.) This effort
is an outgrowth of the Environmental Global Stewardship Initiative, a Pew-funded Coalition of Christian
Colleges venture, through which early exploratory visits to the West Bank and Gaza by principle
investigator Bert de Vries were funded (1995, 1996). After that initiative, Calvin College paid for travel
and costs in Jerusalem for two subsequent visits (1997, 1998). Off-Campus Programs at Calvin College
contributed $9,000 towards development of the Birzeit-Calvin cooperative program in 1998 and 1999.
Through these inquiries PI de Vries established working relations with the Geography faculty and staff of
Birzeit University, and the staff of dozens of institutions and agencies involved in environmental programs
in the region.
Within this proposed cooperation, the environment is expansively defined as natural (non-human
condition and use), cultural (past and present human use) and developmental (present and future human
use). The scope is therefore a multi-faceted examination of the landscape of Palestine, involving a dozen
disciplines ranging from hard sciences like hydrology and chemistry, social sciences like archaeology and
anthropology to practical applications like environmental awareness and urban planning. The role of water
is a common throughout this diversity allows the focus on water resources to flow naturally from this broad
perspective.
In the summers of 1998 and 1999, the feasibility of this partnership was tested with a course
entitled, “The Environmental Geography of Palestine and Jordan” (Environmental Studies 305 at Calvin
College, Studies in Geography at Birzeit University, see Appendix VII.). The course requires balanced
enrollment by students of both institutions, and involves on-site environmental study of the Jordan Rift
Valley watershed on its east and west banks. It has been taught jointly by this proposal’s co-directors, Bert
de Vries and Kamal Abdalfattah, with strong contributions from local Jordanian and Palestinian
environmentalists and other Birzeit University and Calvin College professors. Its positive reception by the
students and faculties of both institutions, demonstrated that the two bodies are able to work well together.
Thus, an adjusted version of this course will provide a proven structure for the fieldwork in water
resources proposed for the summers of 2001 and 2002. Its success testifies to the future potential and
benefits of the cooperation between the two institutions. Specifically, it has helped identify a pool of staff
members and students from both institutions with a combination of competence and interest for conducting
the Water Resources Program.
The relationship between the two schools has been further cemented by staff visits in both
directions. In June, Ms. Riham Barghouti, Birzeit Director of International Relations, spent a week in
Calvin College’s Alumni and Development Offices for an orientation of their support structure
methodologies. Later this fall, Calvin College is bringing Dr. Kamal Abdulfattah over to give a Geography
Department Seminar and a public lecture. (Visits to Birzeit by de Vries and others from Calvin were noted
above.)
In conclusion, these activities set up a structure and atmosphere in which the proposed UPLINK
Water Resources Program can be implemented with strong expectations for its sustainability after the term
of USAID support expires.
At Birzeit University this project fits directly into the teaching and research of the Geography
Department, spearheaded by PI Kamal Abdalfattah’s own research on the historical geography of Palestine.
Numerous staff members of PNA agencies and NGO’s responsible for water planning were trained in this
department, including key project participants. Salem Thawabeh of the Ministry of Planning has written his
PHD thesis proposal on the water sources of a significant portion of the Wadi al-Far’a. Ghattas Sayij has
done several water-related archaeological surveys, and has also participated in the USAID-funded “Project
Rainkeep” part of the Madaba Plains Project in Central Jordan. The project is closely related to a cultural
geography study, “The Lower Jordan River Basin Project,” a joint project of Birzeit and Bergen (Norway)
Universities, which includes the study of ancient water systems. The Palestinian Inst. of Archaeology is a
major resource for research on the ancient water systems. Other relevant departments include the Inst. for
Occupational and Environmental Health, which has a superb chemistry laboratory for water analysis, and
the Engineering Dept., sponsor of the International Conference on Developing Capabilities and Scientific
Research on Water, March 2000.
At Calvin College there is a similar pool of expertise. The Geography Dept. is establishing a
Minor in Hydrology, and offers the expertise of faculty members like Tom Timmermans (hydrogeology)
and Jonathan Bascom (political ecology). The study of water and wetlands has involved Michigan river
ecology and the environment of Au Sable Institute, an affiliate in northern Michigan. Other specific and
accessible expertise includes the water system computer modeling done in Calvin’s Engineering
Department, the staff of Timmermans Environmental Services, and local professionals, available on
standby (e.g., Chemical Engnr. Samuael S. Tawney for contamination solutions). Info. Technology at
Calvin College is well set up to implement the proposed electronic features of this project, including
hardware, software, and trained specialists. Calvin has a strong tradition in Middle Eastern Studies, with a
range of courses in history, archaeology and religion. PI Bert de Vries has done much work on ancient
water systems in Jordan, and acted as an advisor for the preparation of the “Rainkeep” proposal. The
Archaeology Minor, directed by de Vries, has included fieldwork and a field school at Jordanian
archaeological sites for decades. The structuring of the fieldwork in this proposal is in fact based on the
experience from those archaeological field seasons. The project will be a participant in the Calvin
Environmental Action Program, a grant-funded component of Service Learning, through which student
participants in practical environmental projects receive transcript recognition in addition to course grades.
3. Reports and Recommendations to PNA Agencies
B. General Methodology
1. Comprehensive approach
a. Hydrology in the Landscape of the Far’a catchment (The eight research sectors
summarized?)
b. Larger contexts: Tributaries of the Jordan West Bank aquifers and water supply Ecopolitics, Oslo II Article 40 and Water Development Project
c. Library and agency searches
d. Field work and site visits
2. The team concept
a. Distribution of expertise
b. Pairing of Birzeit and Calvin team members
C. Information Technology
Brian Blankespoor and Ahmad Hammad
1.
Methodology
The technical data aspects of the project are stored in Microsoft Access 2000 and ESRI
ArcView 3.x. This two-step process optimizes the functionality of the software packages. All
tabulated data will reside in a relational database (Access Database - 2000). The data structure
will account for spatial information to export to a GIS platform (ESRI ArcView 3.x). A database
provides a format and robust storage of the tabulated data to ensure integrity and efficiency. Also,
it can use forms for data entry and queries for data analysis and extraction. The view, charts, and
layouts are functions of ArcView for presentation quality and spatial analysis. A basemap of the
Wadi Al-Far’a region is the referencing map for all subsequent data. In addition, ArcView has the
functionality to provide spatial analysis of the respective layers of data.
2. Data
a.
Database
Database Structure:
The database contains table information for each of the respective components
of the project.
Data Sources and Format:
b.
Geographic Information System (GIS)
Software: ESRI ArcView 3.2
Extensions: 3-D Analyst, Spatial Analyst,…
Map Units: metres
Distance Units: kilometres
Datum: Israeli grid
Scripts: View.BatchImportE00 – (Tim Johnson, Maricopa County Elections
Department)
Data Sources and Format:
Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation
Data Structure:
c.
Global Positioning System (GPS)
Field data will be collected with GPS to determine the location (coordinates and
elevation) in the GIS.
