Morocco steps up efforts to curb dam silting

Morocco’s Ministry of Equipment and Water has signed a framework agreement with the National Agency for Water and Forests (ANEF) to mitigate dam siltation. The partnership promotes an integrated approach to the development and management of watersheds located upstream of key hydraulic infrastructures.

Dam silting represents one of the foremost challenges to sustainable water resource management in the Kingdom. Primarily driven by soil erosion within watersheds, this phenomenon leads to a progressive decline in storage capacity. Over time, this loss of volume undermines the mobilization of water resources essential for drinking water supply, agricultural irrigation, and hydroelectric power generation.

The Minister of Equipment and Water, Nizar Baraka, emphasized the importance of a preventive strategy, noting that the agreement also encompasses flood risk management, notably by integrating a socio-economic approach to support local communities.

For his part, ANEF Head said that Morocco has significant watershed that require development operations, given their role in protecting hydraulic infrastructure as well as in preventing floods, now becoming one of Morocco’s major challenges.

Under the agreement, both institutions will pool their resources to enhance the exchange of data and technical expertise. They are set to implement joint watershed management programs and soil conservation initiatives. These efforts aim to reduce sediment inflow into reservoirs, ensuring the long-term preservation and efficiency of Morocco’s hydraulic infrastructure.