ASPIRED Program Report for Q 3 Year 4 - April-June 2019.pdf

ASPIRED Project

Report Q 3 – FY 2019

ADVANCED SCIENCE & PARTNERSHIPS

FOR INTEGRATED RESOURCE

DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

QUARTERLY REPORT

April - June 2019

July 2019

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

THIRD QUARTER FY 2019

July 2019

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 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 Project Summary

1.3 Main Highlights from the Reporting Period

2. Summary of Performance Indicators

3. Program Implementation

3.1Water Resource Data

3.2 Low Cost and Water Efficiency Technologies

3.3 Water Regulation and Enforcement

3.4 Donor Coordination and Communications

4. General Administrative Issues

5. Environmental Compliance

6. Existing Problems or Issues

7. Activities for the Next Quarter

List of Acronyms

AHGW Arc Hydro Groundwater

ASPIRED Advanced Science and Partnerships for Integrated Resource Development

ATTC Aquaculture Technology Transfer Center

AAB Ararat Artesian Basin

AAF Hayastan All-Armenian Foundation

BMO Basin Management Organization

BMP Basin Management Plan

CADI Computer Assisted Development, Inc.

CARD Center for Agribusiness and Rural Development Foundation

CJSC Closed Joint Stock Company

CoP Chief of Party

COR Contracts Officer’s Representative

DO Development objective

DSS Decision Support System

EA Environmental Assessment

EC European Commission

EE/RE Energy Efficiency/Renewable Energy

EGO Economic Growth Office

EIA Environmental Impact Assessments

EIMC Environmental Impact Monitoring Center

EMIC Environmental Monitoring and Information Center SNCO

EMMP Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plan

ERGIS Environmental Research and Geographic Information Systems

EU European Union

FAO Food and Agriculture Organization

FAR Fund for Armenian Relief

F2F Farmer to Farmer Project

GMS Groundwater Modeling System

GIS Geographic Information System

GOA Government of Armenia

HMC Hydrogeological Monitoring Center

ICARE International Center for Agribusiness Research and Education

INPRM Inspectorate for Nature Protection and Mineral Resources

IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

IR Intermediate Result

ITF Interagency Task Force

LOP Life of project

ME&A ME&A, Inc.

ME Ministry of Environment

PERSUAP Pesticide Evaluation Report and Safe Use Action Plan

PIRS Performance Indicator Reference Sheet

PMP Performance Management Plan

PPR Performance Plan and Report

PURE-Water Participatory Utilization and Resource Efficiency of Water

SCADA Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition

SEDF Sustainable Energy Development Fund

SEIS Shared Environment Information System

SCWS State Committee on Water Systems

SOW Scope of Work

STTA Short-Term Technical Assistance

SWCIS State Water Cadaster Information System

3D Three-dimensional

TO Task Order

USAID United States Agency for International Development

USGS United States Geological Survey

WRMA Water Resources Management Agency

WUA Water user association

WUP Water use permit

1. Executive Summary

This report describes the programmatic activities implemented by the Advanced Science and

Partnerships for Integrated Resource Development (ASPIRED) Project during the third quarter of Year

4 of the project, from April 1 through June 30, 2019. The report reviews progress and achievements under each of the four project components during the reporting period, as well as describes planned activities for the next quarter. The report also highlights challenges and actions taken to address these challenges.

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 the sustainable levels.

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

1. Water Resource Data

2. Technology

3. Regulatory framework/enforcement of laws

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

• Data component:

o Finalized and integrated the actual water use database into the SWCIS Data

Warehouse, including programming of the built-in annual reports on actual water use, testing and debugging of the programmed database;

o Completed customization of the re-programmed Ecological Flow component of the

Water Supply-and-Demand Balance of the Decision Support System (DSS) with the data from the rivers of the Ararat Valley catchment. This component is one of the most important components of the DSS to support the daily activities of the Water Resources

Management Agency (WRMA) in water use permitting;

o Completed re-programming of the Water Supply and Demand Balance component of the DSS Ararat Valley;

o Designed and conducted the GIS training course for the staff of the WRMA, based on the WRMA’s request;

o The ASPIRED Project’s local sub-contractor completed installation of flow meters and data loggers to monitor actual volumes of groundwater use in the fishery from 4 wells at

Max Fish fishery.