D. The team members (see Appendix B for brief resumes)
Kamal AbdulFattah, Birzeit University
Brian Blankespoor, Oregon State University
Ihab Dababsa, Palestine Department of Antiquities
Bert de Vries, Calvin College
Kim DeWall, Calvin College
Farah Ghalib, Birzeit University
Ahmad Hammad, Palestine Ministry of Planning
Sebastain Naslund, Calvin College
Raida Qarabesah, Birzeit University
Ahmad Rajoub, Palestine Ministry of Culture
Ben Ruddell, Calvin College
Lynne (Abi) Tan, Calvin College
Salem Thawabeh, University of Arkansas
Abdel-Halim Tomeizeh, Birzeit University
Beth VandenBerg, Clemson University
E. Implementation
Bert de Vries and Kamal AbdulFattah
1. Background: Development of the Birzeit-Calvin Partnership, 1994-1999
2. Selection of the Wadi el-Far’a for the ALO application: Context of Birzeit University research
projects
3. Project Planning, Dec. 2000-June 2001. Working around the Intifada
4. Research Season, July-August 2001, a brief diary of the research process.
II. The hydrological contexts
A. The Jordan River catchment area
1. Description of the entire area
Bert de Vries
2. Parallels from the Jordan River's Eastern Tributaries (Wadi Shu'eib)
Ben Ruddell
2. Parallels from the Jordan River's West Bank tributaries (Auja, Qelt, Nar, etc.)
Abdel-Halim Tomeizeh (and Bert de Vries)
B. West Bank runoff to the Mediterranean (Wadi Zoreq)
AbdelHalim Tomeizeh and Bert de Vries
C. A parallel river catchment in the American South West
Sebastian Naslund
III. Sectoral Reports on the Wadi el-Far’a
A. Topography, Geology and Hydro-Geology (incl. the Eastern Aquifer)
Kamal Abdulfattah, Beth VandenBerg and Sebastian Naslund
Note: Bethy VandenBerg will complete her preliminary report at Clemson University
1. Purpose of this sector within the context of the whole project
2. Methodology
3. Preliminary results: summary of current status and expected future progress
4. Annotated bibliography
B. Water resources and water rights
Abdul-Halim Tomeizeh and Sebastian Naslund
I.
Purpose
The purpose of the water resources and rights sector is two-fold: to better understand and map the
water resources and systems in their entirety, and to determine the person(s) who utilize and control each
water system within the wadi el-far’a. With this and the rest of the projects information, we hope to create
a better understanding of the overall environment not only for scholars, but for local people alike, but also
to use this information in a practical manner that has as its goal sustainable development for people and the
environment.
II.
Methodology
Water Rights
Israeli Coordinates
Sample Shape
X
Y
Z
Sample Type
Property Ownership
Sample Description Discharge
Table 1-Data collection sheet for water rights in the wadi el-far’a.
A spreadsheet (table 1) will be used to collect data from the field and transmit the data to digital
form. Data collection methods will range from field observations, GPS (global positioning system) unit
measurements and preexisting data on the Wadi el-far’a. The data collection sheet’s are based on the
following:
Sample Shape: Every landmark that will be mapped is either a point (e.g. well), line (e.g. canal),
or a polygon (e.g. field).
Israeli Coordinates:
Israeli coordinates will be used as the standard locational medium for
the entire project. X is the east-west coordinate; Y is the north-south coordinate, and Z is
the elevation.
Sample Type:
The sample type is what type of water resource or system the sample is.
These will range from a wadi, well, spring, mekeer, canal, irrigation systems, reservoir
pools, recreation pools, water pipes, dams, fields, unused water-mills, and greenhouses.
Property Ownership:This will be the area which describes the person or persons who owns or
controls the water resource or system. This is the area which describes who has rights to
the water. For instance, the property owner of a canal is the person or persons who has
rights to that canal (and usually the water travelling in it, but not in all cases); a name
would be given if the ownership was private. If the water system was public, the
government branch with acting control over that system would be written down. If there
is divided ownership, then this is the location where that is stated.
Sample Description:
Additional comments regarding the water system location (e.g. illegal
pumping station).
Discharge:
This section will not always be used, but since most water systems
have a quantity associated with them, we added this column to the data form in order to
give a better overall assessment of the area.
The methods used varied for each of the two data gatherers for this section. Abdel Halim, who
resides in Palestine, collects data of information that was either not previously known or not available
because of political reasons. Abdel Halim is also the team member who worked to establish an
understanding with the local people of what we are attempting to accomplish in the wadi el-far'a. He would
also ask for their advice, critques and knowledge of the wadi, which gives a personal dimension to the
project that is usually not accomplished in these types of projects. This unconventional method of data
collection gives a perspective on the wadi that would otherwise not be known by the team of researchers
who will be making decisions and recommendations regarding these peoples water and land.
On the other hand, Sebastian Naslund researched and collected data conventionally--library loans,
internet searches, meetings with scientists and professionals. This has proved to be an extremely large task,
as water rights in the Middle East has become the largest water issue in the world. A list of the books
needed and found related to water resources and rights are shown in a following section.
These two team members have been in contact several times, and despite language barriers, a large
amount of progress has been made. Email is the main form of keeping eachother informed of any further
progress, as will be the regular mail system. Internet has proven to have its problems as well--connections,
cost, and availabity within Palestine, not to mention possible censorship. These members will hopefull be
meeting again in winter, but certainly again in the summer of 2002 to compare and research further data.
One major obstacle that stands in the way of obtaining data and accomplishing what we would
like to is the fact of the Isreali-Palestinian conflict. The difficulty of travelling, obtaining data from either
Palestinian or Israeli governments, making simple phone calls, being able to go the site to collect data, and
being able to work in the same location are all aspects that are prohibited because of this conflict. All these
aspects cause the retreival of data to be a slow cumbersome process that is unknown in most western
countries. Given the situation, we have had to resort to the internet for our main source of information
transfering. And as the internet is still a relatively new luxury in Palestine, the transfer of information is
further slowed because of the lack of professionals or even computer-literate persons.
After data collection is complete, which will likely be mostly complete by the summer of 2002,
data will be stored in an Access database. After the data is completely loaded, files will be transferred to
the GIS software Arcview 3.2a. With this project, we will be able to analyze the data in a manner that
would be otherwise very meticulous and time consuming. After this, further reports will be written
III.
Preliminary Results
After much data collection and many obstacles, we have come to only a start of what we are
wanting to understand within this project. We have come to understand the importance of the wadi el-far'a
as a water resource, especially for the palestinians. as there are three main aquifers within the West Bank,
only one totally drains within the West Bank, and its main drainage area is located within Far'a drainage
basin. The wadi el-far'a also collects water from a second aquifer that discharges into the head of the wadi
in the Far'a spring. As initial estimates have been calculated, the wadi el-far'a collects about one-fifth of
the total freshwater discharged from springs in West Bank and holds about one-tenth of all the wells in the
West Bank. Given these basic and broad facts, it can be seen that this water is of major importance to the
Palestinians, as it also lies totally within Palestinian control. It is important to understand who controls the
land, because the controller of the land will determine who will control the water, and that is what is
exactly happening within the Middle East. Since the Palestinians have full control, they potentially have
control of the water within this area as well. It can be seen that understanding who has the rights to this
land and water will be of crucial poltical decisions.
IV.
Annotated Bibliography (under construction)
C. Land Use and Built-up Areas
Ahmad Hammad, Brian Blankespoor, Farah Ghalib, Kamal Abdulfattah and Bert de Vries
1. Purpose
The partnership between Birzeit University and Calvin College aims to make recommendations
for a plan to develop the water supply of the Wadi el-Far’a for sustained use by the Palestinian
population. As plans are made for development of this region, the project also recognizes the
holistic approach to study current land use and built-up areas of the Wadi El-Far’a catchment.
2. Methodology
First of all, the staff discussed appropriate terminology and their respective categories. Second, the staff
created forms for systematic field observation in considering time availability, political situation,
research resources, and collection method for a geographic information system (GIS). The overall GIS
data are in the section that fulfills the requirements for a spatial system. This includes: the geometric
shape, location/coordinate, and documentation (source and date). Finally, in recognizing the current
political situation, the Palestinian staff reported field observations, while the non-Palestinian staff
prepared written documentation and library research.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --I.
Overall GIS data
A.
Shape (polygon, line, or point)
B.
Location - X,Y,Z (data source: GPS, published data - Israeli grid, and photos)
C.
Data Source
D.
Date of Data Source
II.
Land Use Features
A.
Cropping/Patterns
1.
Crops
a.) Citrus
b.) Vegetables
c.) Field crops (beans, lentils, wheat, alfalfa, sesame)
d.) Fruit trees
e.) other plantations (bananas)
2.
Attributes - data related
a.) area
b.) location
c.) water used in (cu m/hectare)
d.) productivity (km/hectare)
3.
Cultivation techniques
a.) open field
b.) protected (high plastic houses, high plastic tunnels, and low plastic tunnels)
B.
