ASPIRED Program Report for Q 2 Year 5 - January-March 2020.pdf

ASPIRED Project

Report Q 2 – FY 2020

ADVANCED SCIENCE & PARTNERSHIPS

FOR INTEGRATED RESOURCE

DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

QUARTERLY REPORT

January-March 2020

April 2020

This publication was produced for review by the United States Agency for International

Development. It was prepared by ME&A, Inc.

Advanced Science & Partnerships for

Integrated Resource Development

QUARTERLY REPORT

SECOND QUARTER FY 2020

April 2020

Contract No.AID-OAA-I-14-00070/AID-111-TO-15-00001

Prepared for:

United States Agency for International

Development

Armenia Mission

1 American Avenue

Yerevan 0082, Armenia

Prepared by:

ME&A, Inc.

4350 East-West Highway

Suite 210

Bethesda, MD 20814

Tel: +1 301 652 4334

Fax: +1 240 630 8935 www.MEandAHQ.com

Armenian Branch of ME&A, Inc.

105/1 Teryan St., Suite 204, Yerevan 0009

Republic of Armenia

Tel. +374 10 514 315

Fax: +374 10 514 317

Email: aspired@engl.com

DISCLAIMER

This report is made possible by the support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the sole responsibility of ME&A, Inc. and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.

http://www.meandahq.com/ mailto:aspired@engl.com

Table of Contents

List of Acronyms

1. Executive Summary

1.2 ASPIRED Summary

1.3 Main Highlights from the Reporting Period

2. Summary of Performance Indicators

3. Program Implementation

Water Resource Data

Low Cost and Water Efficiency Technologies

Water Regulation and Enforcement

Donor Coordination and Communications

4. General Administrative Issues

5. Environmental Compliance

6. Existing Problems or Issues

7. Planned Activities for the Next Quarter

List of Acronyms

ASPIRED Advanced Science and Partnerships for Integrated Resource Development

ATTC Aquaculture Technology Transfer Center

AAB Ararat Artesian Basin

BMO Basin Management Organization

COR Contracts Officer’s Representative

COVID-19 Corona Virus Disease 2019

CJSC Closed Joint Stock Company

DSS Decision Support System

EA Environmental Assessment

EE/RE Energy Efficiency/Renewable Energy

EMIC Environmental Monitoring and Information Center SNCO

EMMP Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plan

ERGIS Environmental Research and Geographic Information Systems

EU European Union

FAR Fund for Armenian Relief

F2F Farmer to Farmer Project

GIS Geographic Information System

GOA Government of Armenia

HAAF Hayastan All-Armenian Foundation

ICARE International Center for Agribusiness Research and Education

IR Intermediate Result

ITF Interagency Task Force

LOP Life of project

ME&A ME&A, Inc.

ME Ministry of Environment

PMP Performance Management Plan

PURE-Water Participatory Utilization and Resource Efficiency of Water

PV Photovoltaic

SCADA Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition

SEDF Sustainable Energy Development Fund

SoE State of Emergency

SWCIS State Water Cadaster Information System

3D Three-dimensional

TO Task Order

USAID United States Agency for International Development

WRMA Water Resources Management Agency

WUA Water user association

1. Executive Summary

This report describes the programmatic activities implemented by the Advanced Science and Partnerships for Integrated Resource Development (ASPIRED) Project during the second quarter of Year 5 of the project, from January 1 through March 31, 2020. The report reviews progress and achievements in each of the project areas during the reporting period, as well as planned activities for the next quarter. The report also highlights challenges and actions taken to address these challenges.

On March 16, the Government of Armenia (GOA) declared a State of Emergency (SoE) for 30 days due to the COVID-19 global outbreak. On March 24, GOA set stricter restrictions on the personal movement, public services, and activities of almost all industries (including the construction sector, export, import travel, etc.) through March 31st. The ASPIRED project developed a mitigation plan to address potential disruptions to implementation resulting from the global pandemic, leading all staff to work from home as of March 18. The mitigation plan included using additional tools and means of communications to ensure effective dialogue among the field team and with USAID, ME&A home office, counterparts, and stakeholders. Although the plan expects postponing the implementation of construction, and some meetings and trainings, it also envisages using online platforms for conducting virtual site visits, meetings and trainings. ASPIRED will resume construction and monitoring on the project sites after the government lifts movement and construction restrictions.

1.2 ASPIRED Project Summary

On September 29, 2015, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) awarded ME&A, Inc. (ME&A) a contract to implement the ASPIRED Project under the Water and Development IDIQ. The purpose of the ASPIRED Project is to support sustainable water resource management and sustainable practices of water users in the Ararat Valley through the use of science, technology, innovation, and partnership initiatives. The ultimate goal is to reduce the rate of groundwater extraction in the Ararat

Valley to sustainable levels.

To this end, the ASPIRED Project focuses on several critical areas:

1. Water Resources Data

2. Low Cost and Water Efficiency Technologies

3. Water Regulation and Enforcement

4. Coordination across stakeholders

The ASPIRED Project places a strong emphasis on building partnerships with the public and private sectors, research organizations, and international donors to pilot innovative water and energy efficiency technologies, and to promote better water resource monitoring, planning and sustainable management.