• Technology component:

o Completion of the water improvement project in Aratashen village;

o Installation of a booster pump in Sipanik to increase the water flow for irrigation needs.

• Legal component:

o On June 27, the Armenian Government approved the draft package of laws that entail amendments to the Water Code and the Code of Administrative Violations of Armenia and includes the requirements of water resources reservation in recreational zones of

Armenia. The package is pending submission for the Parliamentary hearings scheduled in September 2019.

• Communication and Donor Coordination component:

o Signing of the Cooperation Agreement with Hayastan All-Armenian Fund (AAF) and

Armenia Foundation;

o June 24 community event marking completion of the water reuse project in Aratashen.

Report Q 3 – FY 2019 7

2. Summary of Performance Indicators

Summary of performance indicators for the third quarter of FY 2019 (Year 4 of the project) is presented in the table below. ASPIRED reports annual data under the IR 2 indicators by the end of each fiscal year.

1. Ministry of Environment (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.

Indicator

Year 4

Target/

Actual

Actual

Quarte r 3 of

Year 4

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 20/0 0 80/43

This indicator refers to the datasets related to the water recourses in the Ararat Valley which will be accessible for the general public. By the end of the project life cycle, ASPIRED will make 80% of all datasets available on Ararat Valley public, 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%

This indicator corresponds to the inventory of the wells, natural springs and fish farms in Ararat

Valley, which the project team successfully completed during Year 1. Therefore, collecting data for this indicator has been completed for the project.

1.1.3 Number of stakeholders engaged in the

data collection activities 1/4 4 16/161

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 completed installation of the flow-meters and data loggers in a fishery owned by Max Fish.

State Hydromet Service and Center of Zoology and Hydroecology, and Water Committee provide data to Data and Legal components.

Report Q 3 – FY 2019 8

2 The ASPIRED team installed online groundwater use monitoring systems in the Alex Grig, Interaqua, and Golden Fish fisheries during Year 3 and Max Fish during Year 4.

3 During the latest inventory of the groundwater wells, natural springs and fish farms of the Ararat Valley, ASPIRED inventoried a total of 2807 wells in the Ararat Valley, of which 1795 were found to be operational.

Out of 1795 functioning wells, 336 are reportedly located in the fisheries of Ararat and Armavir marzes.

4 The data refers to the Water Reuse Project in Hayanist and the Well Sealing and Well Optimization Projects in Sipanik village

Sub-IR 1.2: An online tool for hydrogeological modelling 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 1/0 0 2/1

This indicator refers to the GIS-based water resource management tools to be developed by the

ASPIRED Project on the Ararat Valley. ASPIRED completed the Hydrological Model of the DSS for the Ararat Valley during Quarter 4 of Year 3. The project anticipates completion of the Groundwater

Flow Model for the Ararat Valley by the end of Year 4.

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

1.3.1 Number of fisheries with automatic data

system installed 1/1 1 6/42

By the recommendation of the M ME ASPIRED installed the remaining set of flow meters and data loggers in a fishery owned by Max Fish during Quarter 2.

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 1.7/1.2 1.2 10/6.5

This indicator measures the percentage of the groundwater extraction wells monitored with the use of the online automated system installed by the ASPIRED Project versus the total number of the operational groundwater wells available in the fisheries3. The results refer to the systems installed by the ASPIRED Project on 19 groundwater wells, plus three systems installed under the Water

Initiative + Project.

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

4/1 1 7/44

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. The result for Q3 refers to Aratashen drinking-water

Project.

Report Q 3 – FY 2019 9

5Refers to water savings to be achieved by the ASPIRED Project by Year 5.

6 This includes total amount of savings generated from ASPIRED pilot projects over 5 years.

7 LOP data refers to 2 years of operation of Hayanist project (24 MWh/year).

8 Year 4 data refers to Hayanist & Sayat-Nova projects (along with the GHG emissions from farmlands, solar installations at Masis-Dzuk, Vedi, ATTC, as well as GHG reductions from Yeghegnut and Aratashen savings).

9 Data refers to Hayanist, Sayat-Nova, and Sipanik projects starting from the date of their completion to date.

2.1.2 Thousands of cubic meters of water saved

annually in Ararat Valley 8,777/557 557 92005/8,9426

This indicator measures the amount of water savings from the demonstration of innovative water saving technologies by the ASPIRED Project at fish farms and other water use points, as well as 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 PURE-Water Project).