Water Source
1.
Irrigated
2.
Rainfed
C.
Nature Preserves and Recreational Areas
1.
Nature Preserves
a.) Types (forested, biodiversified, landscape)
b.) Attributes (area and location)
c.) Status (restricted and open)
2.
Recreational Areas
a.) Types (private and public)
b.) Attributes (area, location, and capacity)
c.) Activities (Actual and potential)
D.
Grazing Areas
1.
Major vegetation types (supply scientific names)
2.
Productivity (kg/hectare)
3.
Attributes (area, location, and slope)
E.
Bare Land
1.
Attributes
a.) Geomorphology
b.) Area
c.) Location
d.) Slope
F.
Agriculturally Associated Construction
1.
III.
Type
a.) animal husbandry
b.) crop storage
c.) category of ownership (mulk – full private ownership, metruka – public land/grazing
for the public good , and miri – State land that is “held by private owners who fulfill
their duty as lessees by the payment of a modest land tax” (Efrat et al., 289).
2.
Attributes
a.) Area (sq/m)
b.) Location
3.
Refer to Built-Up Areas
G.
Other Land Use Features
1.
Type
a.) stone cutting facilities
b.) quarries
c.) roads
d.) cultural sites (refer to archaeological site)
e.) industrial sites (refer to pollution)
2.
Attributes
a.) distance to built up area
b.) ground water level
c.) distance to watershed outlet
General Technical Information for each land use feature
A.
General Terminology
1.
Rainfall 2.
Evaporation
3.
soil type
4.
soil colour (name, hue, value, chrome)
5.
Soil depth
6.
general slope
7.
Catchment area
8.
saturated hydraulic Conductivity (mm/ )
B.
Built Up Areas
1.
Typology
a.) City (2 500 - 500 000)
b.) Towns (1 000 - 2 500)
c.) Village (150 – 1 000)
d.) Hamlet
e.) Refugee Camp
f.) Settlement (colonial)
g.) Farmstead
h.) Homestead
i.) Hut
j.) Tent
k.) Touristic-recreational area
2.
Attributes
a.) Location
b.) Area
c.) Population
d.) Services
i.) Schools
a.) Name
b.) Location
c.) Area
d.) No. pupils
e.) Type – primary / secondary
f.) Governance – PNA / UNRWA
ii.) Mosques
a.) name
b.) location
c.) use – no. persons
iii.)
Health
a.) Hospital
b.) Clinic
e.) Infrastructure
i.) Waste disposal
- Solid (municipal collection or private disposal)
- Liquid (central system, septic system, none, or filtration plant)
ii.) Streets
- paved
- gravel
- soil
iii.) Utilities
- Electricity (% connected to grid and/or alternative power source)
- Water (% connected to central distribution, alternative source)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------b. Standardized terms
c. Data sheets
d. Spreadsheets
3. Preliminary results: summary of current status and expected future progress
In the fieldwork of summer and fall of 2000, the staff attempted to understand and gain
perspective on current land use in the Wadi el Far'a catchment. The non-resident staff (nonPalestinian) had an opportunity to engage in conversation with the resident staff (Palestinian)
and their life experiences as well as a few people from the Wadi el Far'a catchment. This
discussion is valuable to understand the region and the current land use.
The staff began to understand the significance of the project to the region and also the
general conditions of the catchment. The Wadi el Far'a catchment has significant value as the
major catchment that is completely contained in the West Bank and dominantly in areas of full
Palestinian control (Area A - as stated in the Oslo Accords of 1993. (reference???).
Agriculture is the main land utilization in this catchment. In general, the climate is arid and
most agriculture needs irrigation to grow.
In addition to discussion of the significance of the catchment, the joint project aided in
professional dialogue for environmental sound development and planning management. The
region has many potential uses and many values must be discussed and considered in the
development. For this project, the built-up data are currently categorized in these major areas:
population, population density, built-up type, health services, schools, water network,
transportation and waste treatment facilities. Although these catagories can have potentially
conflicts, the recommendations will seek to encompass principles of sustainable development by
a holistic method.
Human conditions, use and physical geography categorize land use. A discussion by the
staff of concepts and terms implemented a list of terminology for the project. (See above).
With this schema, the study site is observed in a systematic method and the appropriate
terminology for the database. Also, photos from the field were also taken to record candid land
use and aid the non-resident staff to visualize the study site. (Due to the political situation the
non-resident staff members were unable to visit the site).
Issues of human geography will be addressed from primary presence of staff, personal
accounts, and demographic information. When it was possible, the staff made observations in
the region. While in the field, staff made personal contact to observe historical use and record a
general perspective on future land use. The project reviewed (and is reviewing) census and
demographic information from the Palestinian Census Bureau and Statistics. This bureau
provides data to discretely understand the area and various demographic information on the
human conditions and use to the land. The discrete data displays quantitative data for spatial
analysis in a geographic information system (GIS).
In classifying land use, the study site is dominantly an agriculture region with some builtup areas. The agriculture can be categorized into the following: citrus, vegetables, field crops
(beans, lentils, wheat, alfalfa, sesame), fruit trees, and other plantations (bananas). The built-up
areas consist of the following divisions: city (2 500 - 500 000), towns (1 000 - 2 500), village
(150 – 1 000), hamlet, Refugee Camp, Settlement (colonial), Farmstead, Homestead, Hut, Tent,
and Touristic-recreational area. (See above outline). The built-up areas present certain resource
and land use issues to the region as well. Urban population places dense stress on the land via
transportation and water resource needs.
The physical geography describes the topography vis a vis the landscape assessment,
general climate conditions and environmental considerations. The physical Landscape
Assessment – Field Survey observes the areas of cultural significance or scenic beauty. In
addition, any particular habitats of significance in Ecology/Environment will be considered with
guidance from the Ecologically Significant Areas In The West Bank Governates publication
(MOPIC, 2000). Also, general climate data will be considered in relation to the potential land
use.
In addition to fieldwork, collection of information from previous research in related
topics gave a historical, cultural and socio-economic perspective on the Wadi el Far'a
catchment. Land use is the product of the environmental conditions and the influence of the
inhabitants. The environmental conditions are in general arid, so the water from the Wadi el
Far'a is irrigated to support the current land use and population. Historically, humans have
influenced and used the land for many centuries, yet in the last century the interaction has
increased substantially. The Ottoman Empire, British Mandate, State of Israel, and Palestinian
National Authority have influenced the land system in the areas of human geography
demography, agriculture and built-up systems. In determining the current and potential use of
land in the Wadi El-Far’a catchment, one must study the historical influences on the land as well
as understand the current culture(s).
Finally, a resource management plan will be developed utilizing the information
technology of a geographic information system. This technology visualizes spatial layers of the
various components of the project for a holistic approach.
4. Annotated bibliography
Applied Research Institute of Jerusalem. The Status of the Environment in the West Bank.
Bethlehem, Palestine. October 1997.
This book is a comprehensive source of environmental data for the West Bank.
Bickerton, Ian and Klausner, Carla. Arab-Israeli Conflict. 3ed. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle
River, NJ 07458. (287-293 and 307-310).
This historical analysis on the conflict provides insight to the situation and the variety of
influences on the land.
EcoPeace. Sustainable Development “New Concepts in Environmental Management & Planning.
Middle East Environmental NGO Forum. Dec. 1996. [GE 190 .M62 S9 1996]
EcoPeace. Symposium on Promoting an Integrated Sustainable Regional Development Plan for the Dead
Sea Basin – Final Report. July 1998. [GE 190 .M62 D34 1998].
This report gathers information from various speakers on the plan in the Dead Sea Basin.
Frederick, Kenneth and Sedjo, Roger. America's Renewable Resources. Washington DC, 1991.
This book states historical trends and current challenges of America's resources. A
Special interest is recognized for the chapter on "Water Resources: Increasing Demand and
Scarce Supplies".
Heathcote, R.L. The Arid Lands: Their Use and Abuse. Ed. Bruce Mitchell – University of Waterloo.