1.3 Main Highlights from the Reporting Period

• Water Resources Data:

o In January, the ASPIRED Project re-submitted to USAID the revised deliverable on water balance, water supply and demand balance of the Ararat Valley, calculated with data from 2016, as well as the estimated values of groundwater reserves, natural groundwater resources recharging the aquifers and recommended volume of sustainable groundwater abstraction in the Ararat Valley. The revised report included feedback and recommendations of the Project COR, Marina Vardanyan, and Mr. Stanley Leake, an independent expert, who conducted a peer review of the ASPIRED Project estimates in

December 2019.

• Low Cost and Water Efficiency Technologies:

o Completion of the drinking water project in Yeghegnut community.

• Stakeholder Coordination and Communications:

o Presentation of the interim results, next steps and enforcement mechanisms of the method of self-purification capacity assessment of Armenian rivers, developed by the ASPIRED

Working Group in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment (ME);

o Discussion of the ASPIRED Project activities with the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Territorial Administration, Local Self-Government, Agriculture and Environment of the

Parliament of Armenia, Varazdat Karapetyan;

o On March 31, USAID highlighted the success story of Aratashen drinking water project on its web site: https://bit.ly/2Vk9w3T .

https://bit.ly/2Vk9w3T

Report Q 2 – FY 2020 7

2. Summary of Performance Indicators

Summary of performance indicators for the second quarter of FY 2020 (Year 5 of the project) is presented in the table below.

1 Indicators are presented on a cumulative basis. Non-cumulative indicators are marked separately.

2 ME with its 2 subdivisions, PEER grantee, Institute of Water Problems, USGS, EU Water Initiatives Project, Ministry of Agriculture, State Hydromet Service, Scientific Center of Zoology and Hydro ecology, Metsamor power plant which are/were involved in the data collection process, fisheries: Alex Grig, Interaqua, Golden Fish, Max Fish, State Hydromet Service, the Center of Zoology and Hydroecology, Water Committee.

Indicator1

Year 5

Target/

Actual

Actual

Q 2

Year 5

LOP

Target/Actual

Notes: Descriptions/Comments/Assumptions

IR 1: Establish a comprehensive, user-friendly, open data system that is accessible to all stakeholders.

Sub-IR 1.1: Ararat Valley Geocoded, real-time, publicly accessible data system that incorporates water resource, groundwater, and hydrological datasets from multiple stakeholders built and shared with the GOA

Indicators

1.1.1 Percent (of total) of datasets for the

Ararat Valley publicly accessible 30/0 0 80/50

This indicator refers to the datasets related to the water resources in the Ararat Valley which will be accessible for the general public. 80% of all datasets on the Ararat Valley will be made publicly available, which accounts for 100% of all the data that can be available to the public according to the Armenian legislation.

1.1.2 Percent (of total) wells mapped in the

Ararat Valley.

N/A N/A

100/100%

Completed in Year 2.

1.1.3 Number of stakeholders engaged in the

data collection activities N/A - 16/162

This indicator refers to the number of stakeholders engaged in the groundwater-related data collection activities in the Ararat Valley from different sectors – government, private, and public. ASPIRED met planned targets for this indicator in Year 4.

Sub-IR 1.2: An online tool for hydrogeological modeling and decision-support for the Ararat Valley that incorporates hydrologic, economic, energy, social equity and environmental data generated

Indicators

1.2.1 GIS-based decision support tools for

Ararat Valley developed 2/0 0 2/2

ASPIRED completed the DSS and 3-dimensional model for the Ararat Valley in Year 4.

Groundwater flow model for the Ararat Valley will be completed in Year 5.

Sub-IR 1.3: A publicly accessible system that maximizes the use of open source technology and produces reports based on high-quality, real-time monitoring data created

Indicators

Report Q 2 – FY 2020 8

3 The data refers to the Water Reuse Project in Hayanist, Well Sealing (with motor pumping) and Well Optimization technologies in Sipanik village, Well Sealing Project with (electric pumping or drift irrigation) in Hovtashat, Drinking water Project (efficient pumping combined with metering) in Aratashen, and irrigation project in Pokr Vedi community.

4 The first figure of the cell refers to the cumulative cubic meters of water to be saved as a result of the ASPIRED Pilot Projects by the end of year 5, which is also the LOP, while the second figure refers to the actual cumulative cubic meters of water saved as a result of ASPIRED pilot projects to-date.

1.3.1 Number of fisheries with automatic data

system installed N/A N/A 4/4 Indicator was dropped based on Year 5 approved Work Plan.

Sub-IR 1.4: Plan for decentralized, sustainable data collection methods to monitor groundwater resources and strengthened implementation capacities of partners developed in partnership with the Government of Armenia (GOA) and local stakeholders

Indicators

1.4.1 Percent (of total) coverage of the

groundwater extraction points monitored 18.2/0 0 50/31.8

This indicator refers to the percentage of groundwater extraction wells monitored by the online automated system that the ASPIRED Project installed versus the total number of 336 operational groundwater wells available in the fisheries. The actual LOP results refer to the systems installed by the

ASPIRED Project (on 19 groundwater wells), groundwater monitoring systems installed by the Water

Initiatives Plus Project and 80 wells monitored by the Environmental Monitoring and Information

Center (EMIC) with the equipment provided by the ASPIRED. The Year 5 indicator refers to the number of extraction points monitored by the ME subdivisions. The data will be collected and reported by the end of Year 5.

IR 2: Introduce locally appropriate, cost effective technologies to improve water resource management

Sub-IR 2.1: Technologies developed, piloted, and evaluated at different-sized fish farms with the objective of improving water resources management

Indicators

2.1.1

Number of groundwater extraction reduction technologies piloted and evaluated

2/0 0 8/63

This indicator refers to technologies introduced at fish farms or other water use points that contribute to the reduction of the groundwater extraction by users. This indicator also provides information on annual water saved, measured in cubic meters for the indicator 2.1.2. The Year 5 results refer to efficient pumping technology in Vedi and irrigation project in Pokr Vedi.

