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Groundwater resources management using hydrodynamic modelling in southeastern Moroccan oases: case of Ferkla Oasis

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Abstract

The Ferkla Oasis is situated in the Rheris watershed in the southeast of Morocco, between the eastern Anti-Atlas in the south (Ougnat inlier) and the Central High Atlas in the north. This oasis is characterized by a semi-desert climate with strong continental influence, marked by low and irregular rainfall and high temperatures. This oasis has experienced several agricultural extensions outside the traditional oasis, resulting in overpressure on the groundwater as evidenced by the dramatic decline of its piezometric level, which has engendered an ecological and socio-economic crisis. In these critical conditions, a groundwater flow model was developed to evaluate the impact of climate change and anthropogenic activities on the hydrodynamic behavior of the aquifer. The results obtained confirmed that the region is increasingly threatened by groundwater resource scarcity. Indeed, simulations of the watershed in both a permanent and transient state were generated for the years 1993 through 2021. These simulations have shown a piezometric level decline, as well as a deficit in the water balance, as well as a deficit in the water balance. This situation is caused by climate effects, particularly frequent droughts, and the overexploitation of the groundwater resources, especially in the agricultural extension areas outside the traditional oasis. The study demonstrates that the oasis faces a serious crisis and may further deteriorate until it disappears within a few years. Therefore, integrated, collective, and participatory measures are recommended. The model provides important results that will aid in groundwater resource management in this region.

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Data availability

The majority of the data used in this work was obtained from the Guir-Ziz-Rheris Hydraulic Basin Agency http://www.abhgzr.ma/. All data generated during the manuscript analysis are included in the article. Further datasets are available from the corresponding author upon request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge this support from the staff of the Guir-Ziz-Rheris Hydraulic Basin Agency.

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No funds, grants, or other support were received.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Engineering Sciences and Techniques, Geo-Resource Geo-Environment Geological and Oasis Heritage Research Team, Department of Geosciences, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, Moulay Ismail University, Errachidia, Morocco

    Badre Messaoudi, Lahcen Kabiri, Ismail Ait Lahssaine, Badre Essafraoui, Lamya Ouali, Mohamed El Ouali, Amina Kassou & Meryem El Amraoui

  2. Laboratory of Geoengineering and Environment, Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences, Moulay Ismail University, B.P11201, Zitoune, Meknes, Morocco

    Brahim Ait Said

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  1. Badre Messaoudi
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  2. Lahcen Kabiri
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  3. Ismail Ait Lahssaine
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  4. Badre Essafraoui
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  5. Lamya Ouali
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  8. Amina Kassou
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  9. Meryem El Amraoui
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Contributions

The research reported in this paper was conceptualized by Messaoudi Badre, and was a major contributor in writing the manuscript. The methodology was suggested by Ismail Ait Lahssaine, Brahim Ait Said and Ouali Lamya. Essential literature was provided by Lahcen Kabiri and Badre Essafraoui. Meryem El Amraoui, Amina Kassou, and Mohamed El Ouali reviewed paper structure, results, and data representation. The authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Badre Messaoudi.

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Messaoudi, B., Kabiri, L., Ait Lahssaine, I. et al. Groundwater resources management using hydrodynamic modelling in southeastern Moroccan oases: case of Ferkla Oasis. Environ Earth Sci 83, 143 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-024-11454-z

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