London: 1983. [GB 611 .H35 1983].
This book is a general reference about resource management in arid lands.
United Nations Special Committee on Palestine. Supplement to Survey of Palestine. (June 1947).
Institute for Palestine Studies, Washington D.C. 1991. [DS 102 .95 .S87 1991 v.3]
This is a detailed Survey on the status of Palestine in 1947 by the U.N.
Editors Jabbra, Joseph and Jabbra, Nancy. Challenging Environmental Issues Middle Eastern
Perspectives. Netherlands, 1997.
->Tal, Alon. “An Imperiled Promised Land The Antecedents of Israel’s Environmental Crises and
Prospects for Progress.
MOPIC. Ecologically Significant Areas in the West Bank Governorates. April 2000.
MOPIC. The Land-Use Transportation Study on the West Bank. April 1999.
Study of the influences and evolution of transportation in the West Bank.
MOPIC. Landscape Assessment of the West Bnak Governorates. February 1999.
Nazzal, Nafez and Nazzal, Laila. Historical Dictionary of Palestine. Scarecrow Press, Inc.
Lanham, MD. & London, 1997.
Appendix A – Declaration of Palastinian Independence.
Orni, Efraim and Efrat, Elisha. Geography of Israel. 3ed. Israel Universities Press, Jerusalem,
1976. [DS107.4.06813 1976]
This is an Israeli perspective on the human geography and the administrered areas of
Judea-Samaria (west bank). This book has sections on climate, human geography, and economy
and its foundations. It has statistics graphs and figures that are only useful in historical analysis.
Pierce, Christine and Donald VanDeVeer. The Environmental Ethics & Policy Book. 2ed.
Wadsworth Publishing Company. New York City, 1998.
In environmental site planning, one must consider the ethical positions of the
recommendation. This book present a variety of ethical views for consideration.
http://edcimswww.cr.usgs.gov/pub/imswelcome/
D. Archaeological sites
Ihab Dababsa, Ahmad Rajoub and Kim DeWall
1. Purpose of this sector within the context of the whole project
The partnership between Birzeit University and Calvin College aims to make recommendations for a plan
to develop the water supply of the Wadi al-Far’a for sustained use by the Palestinian population. As plans
are made for development of this region, the project also recognizes the importance of including a study of
the material cultural heritage of this region.
Many governments around the world recognize the importance of material cultural heritage sites that “…it
is public duty to have some policy with regards to conservation” (Renfrew and Bahn 521). Currently, the
emerging Palestinian State has recognized the responsibility of its governing bodies to make a plan for the
management of its material cultural heritage. Efforts have been put forth by a number of bodies with the
Palestinian National Authority to establish a plan of action for cultural resource management. Within this
context, the Birzeit University – Calvin College partnership aims to contribute to this ongoing effort to
inventory the material cultural heritage sites and make recommendations as to the management of the
material cultural heritage sites within the region of the Wadi al-Far’a.
2. Methodology
There are several different efforts that serve as a starting point for the study of the Wadi al-Far’a. For now,
two efforts will be outlined. In the early nineties, the Jordan Department of Antiquities and the American
Center of Oriental Research (Amman, Jordan) initiated an inventory project entitled “The Jordan
Antiquities Database and Information System (JADIS)” to serve as a means to help make plans for cultural
resource management within Jordan. The development of this inventory had several functions (as
described in the Preface):
--to generate a computerized inventory of archaeological and historical sites;
--to monitor development and threats of construction in urban and rural environments;
--to be able to intervene with greater efficiency where sites already known but poorly protected could be
endangered by construction;
--to provide scholars, students, researchers with updated information on the status of archaeological sites in
the country, and with a tool for the study of settlement patterns and the evolution of human occupation;
--to provide easy access to archaeological and bibliographic references related to sites;
--to monitor and address the needs of national and international research in the Jordan
The research was geared at informing the Dept of Antiquities of important sites as at times, important sites
were not even reported to the Department of Antiquities. JADIS’ primary aim was largely organizing
collecting already existing information and putting it on a map grid. The information gathered, though, had
many secondary uses, these included: “…biographical searches, settlement pattern analyses, and regional
history, and also educational and management-oriented applications, since the information collected and
the software which handles the information allow easy retrieval of basic data concerning the archaeological
sites in their geographical and cultural setting” (Preface to JADIS).
The other effort worth noting is the effort entitled Endangered Cultural Heritage Sites in the West Bank
Governorates: Emergency Natural Resources Protection Plan. This study was released in 1999 by the
Palestinian Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation (MOPIC), the Palestinian Ministry of
Tourism and Antiquities, and RIWAQ. This study surveyed and assessed selected cultural heritage sites
within the West Bank Governorates in order to begin the process of implementing a protection plan for the
governorates. The efforts of this study are just the beginning of an attempt at developing a comprehensive
plan to deal with the cultural heritage sites of the Palestine. The introduction to this study notes, “In
principle, all cultural heritage sites in Palestine, not just a selection of some sites of major importance, need
codification and precise description for further planning purposes.” (MOPIC 17).
With these two efforts in mind, the members of the archaeological sector of the Birzeit – Calvin partnership
have discussed two different methods for collecting the appropriate information for incorporation with the
larger project. These two methods will be described below (and have yet to be agreed upon).
First, all members have agreed on the necessity of consulting the plethora of archaeological surveys that
have been conducted within the region. These surveys provide a wide range of information necessary for
making recommendations for cultural resource management within the region. This includes, but is not
limited to: coordinates for archaeological sites, photographs, descriptions, excavation history, and relevant
bibliographic information. In addition to these surveys, other bibliographic information will be included
when available for the sites. This information will be presented in a couple of ways, namely a GIS layer, a
MS Access Database, and in a written report form. The GIS layer will put the cultural heritage site within
their larger natural and cultural environment/landscape. The information to be included in this is still to be
determined. The MS Access Database will include information that the GIS layer includes as well as
organize other information collected about the sites. Finally, a written report will combine the above two
as well as make some recommendations for management. With this, the various Palestinian planning
organizations can make informed choices for use of the landscape that these cultural heritage sites fall
within, whether it be conservation (even if this merely means recording this site prior to destruction),
preservation, or promotion.
Secondly, there has been discussion of fieldwork to go along with the above work. There are two differing
views right now as to the extent of this. The first is less time consuming and to the other seems more
reasonable in light of the breadth information already available. This first method of field work would
mean selecting a small amount of “significant” sites that have already been recorded to evaluate the extent
of preservation and conservation since the site was first recorded. The second method of fieldwork would
involve a small survey whereby the areas between two already documented sites would be covered by foot
in order to plot new sites.
Thus far, a preliminary form has been created, but not entirely agreed upon. This form would serve to
ensure that the appropriate information is collected for each site within the region. The information from
this form would then be included in a MS Access Database, and then the information gleaned from this MS
Access Database to be included in a GIS layer. The terminology used in these forms is based on the
Palestine Survey forms.