2.1.2 Thousands of cubic meters of water saved

annually in Ararat Valley 11,412/7,724 308 11,412/24,0824

This indicator measures the amount of water savings from the application of innovative water saving technologies, done by the ASPIRED Project, at fish farms and other water use points. It also accounts for the implementation of water rehabilitation projects in the communities of the Ararat Artesian Basin

(AAB) affected by the shortage of groundwater resource (in collaboration with participatory Utilization and Resource Efficiency of Water (PURE-Water) Project. Actual results for Year 5 include recurrent savings provided by completed projects as well as results of the drinking water project in Yeghegnut community, completed during Q2. The quarterly data refers to the results of Yeghegnut water savings.

Sub-IR 2.2: Technologies with the objective of increasing energy efficiency and/or renewable energy generation of water users developed, piloted, and evaluated

Indicators

2.2.1

Number of energy efficiency and/or renewable energy (EE/RE) technologies piloted and evaluated

2/1 1 3/2

This indicator refers to water-use related EE/RE technologies to be piloted during project implementation. LOP results refer to efficient pumping in Aratashen. Year 5 projections include efficient pumping in Yeghegnut and solar projects in Vedi. During Q2, the drinking water project in

Yeghegnut was completed.

Report Q 2 – FY 2020 9

5 Year 5 targets consider recurrent savings from Hayanist and Aratashen projects, plus savings expected from projects scheduled for completion during Year 5: ATTC, Yeghegnut, Vedi and Pokr Vedi.

6 LOP data refers to Hayanist project during 4 years of operation (24 MWh/year, Aratashen project (204 MWh) completed in Year 4 and Yeghegnut Project completed in Year 5.

7 Year 5 targets include recurrent savings from completed projects as well as projects to be completed during Year 5 (Yeghegnut, Khachpar, Vedi, Pokr Vedi).

8 LOP actual data refers to the recurrent savings provided by completed projects during the entire period of their performance (starting from their launch date) and projects completed during Year 5.

9 Year 5 target includes projects scheduled to be completed in Year 5: drinking water project in Yeghegnut; and irrigation projects in Vedi, Pokr Vedi, and Khachpar communities.

10 The LOP data refers to the beneficiaries of the two water reuse projects in Hayanist and Sayat-Nova, the well optimization projects in Sipanik and Hovtashat, and the water projects in Aratashen and Yeghegnut.

11 ASPIRED will conduct pre- and post-implementation water tests to detect the qualitative changes in water.

12 The results refer to Yeghegnut, Aratashen, Hovtashat, Sipanik community, water reuse projects in Hayanist and Sayat-Nova communities ((a) two communities avoided drilling of wells for irrigation needs; (b) two fisheries, Samvel Lablajyan’s fish farm and Masis Dzuk fishery, became more efficient water users),..

2.2.2 Megawatt hour of energy saved annually 7965/344 116 796/6206

This indicator refers to the kilowatt-hour energy savings generated due to more efficient use of energy.

Recurrent savings generated by completed projects are counted in the subsequent years and will be reported on an annual basis upon completion of the programmatic year. Q2 results refer to the drinking water project in Yeghegnut.

2.2.3 Clean energy generated annually, MWh 33/0 0 33/0

This indicator refers to the clean energy generation capacity resulting from the introduction of RE technologies aimed at minimizing extraction of the groundwater. The ASPIRED team adjusted the indicator for clean energy generation as the RE component has been removed from the ATTC. The expected result will be provided by the Urban Irrigation project in Vedi.

2.2.4

Gains in the reduction of GHG emissions as a result of USG assistance, in metric tons

2,0027/837.4 55 2,002/2,092.88

GHG emissions reduction-related data will be calculated in metric tons/year based on the kilowatt-hours of savings resulting from application of energy saving technologies by the factor of 0.473 t CO2 per megawatt-hour of energy. In addition to the GHG emission reduction occurring from the energy savings, ASPIRED also accounted for the CO2 reductions from the irrigated farmlands. Data is reported on an annual basis. Q2 results refer to the GHG emission reduction due to an implemented project Yeghegnut community.

2.2.5

Number of people receiving improved service quality from an existing basic or safely managed water service as a result of

USG assistance.

22,1449/2,16

2,162 26,615/6,63310

Qualitative improvements11 of the water resource resulting from the infrastructure projects implemented by ASPIRED Project. The term “water users” refers to households, local farmers, and other groups benefitting from these improvements. (Gender disaggregated). Q2 data refer to the drinking water project in the community of Yeghegnut.

Men 10,127/1,054 1,054 12,007/2,934

Women 12,017/1,108 1,108 14,608/3,699

2.2.6 Number of water users experiencing

improved efficiency of water resources 5/1 1 12/812

This indicator tracks the communities/individuals that are being benefited by improved efficiency in use of water, resulting from the pilot projects implemented under the ASPIRED Project. Examples of such projects can potentially reduce water abstraction by fish farms due to new technologies installed. Year

5 projections refer to pending projects in Yeghegnut, Vedi, Pokr Vedi, Khachpar and ATTC. Q2 results refer to the community of Yeghegnut benefitting from improved drinking water supply.