The annual data for Year 4 counts also recurrent savings provided by completed water projects

(Hayanist 1.1 mln, Sipanik well sealing 1.9 mln, Sayat-Nova 1.92mln and Sipanik well optimization

465,000), which will be reported during the last quarter of Year 4 upon completion of the program year. The result for Q3 refers to the completed drinking-water project in Aratashen.

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

3/0 0 4/0

This indicator refers to water-use related EE/RE technologies to be piloted during project implementation. ASPIRED will install renewable technologies at the Aquaculture Technology

Transfer Center (ATTC) and Vedi Urban Irrigation Project. Data for this indication will be available after completion of the ATTC Project and Vedi Urban Irrigation Project.

2.2.2 Megawatt hour of energy saved annually 453/204 204 500/2527

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. The result for Q3 refers to energy savings from pumping in Aratashen.

2.2.3 Clean energy generated annually, MWh 82/0 0 82/0

This indicator refers to the clean energy generation capacity resulting from the introduction of RE technologies aimed at minimizing extraction of the groundwater. The data of this indicator depends on the implementation of EE/RE technologies, tracked under Indicator 2.2.1

2.2.4

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

1,4148/96 96 1440/568.49

GHG emission reduction quantities are estimated based on the kilowatt hour of savings resulting from application of energy saving technologies in metric tons/year. Since the 4th quarter of Year 3, ASPIRED, in concurrence with USAID, started counting the CO2 reductions resulting from irrigated farmlands of the implemented projects. Data is reported on an annual basis. Q3 result refers to

Aratashen project impact.

Report Q 3 – FY 2019 10

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

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

12 Initially, this indicator referred only to the drinking water supply projects. Following the recommendation of USAID, ASPIRED will collect data from all water supply projects (both potable and irrigation water supply) which resulted in the improved service quality for the beneficiaries.

13 The results refer to Sipanik community, water reuse projects in Hayanist and Sayat-Nova communities, including communities and the fish-farm owners. Based on the results of Hayanist and Sayat-Nova projects (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.

14 Aeration technology piloted Masis Dzuk fish-farm; Hayanist water reuse project; Sayat-Nova irrigation; Sipanik well sealing project; and Sipanik well optimization project, drinking water project in Aratashen.

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.

9814/3200 3200 12000/418610

This indicator tracks qualitative improvements11 of the water resource resulting from the infrastructure projects implemented by ASPIRED12. The term “water users” refers to households, local farmers, and other groups benefitting from these improvements. (Gender disaggregated whenever possible). Q3 result refers to the completed drinking water project in Aratashen village.

Men 1280 1766

Women 1920 2420

2.2.6 Number of water users experiencing

improved efficiency of water resources 7/1 1 13/613

This indicator tracks improved efficient 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. Q3 result refers to Aratashen drinking-water Project.

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

2.3.1

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

6/1 1 11/614 ASPIRED will pilot at least six technologies by the end of the project as well as 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

1/0 0 3/2

ASPIRED initially planned to pilot at least two well optimization/sealing projects during Year 3.

During Year 3 Quarter 4, the ASPIRED team completed the well optimization project in Sipanik village.

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

Report Q 3 – FY 2019 11

15 The training on the ecological flow calculation method in January 2019, the GIS training and water service management training in Aratashen.

16 The expert opinion on (1) 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.

3.1.1 Number of trainings for building capacity

of ME in groundwater monitoring 1/1 1 6/5

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. Q3 result refers to the GIS training in April 15-19, 2019.

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.

25/26

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. Q3 result refers to the GIS training and water service management training in Aratashen in April and June 2019, respectively.

Women 10 3 27

Men 16 7 91

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.

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.

2/1 0 4/316 This indicator refers to the package of recommendations that the ASPIRED Project drafted and submitted to the GOA.

IR: 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

1/1 0 26/25

This indicator refers to newly identified stakeholders and points of influence in water and water-energy nexus for the ASPIRED Project. The ASPIRED team identified AAF as a donor of energy and water saving projects.

Report Q 3 – FY 2019 12

17 The indicator refers to partnerships with the communities of Aratashen, Hovtashat, Vedi and F2F. Yeghegnut dropped from reporting in Quarter 2, because of the failure on the village part to comply with its commitments.

18 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.