Archaeological Terminology
Habitation & military sites
001. house
002.Khirba
003.Tell
Agriculture &industrial
029.Mill
030.Agriculture terrace
031.Oil press
004.Seasonal site
005.Palace
006.Cave, Maghara
032.wine press
033.Threshing floor
034.Other agricultural
structures
035.Aqueduct
036.Water channel
037.Cistern
038.Water reservoir
039.Dam
040.Baths
041.Bridge
042.Road
043.Animal pen
044.Hut circle
045.Storage facilities/Silo
046.Cairn
047.Mintar
007.Shelter
008.Rujm
009.Nomadic camp
010.Hermitage
011.Domsitc installation
012.Other installation
013.Fortified settlement
014Unfortified settlement
015.Possibly fortified
016.Fortress
017.Castle
018Castrum
019.Tower
Cultic Structure
020.Temple
021Church
Industrial manufacturing
sites
050.Quarry
051.Mine
Funerary Structure
070.Cemetry
071.Rock-Cut Shaft tomb
072.Rock-Cut tomb Simple entrance or
dromos
073.Burial in Natural cave
074Colombarium
075.Hypogaeum
076.Grave
078.Burial Cairn/ Tumulus
079.Dolmen
080. Pit Burial
081.Sarcophagus
Public buildings
082.Caravanserai
083.Sabeel
084.Cardo
085.Forum
086.Theater
087. Arch
089Hippodrome
090Tunel
Traditional building
022.Mousque
023.Monastery
024.Sanctuary
025.Shrine/Wali
026.Synagogue
027.Hermitage
052.Smelting Site/Slag heap
053.Furnace
054.Pottery kiln
055.limestone kiln
056.Flint knapping site
091.Isolated structure/House
092.Complex( more than one house)
092.Modern(1917-1950)
Other terms
093. Field wall
094.Terrace wall /retaining wall
Scatter artifacts
057.Sherds of pottery
058.Sherds of flint
059. Staircase
060.Worked stones
061.Mosaic parties
062. Structure Walls
063.Cloumn
064.Capital
065.Mudbrick
066.Incription
067.Mosaic Floor
068.Rock art
069.Frescoes
070Statue
Wadi Al-Far’ia Archaeological Survey Data Sheet
A. General Information
Site No_______________
Site Name(s)_____________,_____________( Ar) ___________,____________(En)
District ____________,City,Town,Village_____________, Urban Core (
)
Isolated Site( ) Other______________
1. Site present use: Cultivation( ) Residential( ) industry ( ) Seasonal Residential( )
other_________________
2. Discovered site ( ) New discovered site ( )
LocationDescription_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________
B. Geographical Information
Palestine Grid(E) X_______________________,(N) Y________________________
Elevation(Z)_________________, Area(Square Km)____________________
Map No_______________, Arial Photo No_________________
C. Site Features
Feature
3.
4.
Period
Feature
Period
Feature
Period
Feature
Period
C. Environment features
Site Topography: Highland( ) Plateau( ) Valley( ) Plain( ) Rift( ) Mountain Top( ) Cliff( )
Other__________
Surrounding environment: Open Land ( ) Cultivated land( ) Abundant cultivated land( ) industrial area( )
Residential area( ) field walls, channels( ) other__________________________________
D. Cultural Resource management
1. Site management
Managed site ( ) Not Managed Site ( )
-Site condition: Good ( ) Fair ( ) Destroyed ( )
- Site current use: Cultivation( ) industrial area( ) seasonal Site( ) other___________________________
- Site ownership: Governmental ( ) Islamic Waqf ( ) Church Waqf( ) Private( ) other_____
- Legal site responsibility:______________________________________________
- Site interventions: Excavations( ) conservation works( ) other_______________
- Open to Visitation ( ) Site presentation: available ( )
- Information and promotional material: brochures( ) catalogues( ) maps ( ) other______
- Site accessibility: main street( ) paved Road( ) unpaved Road( ) Other______
- Site plans management. ( ) Short-Medium term( ) Long Term ( ) None( )
- Threats to site: Highways( )Vandalism( ) Deterioration( ) Developers( ) other_____________________
2. Relation between Site & socio- econmical in the territory
- Type of local residential area close to the site: City ( ) Village( ) Camp ( ) other_________
- Including in the Territory promotional planning framework ( )
- Territorial infrastructure, served the site now( ), close to the site only( )
- Facilities : accommodation structure available ( ) Reception/ hotels ( ) restaurants ( )
- Recreation facilities: Garden pond ( ) Cultural, educational facilities( ) other_______________
- Handicraft Activities______________
Recommendations for the site promotion
Surface collection
Collected from the site ( )
Type: Pottery sherds ( ) Flint sherds ( ) Stone tools ( ) Coins ( ) other__________________
Bag Nos.______________ Place of collection________________________________________ Date_____________________
Notes:
Photos
Photo #__________ Scroll # _____________, Orientation_______________________________
Photographer____________________. Description:
Remarks
3. Preliminary results: summary of current status and expected future progress
Work has begun on compiling the data from surveys already conducted in the region and putting these in
MS Excel spreadsheets that can be transferred into a MS Access Database when this is created. For the
works consulted and the preliminary results, see the annotated bibliography below as well as the attached
spreadsheets, forms, and questions that will be discussed by the team members. I have also consulted a
number of books that deal with theoretical issues involved with cultural resource management.
4. Annotated bibliography
NOTE: In addition to these listed below, we have a list of surveys conducted in Palestine from the Palestine
Survey manual.
Avrami, Erica, Randall Mason, and Marta de la Torre, ed. Values and Heritage Conservation.
Angeles: The Getty Conservation Institution, 2000.
Los
This provides theoretical issues involved with cultural resource management
Bahn, Colin and Paul Bahn. Archaeology: Theories, Methods, and Practice. 2nd Edition.
Thames and Hudson, 1996.
London:
Bahn and Renfrew’s book is an indispensable resource for archaeological theories, methods, and
terminology.
Condor, C. R., and H. H. Kitchener. Memoirs of the Topography, Orography, Hydrography, and
Archaeology. Edited with additions by E. H. Palmer and Walter Besant. Vol. II, Title. London:
The Palestine Exploration Fund, YEAR??. Reprint. Jerusalem: Kedem
Publishing, 1970.
This book (not in my possession) contains the description of the archaeological sites that the
Palestine Exploration Fund recorded in the late 1800s. These correspond to a map (in may
possession) and an index (also in my possession).
Herr, Larry G., and Gary L. Christopherson. Excavation Manual: Madaba Plains Project.
Revised
Edition. Madaba Plains Project in Cooperation with Andrews University
Institute of Archaeology,
1998.
The terminology used in this field manual has been discussed for use as standard terminology.
Herr, Larry, with Warren C. Tranchard. Published Pottery of Palestine. Atlanta, GA: Scholars
1996.
This book can provide bibliographic information for various sites.
Press,
Kochavi, Moshe, et al. Judea, Samaria, and the Golan 1967 –1968. need the rest of this bibliographic
information.
This survey maps out a large number of sites in the region.
Palumbo, Gaetano, ed. The Jordanian Antiquities Database and Information System (JADIS): A
Summary of the Data. Amman, Jordan: The Department of Antiquities of Jordan and the
American Center of Oriental Research, 1994.
This serves as a reference to the methods that can be used as well as the application of
information collected.
Palestinian Ministry of Planning and Internation Cooperation (MOPIC). Directorate for Urban
and
Rural Planning. Endangered Cultural Heritage Sites in the West Bank Governorates: Emergency Natural
Resources Protection Plan. MOPIC, 1999.
Provides information about a couple of sites within the Wadi al-Far’a, but also
efforts of Palestinian institutions in the region.
demonstrates the
Stern, Ephraim, Ayebet Lewinson-Gilboa, Joseph Aviram. The New Encylopedia of
Archaeological
Excavations in the Holy Land. 5 Vols. Jerusalem: The Israel Exploration
Society, 1993.
This catalogs a few sites in the Wadi al-Far’a by providing photos, drawings, brief description,
excavation history, and bibliographic information.
Stewardson, Henry C., comp. A General Index. Index 2 of The Survey of Western Palestine.
The Palestine Exploration Fund, 1888. Reprint. Jerusalem: Kedem Publishing, 1970.
London:
This index corresponds to the memoirs of the Palestine Exploration Fund (above). It lists all the
place names and their coordinates on the appropriate maps.
Vogel, Eleanor K. Bibliography of Holy Land Sites. Part I. Reprint from Hebrew Union
College
Annual, Volume XlII (1971). Third Printing. Cincinnati: Hebrew Union
College-Jewish Institute of
Religion, 1982.
Vogel, Eleanor K. and Brooks Holtzclaw. Bibliography of Holy Land Sites. Cincinnati: Union CollegeJewish Institute of Religion, 1981. (?)
Vogel, Eleanor K. Bibliography of Holy Land Sites. Part III. Cincinnati: Hebrew Union College-Jewish
Institute of Religion, 1987.