Sub-IR 2.3: Based on the pilot process and available research, recommendations developed for successful water and energy technologies for policy-makers and stakeholders shared

Indicators

Report Q 2 – FY 2020 10

13 Planned targets for Year 5 refer to ATTC, Vedi and Pokr Vedi Projects.

14 Aeration technology piloted in Masis Dzuk fish-farm; Hayanist water reuse project; Sayat-Nova irrigation; Sipanik well sealing project; and Sipanik well optimization project, water project in Aratashen (efficient pumping/billing & metering), Hovtashat well optimization project.

15 Y5 actual result refers to the water service training conducted by the ASPIRED Project engineer in Yeghegnut in December 2019.

2.3.1

Number of successful technologies recommended and shared with the stakeholders and policy-makers

313/0 0 10/714 ASPIRED will pilot at least six technologies by the end of the project, conduct an evaluation and provide recommendations during Year 5 of the project.

Sub-IR 2.4: Technology or method to permanently close illegal and/or abandoned wells, developed, piloted, and evaluated

Indicators

2.4.1

Number of piloted technologies to permanently close illegal or abandoned wells

0/0 0 3/3 ASPIRED Project piloted one well sealing technology in Sipanik and two well optimization technologies in Sipanik and Hovtashat communities.

IR 3: Introduce new policies and regulations to improve integrated water resource management.

Sub-IR 3.1: Trainings to build groundwater monitoring capabilities, capacity strengthening, and knowledge of how to use equipment; and follow-up assessments to test knowledge on groundwater monitoring and analysis of the basin management organizations (BMOs) and relevant water management agency officials to improve enforcement.

Indicators

3.1.1 Number of trainings for building capacity

of ME in groundwater monitoring 4/0 0 9/5

This indicator refers to trainings on the enhanced up-to-date State Water Cadaster Information System

(SWCIS) and Management Information System (MIS) for the Ararat Valley and on enhanced transparent water use permitting, control, oversight systems and decision support tools.

3.1.2

Number of people educated on tools, approaches, and/or methods for water security, integrated water resource management, water source protection and sustainable water use as a result of USG assistance. (not cumulative)

10/215

126/118

This indicator refers to trainings on enhanced up-to-date SWCIS and MIS for the Ararat Valley;

enhanced transparent water use permitting, control, and oversight systems; and environmental compliance procedures and efficient water use trainings for the beneficiaries of the communities. This indicator is not cumulative and is reported on a quarterly basis.

Women 1 0 31

Men 1 0 87

Sub-IR 3.2: Rigorous, evidence-based analysis of optimal water fee levels completed, shared with engaged stakeholders and recommendations provided to the GOA

Indicators

3.2.1

Number of workshops and consultations with stakeholders to discuss water fee levels

N/A N/A 9/9 The target for this indicator was met during Year 2 /Quarter 2; therefore, ASPIRED has completed data collection under this indicator for the project.

Report Q 2 – FY 2020 11

16 During Year 5, the ASPIRED team will submit the Draft Government decree/resolution on the adoption of the method for assessing self-purification capacity of rivers.

17 (1) The ASPIRED team opinion on Program of Measures in National Water code to USAID; (2) the Strategy for Policy and Regulatory Improvements and a Road Map for Improved Participatory Management of Water

Resources developed under the USAID’s PURE Project; (3) the draft Government decree on establishment of the requirements for the protection of water resources in the recreational zones submitted to the ME.

18 ASPIRED’s partnerships with Hayanist community, Samvel Lablajyan LLC, UNDP/GEF SGP, ERGIS NGO, CCHBCA, Satagro, Armavir Farmer LLC (ATTC), SME DNC, FAR, Sayat-Nova community, Sipanik, SEDF, Aratashen, Hovtashat, Vedi, F2F, AAF, UNDP/Climate Change Program, the community of Yeghegnut and Artashat WUA.

19 This figure represents the actual cost-share of partners versus the total cost of the projects. Since the ASPIRED Project has different share in different projects, the total percentage of the leveraged funding may be lower than that for a particular year.

Sub-IR 3.3: Water permitting monitoring and enforcement measures assessed and publicly available and recommendations, including development of regulations, provided to the GOA.

Indicators

3.3.1

Package of recommendations to address water permitting monitoring and enforcement measures provided to GoA.

116/0 0 4/317

This indicator refers to the package of recommendations that the ASPIRED Project drafted and submitted to the GOA. Year 4 result refers to the draft Government decree on the establishment of requirements for the protection of water resources in the recreational zones submitted to the ME. The package of laws stipulating enforcement of requirements for the protection of water resources in recreational zones has been signed by the Armenian President on November 26, 2019.

IR 4: Ensure communications and coordination with stakeholders to avoid duplication of efforts

Sub-IR: 4.1: Systems-mapping to gain and apply knowledge of points of influence, incentives, and resources of stakeholders in water and the water-energy nexus completed and shared

Indicators

4.1.1 Number of international and local organizations participating in the system mapping activities

1/0 0 26/25 This indicator refers to newly identified stakeholders and points of influence in water and water-energy nexus for the ASPIRED Project.

4.1.2

Number of partnerships made by

ASPIRED with other organizations

1/2 2 19/2018

This indicator refers to partnerships, collaboration with other public and private sector organizations, donors for the implementation of joint projects and/or other initiatives contributing to the accomplishment of ASPIRED objectives. The results for Q2 refer to Artashat Water User Association

(WUA), working on Pokr Vedi Project, and the community of Yeghegnut.