19 The results refer to the population size of Sipanik, Hayanist, and Sayat-Nova communities versus the total size of the population in the AAB.

20 This figure refers to (1) ASPIRED completed the inventory of groundwater wells, and springs in September 2016. (2) USAID presented two reports to the GOA - Achieving Sustainable Groundwater Use in the

Ararat Valley: the Role of the Fisheries Sector and the Final Report on the Inventory of Groundwater Wells, Natural Springs, and Fisheries of the Ararat Valley; (3) ASPIRED was involved into the Interagency Task

Force (ITF) established by the Prime-Minister’s assignment in January-February 2017. In May 2017, the Armenian Prime-Minister Karen Karapetyan approved the Program of Measures for Efficient Management of the

Groundwater Resources of Ararat Valley. Developed with the expertise and data support of the ASPIRED Project, the Program envisages an array of regulatory, legislative, institutional and technical measures for a more rational use of water in the Ararat Valley for different purposes such as fish farming, irrigation, drinking, and drainage system; (4) ASPIRED implements pilot projects aimed at improving water management on by the communities, fish-farmers. (5) Installation of the automated online groundwater use monitoring system in the fisheries of the Ararat Valley; and (6) hydrological model of the decision support system (DSS); (7)

3D model of the Ararat Valley groundwater basin, (8) Capacity building activities.

4.1.2

Number of partnerships made by

ASPIRED with other organizations

3/517 1 16/18

This indicator refers to partnerships, collaboration with other public and private sector organizations, donor projects for the implementation of joint projects and/or other initiatives contributing to the accomplishment of ASPIRED objectives. Quarter 3 data refers to the partnership with the AAF

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.

35/42 42 35/2618

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. The figures on current projects will be reported after their completion and adjustment of the cost share figures.

1. Portfolio-level indicators

5.1

Percent of population living in targeted areas with improved water management

4/8.2 5.4 52/13.619

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).

Women 4.2 3.2 7.4

Men 4 2.2 6.2

5.2

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

2/2 0 10/820

This indicator refers to policy, analysis, and other activities targeted towards improvement of water data-related activities, including training and pilot projects. The result refers to the 3D model of the

Ararat Valley groundwater basin, developed by the ASPIRED Project and the training and consultations in Ecological Flow calculation for the WRMA, BMOs of the ME.

Report Q 3 – FY 2019 13

21 The LOE result includes six 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).

22 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

23 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.

5.3

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

2/1 0 9/721

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.

1/2 1 5/522

Innovative technologies, management/monitoring tools or practices introduced by the ASPIRED team in fish farms, at water use points and/or communities of 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 4/323

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. The Q3 result refers to the secondary use of the outlet water of Masis Dzuk fishery by another fish farmer.

3. Program Implementation

3.1Water Resource Data

SWCIS Enhancement

During this quarter, the ASPIRED team continued collaborating with the specialists of the Inspectorate for Nature Protection and Mineral Resources (INPMR), WRMA, and Information and Analytical

Center of the Environmental Monitoring and Information Center (EMIC) of the Ministry of

Environment (ME) on enhancing the actual water use database and integrating it into the SWCIS Data

Warehouse. The ASPIRED Project recommended a new format of the database on actual water use, based on the specifics of its integration into the newly programmed Data Warehouse. After receiving stakeholders’ consent, the ASPIRED specialist programmed the new database on actual water use. The

ASPIRED team discussed with the Inspectorate and the WRMA the newly programmed database and next steps to transfer the data on actual water use into the Data Warehouse. In addition, the ASPIRED team worked with EMIC’s Information Analytical Center on providing the Inspectorate with access to

ME’s server to allow the Inspectorate to transfer the data to the SWCIS Data Warehouse.

The ASPIRED Project completed the integration of the database in May, including programming of the built-in annual reports on actual water use, testing and debugging of the programmed database.

ASPIRED linked the database to the Water Use Permitting (WUP) database through the WUP number, which allows users to compare the volumes of actual and permitted water use. However, according to the current regulations, the database on actual water use is being populated with data only once per year. Thus, INPMR will input the 2019 actual water use data into the new database between February and March 2020, when the Inspectorate’s marz offices will submit annual reports from the entrepreneurs to the central office’s Water Control Division.