The above provide bibliographic references to various sites.
Zertal, Adam. The Manasseh Hill Country Survey: The Shechem Syncline (In Hebrew). Vol. 2.
Israel: The University of Haifa Press, 1996.
Haifa,
Zertal has done an extensive survey within the Wadi al-Far’a region and relatively recent. The
survey includes coordinates, decriptions, photos, pottery drawings, and a map. It is in Hebrew.
E. Pollution and it's effects
Introduction: Water pollution is of more than cosmetic importance. It directly and negatively impacts
human quality of life. Poor crop and animal health, water shortages, disease, and squalor are
related to the lack of good water management practices. The residents along the Wadi el-Far’a
suffer from poor water quality and the corresponding consequences to their quality of life.
Purpose: The purpose is to make recommendations for pollution control and water management based on
an assessment of pollution and water management practices and their effects in the Wadi el-Far’a
Catchment. The assessment will involve data analysis of various parameters including water
quality, pollution sources, and agricultural and irrigation practices.
Water Quality Assessment of the Wadi el-Far’a and its springs
Water samples will be taken at various points along the Wadi el-Far’a and
sent to a laboratory for analysis. TABLE 1 lists parameters that will be
tested, preliminary guideline values for domestic use, and typical causes of
excessive parameters.
TABLE 1: Water pollution parameters
Parameter
Na
Guideline Value
Indicator of
200 mg/L
K
Ca
Mg
NO3
50 mg/L
Cl
250mg/L
Sewage
SO4
500mg/L
Sewage
HCO3
<40-60mg?L is soft,
>150mg/L is hard
TDS
500mg/L
BOD
<3mg/L is
unpolluted.
>12mg/L is grossly
polluted
??????????
pH
Fecal Coliform
2 or less E.
coli/100mL
Organic
Pollution
Location of Pollution Source
Pollution sources will be located by comparing the spatial distribution of
pollution parameters with land use survey data.
Consequences of Polluted Waters
Agriculture- Pollution has a significant impact on crop yield, quality, and
safety. The extent of this impact depends on types of crops, irrigation
methods, and soils, all of which will be surveyed in the land use study.
Health
Pollution harms the overall health of the region. It’s necessary to investigate the extent and effects of the
public’s exposure to pathogens and chemicals in the polluted water. A survey will be conducted
of the overall public health and medical problems in the area around the Wadi in relation to the use
of the Wadi as a source of drinking water and irrigation.
A contaminated water supply and food source poses significant health risks to human beings. These waters
are mediums for a wide variety of waterborne and water-related diseases and illnesses among
them: cholera, typhoid, parsitic diseases, gastroenteritis, and other diarrheal diseases.
Other secondary effects associated with unregulated sewage dumping into the water, and the shortage of
clean uncontaminated water include a lack of sanitation and proper hygiene, both of which are
paramount for disease prevention and the overall health of the population.
We will also be taking a look at the medical infrastructure of the region.
Recommendations for the Future: The final report will make recommendations for pollution control
through proper management of water resources in the Wadi el-Far’a.
Wastewater Treatment
Recommendations for implementation.
Politics
Implementation and enforcement of proper pollution regulations.
Agriculture and Irrigation:
Changes in irrigation methods and choice of crops. (These changes depend on the type and the extent of
the pollution in the Wadi el-Far’a.)
Farmer education and cooperative efforts to implement appropriate agricultural techniques.
Safe and efficient wastewater reuse.
Health:
Recommendations for improving overall health conditions for the populations in the catchment, Including:
Hygiene, Sanitation, Helathcare availability, and Public Health Education. These
recommendations will take into account the distribution of water, (i.e. the availability to the
various groups of people living in the area), as well as the quality of drinking water and of the
local produce (effects of dietary consumption of pollutants).
Methodology
Water Quality Assessment: *Awaiting further information on sampling methods and chemical
analysis.
Sampling: Raida will take water, soil and plant samples every ~2km along the Wadi Far’a and its
tributaries. She will take three samples at each spring head to accurately establish discharge
quality from the aquifer and pollution at the head of the spring (three samples are required given
the unpredictable flow patterns at a spring head).
Chemical Analysis: Labaratory analysis at Birzeit University will test 50-100 samples for the parameters
in TABLE 1.
Spatial Analysis of Data: Results from the analysis will be plotted on a layer of the GIS map and
interpreted by correlation to agricultural, health, and municipal land use along the Wadi Far’a.
Investigation of what and to what extent each sector of the population is contributing to or is affected by the
pollution.
Error Analysis:
Time of the Year: Sampling the Wadi el-Far’a during the summer narrows our pollution study to water
contamination due primarily to base flows of Industrial and Municipal Waste. In the summer
there is no rainfall runoff carrying agricultural wastes.
Preliminary Results: Since no hard data has been received as of yet, our preliminary conclusions and
interpretations are based on background research on the region, and general water and pollution
studies.
Spatial Analysis
Agriculture and Irrigation:
Most of the land is being used for agricultural purposes, and we expect that the pollution has caused
significant harm to the crops. Irrigation methods are varied but generally inefficient and ill-suited
to counter pollution effects on specific crops.
Land Use and Pollution
Wadi Far’a is most likely polluted mainly with municipal sewage. We expect minimal Industrial Waste
from what we know from land use of the region, despite rumors of dumping by a nearby Israeli
Indusrial Zone at the rim of the watershed.
We expect that the lower areas of the basin are the victims of upstream pollution. The lower areas areas are
inhabited mainly by poor local farmers who use the water from the Wadi el-Far’a directly for
irrigation of their crops.
Similarly we suspect the upper areas that are owned by wealthy families to be least affected by the
pollution. They are pumping water from various wells, which contain much cleaner water than
that drawn directly from the Wadi el-Far’a lower in the valley. Upper irrigation methods are
better than that lower in the basin because of greater education and investment in infrastructure.
Pumping from these wells for irrigation however, may possibly be affecting spring discharge.
4. Dumping and sewage discharge from Nablus and other communities
foul the water before it reaches lower canal-fed agriculture and surfacewater dependent communities
Health
We expect to see a higher than normal number of gastrointestinal problems and waterborne infectious
diseases in the Wadi el-Far’a catchment, particularly in the lower reaches of the basin in
comparison with the area around Wadi Shueib in Jordan, whose waters are significantly less
polluted.
Annotated Bibliography
IV. Planning and Project recommendations (preliminary)
Salem Thawaba, Sebastian Naslund, Brian Blankespoor
V. Conclusions
Kamal Abdulfattah and Bert de Vries
Appendices
A. Bibliography
1. Far’a Project Bibliography, Part 1, General Works
General studies on Palestine water
Albert, Jeff, Transformations of Middle Eastern Natural Environments: Legacies and
Lessons. Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Sudies, 103. Yale Universtiy
Press, 1998.
Amery, Hussein A. and Aaron T. Wolf, eds. Water in the Middle East: A Geography of
Peace. Austin, Texas: University of Texas Press, 2000.
Applied Research Institute. "Volume 5: Nablus District." Environmental Profiles of
the West Bank. <http://www.arij.org/pub/index.htm>.
Applied Research Institute in Jerusalem. The Status of the Environment in the West
Bank. Jad Ishaq, ed.1997
Applied Research Institute. Water Resources and Irrigated Agriculture in the West
Bank. Jerusalem: Applied Research Institute, 1998.
Birzeit News. "International Conference on Developing Capabilities and Scientific
Research on Water." 4 April 2000.
<http:www.birzeit.edu/bznews/2000/April/3a.html> 23 August 2000.
Committee on Sustainable Water Supplies for the Middle East. Water for the Future:
The West Bank and Gaza Strip, Israel, and Jordan. Washington, D. C., 1999.
Feitelson, Eran, M. Haddad, S. Arlosoroff and T. Nasseredin. Joint Management of
Shared Aquifers: An Implementation-Oriented Agenda, Final report Phase II.
Jerusalem: The Palestine Consultancy Group and the Truman Institute, 1999.