Sub-IR 4.2: A transformative partnerships model to respond to needs for research, pilots, analysis and other coordinated efforts that is demand-driven, flexible, and has a plan for financial sustainability created

Indicators

4.2.1

Percent of total funding leveraged from stakeholders for water resources management activities.

(not cumulative)

35/41 41 35/3319

This indicator refers to the total in-kind and financial contribution by ASPIRED partners versus the total contribution of the ASPIRED Project for a given year. Targets are not cumulative and refer to a specific year of the project cycle. For Year 5, ASPIRED will count the cost-share contribution of the communities of Yeghegnut, Pokr Vedi, Vedi, and Khachpar. The results of Q2 refer to the cost share funding raised for Yeghegnut and Pokr Vedi Projects.

IR 5: Portfolio-level indicators

Report Q 2 – FY 2020 12

20 The results refer to the population size of Sipanik, Hayanist, Sayat-Nova, Aratashen, Hovtashat andYeghegnut communities versus the total size of the population in the AAB.

21 This figure refers to: (1) Inventory of the Groundwater wells, natural springs and fisheries of the Ararat Valley (2) The Report presented to the GOA - Achieving Sustainable Groundwater Use in the Ararat Valley: the Role of the Fisheries Sector; (3) ASPIRED was involved into the Interagency Task Force (ITF) established by the Prime-Minister’s assignment in January-February 2017. (4) Pilot projects (5) Installation of the automated online groundwater use monitoring system in the fisheries of the Ararat Valley; and (6) DSS with its hydrologic, climate change and water quality assessment models; (7) Groundwater flow model; (8) 3D model of the Ararat Valley groundwater basin; (9) Capacity building activities,(10) Billing and metering system introduced in the communities with drinking water projects; (11) Water balance, water supply and demand balance estimates for the Ararat Valley for 2016 , (12) Estimated Values of natural GW reserves, recharge and sustainable rate of GW use in the Ararat Valley (13) Preparation of legal package for adoption of the requirements for the water resources in recreational zones of Armenia.

22 The LOP result includes seven fisheries with improved water management practices: four have been equipped with online monitoring systems and three fish-farms participate in the infrastructure projects – ATTC and water reuse for irrigation (Lablajyan and Masis Dzuk).

23 The data refers to the (1) practice of the secondary use of outlet water from fisheries for irrigation purposes, which has never been practiced at a community scale; (2) well sealing/optimization activities; (3) installation of the online monitoring system in the fisheries; (4) use of inverter pumping technology in Aratashen; (5) decision support tools developed by the ASPIRED Project 24 Replication of the water reuse project in Hovtashat community (with assistance from ERGIS NGO) and Sayat-Nova community, secondary use of Masid Dzuk outlet water for fish-breeding, extension of the drinking water network in Aratashen by the community’s resources, grant provided by the Japanese Embassy to ERGIS for the extension of the irrigation network in Sayat-Nova community and installation of a PV system on the pumping station.

5.1

Percent of population living in targeted areas with improved water management

52/3.7 3.7 52/23.420 The geographical target area is the Ararat Artesian Basin (AAB), a territory of 13,075 hectares with a population of 58,373 people (28,392 men; 30,345 women). The results will count the population of affected communities who benefitted from the projects completed both during the previous years and in Year 5. Q 2 result refers to the population of the community of Yeghegnut. Women 28/1.9 1.9 28/13

Men 24/1.8 1.8 24/10.4

5.2

Number of key implementation steps taken to improve water management in the Ararat Valley

2/3 0 12/1321 This indicator refers to policy, analysis, and other activities targeted towards improvement of water data-related activities, including training and pilot projects.

5.3

Number of private sector firms that have improved management practices or technologies as a result of USG assistance

2/0 0 9/722

This indicator refers to (a) the number of fisheries with automated groundwater use monitoring systems installed; and (b) fisheries which have adopted innovative water or energy efficiency (including renewable) technologies.

5.4 Number of innovations supported through

USG assistance 2/0 0 7/523

This indicator refers to innovative technologies, management/monitoring tools or practices introduced by the ASPIRED team in fish farms, at water use points and/or communities of the Ararat Valley which contribute to the reduction of the groundwater use.

5.5

Number of innovations supported through

USG assistance with demonstrated uptake by private and/or public sector firms

1/1 1 5/524

This indicator refers to the uptake/replication by the public and/or private sectors of projects, technologies, innovations and/or practices introduced by the ASPIRED Project at fish farms, water use points, and/or communities of the Ararat Valley. Q2 result refers to the project on extension of the irrigation network in Sayat-Nova community with grant funding of the Japanese Embassy in Armenia.

3. Program Implementation

3.1 Water Resources Data

SWCIS Enhancement

During the reporting period, the ASPIRED team, in collaboration with the Water Resources Management

Agency (WRMA), completed improvements of the SWCIS Data Warehouse as requested by the WRMA in November 2019. The WRMA requested these updates for meeting their needs in terms of data input and report generation in the system, and support in the decision-making process. Based on the request the Project developed the following additional key technical tools for the SWCIS Data Warehouse in this quarter.

- New forms were programmed, allowing the WRMA specialists to generate reports for a selected month or specific time period for the permitted volumes of water use for various purposes and wastewater discharge, was well as water quality. The original SWCIS Data Warehouse would allow generating only annual reports, as it was requested in the Scope of Work provided by the

WRMA in March 2017.