The ASPIRED team met with Vigen Avetisyan, the newly appointed head of INPMR, to discuss the

ASPIRED Project’s assistance to the Inspectorate on programming the actual water use database. The

Head of the Inspectorate provided several recommendations to the ASPIRED team in the future when the relevant divisions of the Inspectorate input the actual data into the database.

ASPIRED collaborated with the European Union-funded (EU) project on establishment of the Shared

Environment Information System (SEIS) in Armenia. The ASPIRED team presented project support to the ME in enhancing the SWCIS Data warehouse to the team on national and international experts of the EU project in April. During the discussion following the presentation, the EU Project Coordinator confirmed that the team would integrate the SWCIS Data Warehouse into the SEIS as a separate component. Design of other components of the SEIS is still underway.

In addition, the ASPIRED team participated in a two-day workshop facilitated by the SEIS Project. The workshop provided an overview of the development of a water eco-portal of Armenia. The Eco-portal will be designed till the end of calendar year to host water-related information on water policy, water issues, water-related projects, as well as to demonstrate the analysis of selected water quality indicators from the SWCIS. The portal will contain links to the SWCIS Data Warehouse that will ensure dynamic updating of the water quantity and quality information.

Decision Support Tools

DSS

In the quarter reported, the ASPIRED team completed customization of the re-programmed Ecological

Flow component of the DSS’s Water Supply-and-Demand Balance with the data from the rivers of the

Ararat Valley catchment. As one of the most important components of the DSS to support WRMA’s daily activities in water use permitting, the Ecological Flow component calculates values of ecological flow in any selected point of a river (i.e. potential water abstraction point) using new ecological flow calculation methodology adopted by the GOA in 2018 with USAID assistance.

On June 20-21, the ASPIRED Project participated in EU Water Initiative Plus Project’s workshop on assessment of ecological flow in the rivers of Akhuryan River basin. The ASPIRED Project hydrologist provided the expert opinion on the ecological flow calculation methodology and the work done by the

ASPIRED Project team in this area, particularly in customizing the DSS’ Ecological Flow component for the advanced users and decision makers.

In June, the ASPIRED team finished re-programming the Water Supply and Demand Balance component of the DSS for Ararat Valley. The team used the 2016 datasets on surface water use according to the water use permits, as well as data on actual groundwater use of the 2016 inventory to customize the Water Supply and Demand Balance component for the Ararat Valley. ASPIRED will complete testing and debugging of this newly programmed component in July.

During the reporting period, the ASPIRED team calibrated the Climate Change Model of the DSS with data from the Ararat Valley and its catchment area for conducting trend analysis of climatic and hydrological parameters in the Ararat Valley for the periods 1991-2016 against the baseline period of

1961-1990. The Armenian State Hydro-Meteorological Service provided the required datasets for this task. After completing the calibration process, the ASPIRED team assessed the climate change impact on the surface natural flow in the Ararat Valley, using RCP 6.0 and RCP 8.5 scenarios under the CCSM4 and METRAS Models. The team also prepared the report on Climate Change Analysis for the Ararat

Valley, which incorporates both trends analysis and projections on deviations of the natural surface flow in the Ararat Valley catchment area for 2040, 2070 and 2100 under different Intergovernmental

Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) scenarios and models.

In April, the ASPIRED team met with Diana Harutyunyan, UNDP Climate Change Program

Coordinator, and Gohar Hovhannisyan, National Adaptation Planning (NAP) Project Coordinator, to discuss details of the climate change projections scenarios that the ASPIRED team will use in the DSS.

The ASPIRED team briefed the Climate Change team on the results of trends analysis conducted using the DSS, and approach for analyzing the climate change projections for the Ararat Valley. The UNDP team proposed reviewing the ASPIRED Project’s modeling results for the Ararat Valley to incorporate the results into the NAP for Armenia. The ASPIRED and UNDP teams will further collaborate on this during the next reporting period.

Groundwater modeling tools

During the reporting period, the ASPIRED team continued designing the numeric groundwater flow model for the Ararat Valley groundwater basin using Groundwater Modeling System (GMS) software and MODFLOW tools. In April, the ASPIRED team worked on the initial step of constructing a simplified groundwater flow model in MODFLOW - modeling the Ararat groundwater basin as one water bearing unit. The ASPIRED team built this model using data from wells inventory, surface water and groundwater inflow and outflow data generated in GMS using the calculated values of water balance for year 2016. ASPIRED consulted with EMIC’s Hydrogeologists team on selecting appropriate infiltration rates for the main hydrogeologic units. Based on these consultations, ASPIRED prepared and submitted technical questions to AQUAVEO, a US-based company, on coaching services in early

July.