Israel/Palestine Center for Research and Information. Our Shared Environment, 1990’s
Conference reports, particularly the papers by Karen Assaf, Director of Water
Planning, PNA.
Meehan, Maureen. "Palestine's Water Shortages: Short-Term Solutions, Long-Term
Disaster. The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs. August/September
2000: 17+.
Middle East Environmental Watch, Newsletter of Friends of the Middle East
Moorehead, Jennifer. Water for Palestine. The Sanitation and Environment Program of
the Palestinian Hydrology Group, 1999: 1 - 24.
Moorehead, Jennifer. Rehabilitation Water Resources in the Southern West Bank: An
Assessment of the European Investment Bank's Lending Strategy. The Sanitation
and Environment Program of the Palestinian Hydrology Group.
Overview of Middle East Water Sources. USAID, 1998.
Palestinian Hydrology Group. Wells in Palestine Present Status and Future Aspirations.
<http://www.phg.org/publications_01.html> 16 September 2000.
Shawar, Tania. "The Emergency Natural Resources Protection Plan for Palestine West
Bank Governorates." Middle East Environment Watch. Vol. 2, Issue 4. Spring
2000: 6 -7.
Trotter, Julie. “Water and the Challenge of Palestinian Institution Building.” Journal of
Palestine Studies XXIX, no. 2 (winter 2000): 35-50.
Localized studies
Albatmeh, Nadia. “The study of the oldest irrigation and water
system, Palestinian Jericho Oasis.” Society Heritage Magazine 33 Family Relief
Society, Ramallah, 1999.
The Archives of the Irrigation Water of Jericho (years 1960-1 999), resource material.
Ghanem, Marwan. Hydrogeology and Hydrochemistry of the Faria Drainage Basin.
Freiberg, Germany: Technische Universitat Bergakademie Freiberg, 1999.
Palestinian Hydrological Group. “Proceedings workshops on the Water Situation in the
Occupied Territories.” Sept. 1991. (in Arabic).
Palestinian Hydrological Group, “The Project of Improving the Water Irrigation
Sources in Wadi Far’ah” (Working paper 1997).
Palestinian National Authority 1999. “Draft of water law” (in Arabic), draft strategy for
water management.
Palestinian Research Center, Nablus. The Conference on Palestinian
Rifted Valley Are , Their Investment and Development Possibilities,
June 1998 (in Arabic).
Shehada, Fawzeieh. “Jericho Oasis cultural study,” 1985 (in Arabic).
Tumeizi, Abdulhaliem. “Water rights and water uses and their development in central
Palestine.” Unpublished Master's Thesis. Bir Zeit, Palestine: Birzeit Univserity.
Theoretical Discussions
Postel, Sandra. Pillar of Sand: Can the Irrigation Miracle Last? World Watch, 1999.
Tilley, Christopher, Bruce Kapferer, John Gledhill, Barbara Bender, eds. A
Phenomenology of Landscape: Places, Paths, and Monuments. Berg Publishers Inc,
1994.
de Villiers, Marq. Water: The Fate of our Most Precious Resource. Houghton Mifflin,
2000.
Water Security for the 21st Century – Innovative Approaches, Papers of the 10th
Stockholm Water Symposium, Aug. 14-17, 2000, http://www.siwi.org/sws2000
Other
Bickerton, Ian J. A Concise History of the Arab-Israeli Conflict. 3rd Ed. Upper Saddle
River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1998.
Brown, Lester R. "Population Growth Sentencing Millions to Hydrological Poverty."
Worldwatch Issue Alert. 21 June 2000.
<http://www.worldwatch.org/chariman/issue/000621.html>. 14 August 2000.
Leslie, Jacques. "Running Dry." Harper's Magazine. July 2000: 37 - 52.
Website
http://www.gisdatadepot.com - West Bank GIS data.
Far’a Project Publicatons
De Vries, Bert, Review of Amery, H. A. and Wolf, A. T., eds., Water in the Middle East:
A Geography of Peace (The University of Texas Press, 2000) in Middle East
Insight, Sept. – Oct. 2001: 77-79.
Thawabeh, Salem. “Wadi Far’a Area: Resources Management and Sustainable
Development.” PhD Thesis Proposal.
2. Far'a Bibliography, Part 2, by Sector Report
Topography and Geology
Abu Safat, M. “The possibilities of building a dam on Wadi el Fari’a- geomorphological study.” Al Najah J. for Researches 2, no. 5
(1990): 181-221
Baer, G. and Mimran, Y. Paleomagnetism and Structural History of the Fari’a Anticline, eastern Shomeron. GSI current Research 5861, GIS Jerusalem. (1993)
Benvenisti, M. and S. Khayat, The West Bank and Gaza Atlas, West Bank Data Base Project, Jerusalem, 1988.
Carmi and Gat, “Tritium in precipitation and freshwater sources in Israel.” Isr. J.
Earth Sci., 22 (1973): 71-92.
CDM, Study of the sustainable yield of the eastern aquifer basin, Task 18. (1997)
Kronfeld, J., Vogel, J. and Rosenthal, A. “Natural isotopes and water stratification in the Judea group aquifer (judean desert)”
Isr.J.Earth Sci.; 39 (1992): 71-76.
Gat, J. and Dansgaard, W. (1972): Stable isotope survey of the freshwater occurences in Israel and the Northern Jordan Rift Valley.
Journal of Hydrology, vol. 16 (177-212p.), North Hollandpub.com.Amesterdam.
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B. Resumes of Team Members
Kamal Abdulfattah, Birzeit University
Kamal Abdulfattah, co-director of the Wadi el-Far'a Project, graduated with a BA in Geography
from Damascus Univeristy in 1964, and received his PhD in Geography from the University of ErlangenNurberg, Germany in 1980. He has taught Geography since 1964, and has been Professor, first of Middle
Eastern Studies, then of Geography, at Birzeit University since 1978. He has held visiting professorships at
the Universities of Bayreuth and Erlangen in Germany, and of Villanova in the United States. At Birzeit he
has held numerous administrative positions, including Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Chairman of the
combined Geography, History and Political Science Departments. He is a member of numerous
professional societies and has received several professional prizes. Outstanding among his numerous
publications in geography is Historical Geography of Palestine, Transjordan and Southern Syria in the 16 th
Century (Erlangen: Frankische Geographische Gesellschaft, 1977), co-authored with Wolf Dieter
Hutteroth. Many of his students have gone on to advanced degrees and hold key positions in the academic
and administrative institutions of Palestine.
Brian Blankespoor, Oregon State University
Brian Blankespoor received a B.Sc. in Computer Science and a B.A. in French and in an
Interdiscplinary Major in Geography and Chemisty, Calvin College, 2000. He is doing graduate study in
geography with an emphasis in Geogrpahic Information Systems (GIS) at Oregon State Univeristy. His
work experience includes a GIS specialist at Horizon Environmental (May 1999-July 2001) where he
managed the GIS projects (ESRI ArcGIS 8.1 and ESRI ArcView 3.2), coordinated database design,
programmed customized functionality, and administred workstations, file servers and the website.
Additionally, he has created a GIS for a DNR field research project at Calvin College (Sept.-Apr. 2000), a
GIS coordinator at Home Repair Services (NPO) (Sept.-Dec. 1999), and he is trained with two courses in
GIS including an independent study at Calvin College. Career goal is to obtain a Geographic Information
System (GIS) position specializing in environmental applications.
Ihab Dababsa, Palestine Department of Antiquities
Ihab Dababsa received his BA in Geography from Birzeit University in 2000. He combined his
major with courses in archaeology and field work with the Palestinian Institute of Archaeology, for which
he excavated at Khirbet Bir Zeit. He did an extensive archaeologiccal survey of the springs of ‘Ayn Sinya
and produced original maps of the springs, their water channels and the water distribution system. Since
graduation he has worked for the Palestinian Department of Archaeology, most recently on restoration of
Mamluk sugar mills at Jericho.