- New reporting templates were programmed for the Water Quality Database of the SWCIS, allowing the WRMA specialists to generate reports on the water quality status for a selected sampling point of the monitoring network, both on annual and monthly data. The water quality status is determined using the water quality standards stipulated by the national legislation that were programmed into the respective templates. This new tool is in addition to the reporting templates that contain the average annual values of water quality parameters monitored.

- New reporting templates were programmed for water use, which allow generation of reports on permitted volumes of water use and wastewater discharge not only by basin management areas, but for a selected area, such as the Ararat Valley or a Marz, and for a specified period.

- New reporting template was developed for the Water Use Permitting database of the SWCIS, allowing retrieval of all the scanned documents that are attached to the water use permits, irrespective of the permit’s status (valid, inactive and expired). This tool can be used for retrieving the relevant documents for the WUPs for a specified time period.

- A new built-in functionality within the ArcGIS environment, enabling automatic incorporation of water use permit datasets within GIS maps, based on the geographic coordinates of the water abstraction and wastewater discharge points. This functionality allows regular updating of the geo-spatial datasets on water abstraction and wastewater discharge based on the newly populated records in the water use permitting database of the SWCIS that relates to all water use permits issued by the ME since 2003.

To summarize, in total 7 new reporting forms and templates were programmed and control parameters in about 25 search windows of the SWCIS Data Warehouse were reprogrammed and linked with the respective databases to accomplish the updates presented above.

In January, the ASPIRED Project submitted to the ME a set of recommendations on full operation of the

SWCIS Data Warehouse. The recommendations emphasize online data input into the cadaster databases by stakeholder agencies in real-time as well as data availability to the stakeholders via a designated website where the SWCIS Data Warehouse will be accessible. The Project recommended scheduling a meeting with the representatives of the Ministry for further discussion of the Project support in implementation of recommendations.

In March, the Ministry suggested discussing the recommendations after the SWCIS Data Warehouse and

3-dimensional model for the Ararat Valley are evaluated by the Ministry personnel. On March 24, the

ASPIRED provided the ME with updates including details on the SWCIS Data Warehouse status, highlighting that the Data Warehouse is ready for online maintenance. ASPIRED and ME will discuss this issue next quarter.

Decision Support Tools

Decision Support System (DSS): During the reporting period, the ASPIRED team completed programming, testing and debugging of the advanced and simplified, automated options of the DSS, including the User Manual. The DSS allows generating data to support decisions on water resources management in the Ararat Valley. This includes: calculating values of the water balance; calculating the water supply and demand balance; estimating the ecological flow requirements in the rivers of the study area; assessing the quality of surface and groundwater resources and their suitability for drinking and irrigation purposes; assessing the trends of climate change in the area; and projecting future changes of climatic parameters.

During the next quarter, after the end of the SoE, the ASPIRED Project plans to train the representatives of the ME and academia on the DSS use for generating the decision support data on water allocation.

These trainings require Arc GIS and Modeling software, which are not available in the home computers of the participants. ASPIRED will rent a GIS lab for this purpose.

Groundwater modeling tools: The ASPIRED team continued calibration of the simplified steady-state groundwater flow model of the Ararat Valley in MODFLOW, with distance coaching from the

AQUAVEO experts. The team completed the following steps of the manual calibration of the simplified model:

• Checked and adjusted the elevations of the beds and ceilings of the rivers and ponds coverages of the Ararat Valley in the GMS/MODFLOW model.

• Checked and adjusted the values of the parameters applied for the natural springs.

• Divided the Ararat Valley into six separate zones based on the areas of the river basins, checked and adjusted the values of Conductivity applied in the rivers and ponds coverages of the model for each of the separated zones.

After implementing the above described steps, simulation results of the simplified groundwater flow model were closer to the existing physical conditions in the Ararat Valley.

In January, the ASPIRED Project re-submitted to USAID the revised deliverable on water balance, water supply and demand balance of the Ararat Valley, calculated with data from 2016, as well as the estimated values of groundwater reserves, natural groundwater resources recharging the aquifers and recommended volume of sustainable groundwater abstraction in the Ararat Valley. The revised report is available in both

English and Armenian. It includes comments and recommendations made by the Project COR, Dr.

M. Vardanyan, during the draft report presentation on November 13, 2019, and recommendations of Mr. Stanley Leake, an independent expert, who conducted in December 2019 a peer review of the ASPIRED Project estimates to validate the applied methodology and the results.

On January 31, following the ME’s written request, and USAID’s concurrence, the ASPIRED team shared the draft of the report on water balance, water supply and demand balance of the Ararat Valley with the

ME. The ME intends to send this document to the members of a new Working Group established on

January 30 by order of the Minister of Environment. The Working Group consists of 13 members, representing the ME, academia, USAID, and the ASPIRED Project.

On March 30, the ASPIRED project received the ME’s letter presenting the feedback of the Working

Group members on the ASPIRED findings regarding the hydrologic and hydrogeological conditions of the

Ararat Valley.

Introduction of the automated online system for groundwater use monitoring

During the reporting period, the ASPIRED team continued collaboration with the ME on the hand-over of the installed flow meters and data loggers to the Ministry. ASPIRED and the ME planned a joint site visit to the fish farms to inspect the work of the installed flow meters prior to the hand-over early in March.

The site visit was later postponed due to inclement weather conditions and conflicting schedules of the

ASPIRED Project and ME, and the SoE restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The ASPIRED team anticipates conducting the site visit in the next quarter.