In June, the ASPIRED team presented the preliminary results of the customized decision support tools for the Ararat Valley to Mark Anderson, a retired USGS ground water specialist, who has been providing short-term technical assistance to the Armenian government on ground water management in the Ararat Valley. The Project team attended Mark Anderson’s presentations on the Ararat Valley groundwater management issues for the students and stakeholders at the American Corner and for the decision-makers in the ME.

Introduction of the automated online system for groundwater use monitoring

In April, the representatives from the ASPIRED Project and its local subcontractor, Hybrid Telematica, monitored the quality of the protective casings built by Max Fish’s owner to ensure the casing’s suitability for installation of the flow meters during the rainy days. In May, Hybrid Telematica completed installation of flow meters and data loggers to monitor actual volumes of groundwater use in the fishery from four wells. The WRMA started receiving data on online groundwater use monitoring from Max

Fish through the cloud-based temporary supervisory control and the data acquisition (SCADA) system provided by Hybrid Telematica.

During the reporting period, the ASPIRED team and representatives of Hybrid Telematica and EMIC visited the Alex Grig Fishery to conduct control measurements of water discharge from wells that are equipped with electronic flow meters, following the request of the fishery owner. EMIC representatives conducted measurements with the FLEXIM portable flow meter, while fishery representatives conducted measures from the same wells using buckets. Results of measurements by FLEXIM and electronic flow meters were nearly similar with less than 1% difference. When comparing the readings from the flow meters and measurements by the bucket, the ASPIRED team indicated the same results.

The fishery owner agreed with the results of the control measurements and requested for the WRMA https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/usgs?source=feed_text&epa=HASHTAG&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARCjnSvYYx1bBW5Ss5OBQScu4YwED06W13ZXfP2eHmk3i5lb9YsUOdJf1qgxuAqfVjmvkECgnfNjsf_Jjyfw1uPfM33vWYc-cRHNjboeykpZLG4c12EaDOfnaTvXQepzVhJq76rO-a7bN9nhf6wKYFuG_49_avrT0t9tBl0NCKcWezMIFkDb4FiSX-xFoJuTePHF39tmmJ7Gn9AloZoWBVcUjkTZsRdRGg8hdsdloikX2HkEZKryQhuidxpT1klLD97qespQh-9F9IsnEX4M_lIJfkmesPWT7lWCAcGu4VsSm9LidGGe4brA5-_Y9CSiupLg87jIs_7WTrzVINM0TYJBj_v12qwstowfzfgFsLlNkBauEASKOQD1_NWYR8PgdsSPjd4ufKJqzKgkUPCHJYa-x64pC0UxvAmYR5mQP3K5o7zAiBsriMUNOWLL80UYKFH8PCCWsnrliktmgOJPstfDHQQ1YB97plksT3fYrQBlt_Q9ccOF5G_n&__tn__=%2ANKH-R to seal the electronic flow meters.

If requested, ASPIRED will conduct similar control measurements in the Interaqua, Golden Fish, and

Max Fish fisheries, before handing-over of the installed flow meters and data loggers to the ME during the next quarter.

Temporary Closure of Unused Groundwater Wells

In May, ASPIRED received WRMA’s written request to assist the ME with the temporary closure

(conservation) of 21 selected unused and self-emitting groundwater wells in the Ararat Valley –. Water discharge from these wells ranges between 1 and 68 liters per second. According to the WRMA, all 21 wells are subject to temporary closure according to the legislation.

In June, the ASPIRED team and the WRMA representative visited 11 groundwater wells with reported water discharge of 20 liters per second or more, to conduct the preliminary technical and financial feasibility assessment for the temporary closure. All wells were previously used by fish farmers, located on the lands owned by these entities. Some of the wells were equipped with regulating valves and are free from discharge, while others had free flow. The WRMA representative informed that several fish farmers submitted water use permit renewal applications to the WRMA with an intention to continue fish farming business.