Bert de Vries, Calvin College
Bert de Vries, co-director of the Wadi el-Far'a Project, graduated with a BSc in Engineering from Calvin
College in 1960 and received his PhD in Mediterranean Studies from Brandeis University in 1967. He has
taught History and Archaeology at Calvin College since 1967, including courses in Near Eastern, Classical
and World History as well as Archaeology. He served as project architect for the Archaeological
Excavations at Tell Hesban from 1968 - 1976, and for the Limes Arabicus Project from 1981-1989, and
directed the Umm el-Jimal Project from 1974 to the present. He has published numerous maps and
architectural drawings, and has written on both the archaeological and current Middle East, including Umm
el-Jimal, a Frontier Town and its Landscape in Northern Jordan, Vol. I (Journal of Roman Archaeology
Supplementary Series 26, 1998). From 1988 to 1991 he served as director of ACOR (American Center of
Oriental Research) in Amman, and in 1998 he began "The Environmental Geography of Palestine and
Jordan," the course that is now a component of the Wadi el-Far'a Project.
Kim DeWall, Calvin College
Kimberly DeWall graduated with Honors in World History from Calvin College in May, 2001,
and also earned minors in Archaeology and Greek. She studied Community Development in Kenya, Jan.
2000, and particiapted in the Environmental Geography of Jordan and Palestine, a joint Calvin College –
birzeit University course, in August 1998. She served as a avolunteer on the Askalon Excavatons in 1996,
and as a square (excavaton unit) supervisor at Umm el-Jimal in 1998. She completed an internship in
museology at the Harvard Semitic Museum in Boston I the summer of 1999. She has student work
exerprience includes factory and sales jobs, but particularly relevant is her two years as research assistant in
the Calvin College History Department and Archaeology Laboratory. Her duties ranged from the oversight
of the developing of an archaeological data base to the organization of speaker programs. She is competent
in a variety of computer word processing, data and graphics programs, and plans to pursue graduate studies
in Archaeology.
Farah Ghalib, Birzeit University
Ahmad Hammad, Palestine Ministry of Planning
Ahmad H. Y. Abu Hammad received both his B. Sc. (1990) and M. Sc. (1993) from the
Department of Soils and Irrigation (now the Dept. of Environmental Resources) in the Faculty of
Agricultural Engineering of the University of Jordan and is currently in a Ph. D. program at the
Agricultural University of Norway. He has taken numerous courses in soil structure and hydrology, and is
an expert in hydrology, soil erosion, land degradation and desertification and has special training in GIS
and environmental Impact Assessment. He is currently employed in the PNA Ministry of Planning as a
specialist in land use and natural resources. He has also worked on preparation of the Soil Data Base for the
applied Research Institute (ARIJ), and was a member of research teams studying irrigation and dry land
farming in Jordan. These and other activities resulted in numerous publications, including, Endangered
West Bank Heritage Sites in the West Bank Governorates - Emergency Natural Resource Protection Plan,
Ramallah: Ministry of Planning, 1999.
Sebastain Naslund, Calvin College
Sebastian Naslund is a senior at Calvin College, about to graduate with a B. Sc. with a major in
Geology and a minor in Environmental Studies. He grew up in Abbotsford , British Columbia, and has held
various positions during his educational career with experiences ranging from construction work, farm
management and food service supervision. At Calvin he has been an active environmental advocate as a
member of the Environmental Stewardship Coalition, a student club. He has introductory training in GIS
offered by ESRI Co., and a course in ArcView GIS 3.2. His goal in life is to teach people to live in
harmony with nature.
Raida Qarabseh, Birzeit University
Raida Qarabesah received a BA in Geography from Birzeit University in 1999 with specializaton
in Geology and Hydrology. Since graduation she has worked for the Palestinian Environmental Authority
and the Ministry of Environment, and is currently teaching Geography at secondary school level. She has
done field work and reesearch on the water flow and water pollution of the springs at Ain Arik. She is
pursuing an MA in Environmental Studies.
Ahmad Rajoub, Palestine Ministry of Culture
Ahmed A. M. Rjoob is administrator in the Directorate of Cultural Heritage at the Ministry of
Culture in Ramallah, Palestine. He received his BA with majors in Archaeology and History from Birzeit
University in 1996. He has participated in several archaeological excavatons and surveys in the West Bank,
and has become a specialist in Cultural Heritage Management through several training courses in cultural
resource management, site presentation and tourism management. He is currently a participant in the P. I.
S. A. Porject (Integrated Planniing in the Archaeological Sites Labratories, for which he has been involved
in projects at Oristano, Sardinia; Caesarea Maritima, Israel, and Thressiloniki, Greece.
Ben Ruddell, Calvin College
Benjamin Ruddell is an undergraduate student at Calvin College. He will graduate May 2002 with a B.S.E.
in Civil Engineering, with a focus on hydraulic and environmental studies. He is the President of the
American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) at Calvin College. Benjamin has contributed to the project
his experience in cartography, surveying, sustainable development issues, and engineering analysis
software. He plans to pursue a masters degree in environmental and agricultural engineering, towards a
career in third-world development and professional engineering.
Lynne (Abi) Tan, Calvin College
Lynne A. Tan’s interests lie in medicine and public health, particularly in the Middle East. She is
currently enrolled in the Pre-professional Medicine program at Calvin College, and plans to enter a joint
degree program in medicine and public health in the near future. Her undergraduate coursework has led to
studies of issues such as the depleted uranium situation in Iraq, and public health in Jordan and the West
Bank. She is currently working on two research projects, one involving water pollution and its effects on
health in relation to the joint Calvin-Birzeit Wadi el-Far’a Water Project, and the other on gender
perceptions and its impact on medieval Islamic and European medical practices. During her stay in Jordan
she has also had the opportunity to spend some time at the Palestine Hospital in Amman, where she was
able to observe a neurological surgical procedure, as well as visit and assist in various departments in the
hospital including physiotherapy, intensive care, laboratory, and the emergency room. Her goal is to
return to the Middle East, possibly Jordan or Palestine, to work in internal medical care and/or public
health.
Salem Thawabeh, University of Arkansas
Abdel-Halim Tomeizeh, Birzeit University
Abdul Halim Tumeizeh received his BA in Geography from Birzeit University in 1996, and his
MA in Geography from the University of Bergen, based on the thesis, “Water rights and water uses and
their development in Central Palestine.” In addition to teaching geography in the Ramallah Secondary
School system, he has served as assistant researcher for the “Lower Jordan River Basin Project” of Birzeit
and Bergen Universities from 1998-2000. He has done extensive field work on water rights in the Wadi elFar’a, the Jericho Oasis, and in the mountain spring villages of Battir and Dura al-Qarea’ and he has done
comparative studies on water rights in ‘Ajloun and Wadi Shu’ayb in Jordan. He presented papers at two
work shops in the Birzeit-Bergen program in 1999, and participated as a group member and site expert in
the Birzeit-Calvin course, “Environmental Geography of Palestine and Jordan” in 1998 and 1999.
Beth VandenBerg, Clemson University
Beth Vanden Berg received a BA in History, Calvin College, 2000, and a BSc in Geology, Calvin
College, May 2001; she also completed a Minor in Archaeology, for which she excavated at Umm el-Jimal,
Jordan in the summer of 1998. She is doing graduate study in hydrogeology at Clemson Univeristy. Her
work experience includes: facilities intern to an Environmental Engineer (Jan.-Aug 1999, Jan. & May-Dec.
2000) where she assisted with overall environmental compliance issues and concerns related to the facility;
prepared numerous technical reports for wastewater treatment and disposal, responsible for surface water
and wastewater sampling, and air testing for facility air quality compliance. She did fieldwork through
Grand Valley State University in 1999 in the Installation of various monitoring wells and gauging stations
throughout the nature preserve. In the summer of 2001 she participated in the Albion College Geological
field tour of the American West befroe joiningthe Wadi el-Far’a Project staff. Career goals include work in
the hydrogeology field with concentrations in soil/water contamination, finding new clean water sources
and water reclamation.