The Ararat Valley Atlas

During the reporting period, ASPIRED team completed preparation of the draft Ararat Valley Atlas which includes 50 thematic maps on the Ararat Valley, supported by a narrative description and statistical analysis.

ASPIRED team developed the Atlas using data available from stakeholder agencies and the wealth of information compiled during the ASPIRED Project.

ASPIRED plans to provide hard copies of the draft Ararat Valley Atlas in A3 format to USAID and ME for review and feedback before its finalization for publication.

Report Q 2 – FY 2020 16

3.2 Low Cost and Water Efficiency Technologies

The table below summarizes the status of the pilot projects as of March, 2020.

Project

Name/

Technology

Status Total cost, USD

ASPIRED

cost-share, USD

Partner cost-share, USD

Partner

Hayanist irrigation rehabilitation project

Completed in April 2017.

131,706

89,525

27,212 Coca Cola HBC

11,269 ERGIS

3,700 Hayanist community

Sipanik well sealing Completed in August 2017. 51,546 47,823 3,723 VALML LLC

Well optimization

Sipanik

Completed in September 2018.

24,554 22,002 2,552 Sipanik community

Sayat-Nova water reuse project

Completed in September 2018.

132,100 80,409

20,876

Partnership for

Rural Prosperity

Project

14,395 Fund for Armenian

Relief

16,420 Sayat-Nova community

Aratashen community water supply project

Completed in June 2019. 130,371 87,455 42,916 Aratashen community

Hovtashat well optimization project

Completed in September 2019 43,539 28,587 14,952 Hovtashat community

Aquaculture

Technology

Transfer

Ongoing

• During the reporting period, the ASPIRED team and ME&A HQ conducted

178,028 114,542 63,486 Armavir Farmer

LLC

Report Q 2 – FY 2020 17

Project

Name/

Technology

Status Total cost, USD

ASPIRED

cost-share, USD

Partner cost-share, USD

Partner

Center

(ATTC)

interviews with the short-listed international experts for the ATTC. The team also provided the CVs of short-listed candidates to the owner of Armavir Farmer

CJSC for review. It was planned that David Stephen, the selected aquaculture consultant, would visit Armenia on March 23-26 to test the ATTC in practice and provide his conclusion on the installed system operability. However, his visit was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic and related travel restrictions.

• The team worked with the ME&A Headquarters to finalize the RFP for the third-party operation of the ATTC facility, while the Lawyer was drafting the contract between Armavir Farmer CJSC and the selected operator which will be an integral part of the RFP. Based on recommendation from the lawyer, the

ASPIRED team also started working on the provisions of the contract to be signed between the ASPIRED Project and the selected ATTC operator.

• The owner of Armavir Farmer CJSC started the process of the state registration for the ATTC facility at the real estate cadaster, however the process is on hold at the moment because of the state of emergency situation in Armenia. The issues related to the registration of the facility and response measures are discussed in

Part Ошибка! Неизвестный аргумент ключа..

Yeghegnut community water supply project

Completed in February 2020

• ASPIRED Project completed installation of 10.3 km long pipeline and tested the performance of the system. The community completed the following: trench work, backfilling and compaction for installed 10.3 km pipeline and installation of water meters for 490 water users and provided water to the community.

• The community performed the remaining finishing work and grading of the streets. During a site visit the ASPIRED staff pointed out the need for removing construction garbage, as well as ensuring proper maintenance of the pumping station and the surrounding area.

120,809 79,777 41,032 Yeghegnut community

Vedi Urban

Irrigation

Project

Ongoing

• The ASPIRED Project completed its part of construction work on the irrigation system and tested the system.

• In response to the Municipality’s application, the All-Armenian Fund informed that they would not provide funding for installation of the solar panels. On

147,538 59,632 87,906 Vedi Municipality

Report Q 2 – FY 2020 18

Project

Name/

Technology

Status Total cost, USD

ASPIRED

cost-share, USD

Partner cost-share, USD

Partner

February 26, the ASPIRED team had a follow-up meeting with the mayor of Vedi to discuss the testing of the newly installed irrigation system and the schedule for installation of the solar panels. All parties agreed that the municipality will start the tender for the design and installation of the solar panels and complete its part of the project by mid-May. However, this task will be delayed after the end of the emergency situation.

• In mid-March 2020, Vedi Municipality carried out a set of test-launches of the irrigation system with assistance of the ASPIRED Engineer and the representatives of the design and construction sub-contractors. By request of the

Municipality, ASPIRED helped the City to eliminate minor damages on the network caused by the local vandalism.

Irrigation

Improvemen t Project in

Pokr Vedi

Ongoing

• On February 25, USAID approved allocation of funding in the amount of 6,827

USD (3.2 mln AMD) to cover the project shortfall from the ASPIRED budget to avoid critical delays in the implementation of the irrigation project in Pokr Vedi.

• At the end of February, Artashat Water User Association (WUA) started the trench work, and the ASPIRED Project sub-contractor installed the pipes.

• At the end of March, the ASPIRED Project had completed its part of the construction work on Pokr Vedi Irrigation Project, namely replacement of the existing 870 meter long metal pipeline with the polyethylene pipe from the pumping station to the existing earth canal. 1200 meter long earth canal was replaced with more durable polyethylene pipe.

• The WUA will need to complete the water outlets, connections and land planning. The WUA planned to fill the channel with water and test the system with the use of the pump after April 15 (the planned start date of irrigation season in the area). However, the system testing and the remaining work on water outlets may be delayed because of the SoE situation in the country.

