The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development aims to reach 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs 6 deals with water security, which refers mainly to ensure availability and sus-tainable management of water. The present study aims to enhance reservoir performance under climate change to deal with water scarcity. For this purpose, we proposed a new methodology where precipitation and evaporation data provided through temporal downscaling are leveraged by a real-time management algorithm coupled with the Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS). The real-time dam management algorithm is based on water balance equation and rule curves. It provides information about (1) dam storage, (2) dam release, (3) dam evaporation, (4) dam diversion, (5) spilled water volume, (6) emergency spilled water volume, (7) dam inflow, (8) irrigation demand, (9) irrigation shortage, (10) dam siltation, (11) dam hydropower produc-tion, (12) hydropower energy income. The developed approach has been applied to the Hassan Addakhil multipurpose reservoir in Morocco. The result shows that the dam reliability and resili-ence have increased from 40% to 70% and from 16% to 66%, respectively, while the vulnerability remained constant. Additionally, this study has pointed out that the installation of a hydropower plant is an opportunity to produce clean electrical energy and generate an income enough to cov-er different costs related to dam management and maintenance. Therefore, the real-time man-agement tool developed in the framework of this project can significantly enhance reservoir per-formance.

The Inaouène watershed (3600 km²), part of the Sebou River’s upper valley in northern Morocco, faces urban, agricultural, and industrial discharges. This research investigates the environmental impact of heavy metal contamination in sediments and its implications for sustainable watershed management and long-term ecological protection. Sediment samples were collected from six sites along the river and the Idriss 1st dam. A combined approach of geochemical analyses and multivariate statistical methods (PCA, HCA) identified metal sources and grouped sites by contamination patterns. Additionally, pollution indices (I_geo, EF, PLI) were used to assess contamination levels and infer potential sources. Results revealed variable metal concentrations: upstream (Ech1) showed high levels of chromium (133 mg/kg) and copper (32.5 mg/kg) linked to urban discharges and erosion, while downstream (Ech6) exhibited high barium (3245 mg/kg) and strontium (505 mg/kg) concentrations due to dam sedimentation. Pollution indices confirmed moderate to high contamination, particularly at Ech1 and Ech6. Multivariate analysis identified three main clusters influenced by both anthropogenic and geological factors. These findings underline the need for integrated sediment management, regular monitoring, and environmental protection strategies to preserve the watershed and the aquifer’s ecological balance.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the level of heavy metal contamination in the spoil heaps of the former Ain Aouda mine (Taza). In this regard, solid samples of the study area were sampled. The set of analyses carried out have detected the presence of zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), copper (Cu),...

In order to evaluate the degree of sediments contamination by metallic trace elements in the watershed of Oued Inaouene (North-East of Morocco), samples of surface sediments were taken along the river and at the level of the Idriss 1st dam. The objective is to obtain a thorough knowledge of the...

The exploitation of the Ain Aouda zinc lead mine in the Tazekka massif (Morocco) has abandoned spoil heaps stored directly on a karstified carbonated ground, in the middle of nature, without any means of precaution. The heaps were exposed to the weather agents such as water infiltration and air...