Multi-objective water allocation in the Alqueva Region

Abstract

Alqueva dam in the Alentejo Region was developed to solve water scarcity in the South ofPortugal and to ensure pennanent availability ofwater for household and industrial consumption, irrigation, production of electric energy, ecological and environrnental purposes. Competition among some ofthese multiple water uses requires an integrated management framework. This paper uses Interactive Decision Maps (IDM) technique to explore and achieve efficient and equitable water allocation combinations taking into account those multipIe goals and principIes of good water govemance. Results show that multiple water uses do constrain full economic impact for agriculture and suggest that integrated management frameworks and policies are needed at regional territoriallevel to reach a compromise between competing economic, social and environrnental goals and achieve project global development benefits.