81,762 38,743

31,944 HAAF

11,075 Artashat WUA

Irrigation

Improvemen t Project in

Khachpar

Ongoing

• In February, the ASPIRED design sub-contractor Kommunnakhagits LLC submitted the blueprints and bill of quantities for the irrigation network in

Khachpar village to the Project.

93,478 60,005 33,473 Khachpar municipality

Report Q 2 – FY 2020 19

Project

Name/

Technology

Status Total cost, USD

ASPIRED

cost-share, USD

Partner cost-share, USD

Partner

• The ASPIRED Project selected Shahart LLC as the sub-contractor for supply and installation services based on the submitted bid results.

• The sub-contractor held working meetings with the community mayor and the

WUA, and started the preparation of pipes for the intake chamber and irrigation pipeline (on the right photo below). However, the installation of the pipes had to be postponed due to the start of SoE in the country and related restrictions.

TOTAL 1,135,431 708,500 426,931

Identification of New Projects

To meet the request of the ME to seal the well near Hovtashat village, the ASPIRED team plans to identify local companies specializing in well design, drilling and sealing with the purpose of conducting the feasibility study of sealing the proposed well. Based on the results of discussions with the specialized companies, ASPIRED will be able to understand the technical requirements and the tentative cost of this well sealing project. As a result, the ASPIRED Project will prepare and submit to USAID the request for approval to conduct a feasibility study and design for the well in Hovtashat.

Installation of the irrigation network in Pokr Vedi village. Irrigation pipes prepared for installation in Khachpar village.

3.3 Water Regulation and Enforcement

On February 5, the legal team presented the interim results, next steps, and enforcement mechanisms of the method of self-purification capacity assessment of Armenian rivers during the half-day event held at the Yerevan State University’s Environmental Law Center. Representatives of the Working Group for developing the method on self-purification capacity of rivers, the ME, and field experts from the

Environmental Law Center, Yerevan University, Think Tank NGO participated in the presentation. The

ASPIRED Project Legal Coordinator presented the scope of the assignment, the river basin selection process, collaboration with the ME and further steps related to the submission of the document to the

Government. Each of the working group experts, based on their specific field of expertise, presented the hydro-morphological, hydro-biological and hydro-chemical components of the rivers’ self-purification capacity development method and answered the questions of the participants. During the reporting period, the working group worked on the report, taking into consideration the participants’ comments which were made during the presentation.

During the reporting period, the working group on the development of the method of self-purification capacity assessment of rivers also held regular weekly meetings to discuss and present the Presentation of the interim results of the method of assessment of self-purification capacity of Armenian rivers, developed by the

ASPIRED Project.

progress of activities. Following the recommendations made by the workshop participants during the presentation of the interim results, the ASPIRED team decided to select another river – either Akhuryan, Aghstev or Hrazdan – as an alternative to Kasakh river to test the developed method for assessment of self-purification capacity of rivers.

During the reporting period, the ASPIRED legal team assisted the ME in drafting the Ministerial decision on the protection of water resources in the recreational zones. In addition to the requirements for protection of rivers along the recreational zones, the list of requirements specified in the Ministerial decision was also supplemented with the requirements for protection of lakes. The Ministerial decision draft will include an article stipulating the morphological requirements for all types of buildings and constructions.

On February 21, USAID and ASPIRED Project representatives met with the Chairman of the Standing

Committee on Territorial Administration, Local Self-Government, Agriculture and Environment of the

Parliament of Armenia Varazdat Karapetyan. The ASPIRED team presented the project activities on improvement of the data availability on groundwater resources, legal and regulatory initiatives in the water sector, as well as water and energy saving pilot projects implemented in the Ararat Valley. Meeting participants also discussed existing collaboration opportunities for improvement of the Armenian water sector legislation.

3.4 Stakeholder Coordination and Communications

During the reporting period, the ASPIRED Project released outreach materials and news posts, covering the progress of pilot projects and other events. The team prepared the following publications which are available on the ASPIRED Project web site and Facebook pages:

• The write-up of the presentation of interim results of self-purification capacity assessment method, which can be accessed through the following link http://bit.ly/2OIIv7H.

• The highlights of the meeting with Varazdat Karapetyan, the Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Territorial Administration, Local Self-Government, Agriculture and Environment http://bit.ly/2wD0GVX. USAID highlighted the meeting in its February newsletter.

• The success story of Aratashen drinking water project, which USAID highlighted on its web site on March 31:

https://www.usaid.gov/armenia/news-information/news/improving-water-supply-ararat-valley. The USAID/Armenia newsletter for March featured the photo of Aratashen drinking water project opening on the front page.

• Photos and videos highlighting construction work and progress on the pilot projects were posted regularly on

USAID website showing the Aratashen story.

http://bit.ly/2OIIv7H http://bit.ly/2wD0GVX https://www.usaid.gov/armenia/news-information/news/improving-water-supply-ararat-valley https://www.usaid.gov/armenia/news-information/news/improving-water-supply-ararat-valley https://www.usaid.gov/armenia/news-information/news/improving-water-supply-ararat-valley the Project web site and Facebook pages and shared with the partners.

During the reporting period, the outreach team conducted site visits to Yeghegnut and Pokr Vedi communities for monitoring and outreach purposes. The photo/video shooting team visited the construction sites and created videos on the projects in the beginning of March.

During the site visit to Yeghegnut, the ASPIRED team discussed with the local municipality leaders the organization of the project completion event, which was initially planned for mid-April but was later postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.