ASPIRED informed the WRMA that the temporarily closure of surveyed 11 groundwater wells is feasible, given that the fishery owners provide their written agreement to the ME/WRMA on this regard. ASPIRED informed the WRMA that will start projects on temporary sealing of the wells after the WRMA provides the ASPIRED Project with written non-objection agreements from the owners of fisheries confirming their consent to sealing the groundwater wells located on their properties.

Preparing the Ararat Valley Atlas

In April ASPIRED team met with the stakeholder agencies to discuss the draft content for the Ararat

Valley Atlas, as well as the availability of data and information from the respective agencies for inclusion in the Atlas. The ASPIRED team conducted discussions with the EMIC specialists from the hydrogeologic and environmental monitoring teams. EMIC representatives will provide data on quality of surface water resources in the rivers of the Ararat Valley and its catchment area and surface water classification, groundwater quality, specifically level of mineralization, which will be summarized in the thematic maps of the Atlas. The ASPIRED technical specialists met with the Water Projects

Implementation Unit (PIU) of the Armenian Water Committee, the Republican Geologic Fund of

Armenia. The ASPIRED team acquired geo-spatial datasets on the water systems in the Ararat Valley from the Amelioration Closed Joint Stock Company (CJSC) of the Water Committee. The datasets include the GIS layers on main canals, collectors, drainage system, pumping stations and service areas on Water User Associations in the Ararat Valley. The datasets were integrated in the Ararat Valley geodatabase and used to construct maps of the Ararat Valley Atlas.

Based on the results of the consultations, ASPIRED finalized and sent the initial structure of the Ararat

Valley Atlas to the ME for review and recommendations. In June, the ASPIRED team prepared a draft deliverable report on the geo-spatial database of the Ararat Valley and proposed format and outline of the Ararat Valley Atlas, for review by USAID. ASPIRED will follow-up with the WRMA on the process of obtaining written agreements from the fish farm owners on temporary closure of the groundwater wells within their property, before initiating any further activities.

Additional assistance to the ME

USAID assistance in creating a web-based platform for online application for water permits: During the reporting quarter, the ASPIRED team continued collaborating with the Participatory Utilization and

Resource Efficiency of Water (PURE-Water) Project in streamlining the concept and design of the web-based platform for online submission of WUP applications. Particularly, the ASPIRED Database

Programmer guided the PURE-Water Project’s Web Developer through the SWCIS Data Warehouse’s

WUP database. ASPIRED’s technical team participated in technical discussions with the PURE-Water

Project, as well as reviewed and provided feedback on the technical description of the platform.

GIS training: ASPIRED’s Data Management Specialist conducted a one-week GIS training course for

WRMA’s staff in April. ASPIRED designed the training based on the WRMA’s request and as a follow-up to another training course delivered by the ASPIRED Project. During the training course, participants learned how to use ArcGIS’ ArcMap package for preparing thematic maps and labelling the maps. ASPIRED’s Data Management Specialist handed the training participants with certificates of completion, and they are ready to bring-in the new skills into their daily work. A Project GIS intern also participated in the training.

The photos of the training can be found on the project Facebook page and web site http://www.aspired.wadi-mea.com/en/2019/04/19/gis-training-for-the-wrma-specialists/

Flow-meters installed in Max Fish fishery. Implementation of a practical mapping assignment by a trainee.

http://www.aspired.wadi-mea.com/en/2019/04/19/gis-training-for-the-wrma-specialists/

Report Q 3 – FY 2019 19

3.2 Low Cost and Water Efficiency Technologies

The table below summarizes the status of the pilot projects as of December 31, 2018.

Project Name/

Technology

Status Total cost, USD

ASPIRED

cost-share, USD

Partner cost-share, USD

Partner

Hayanist irrigation rehabilitation project

Completed in April 2017 131,705

89,524

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 27,461 24,909 2,552 Sipanik community

Sayat-Nova water reuse project

Completed in September 2018.

124,871 80,409

20,876

Partnership for

Rural Prosperity

Project

14,395 Fund for Armenian

Relief

Report Q 3 – FY 2019 20

Project Name/

Technology

Status Total cost, USD

ASPIRED

cost-share, USD

Partner cost-share, USD

Partner

16,420 Sayat-Nova community

Aquaculture

Technology

Transfer

Center (ATTC)

Ongoing

• The ASPIRED Project and the ATTC owner discussed the follow-up actions on finalization of the ATTC and population of fish points.

• While the fishery owner accepted the technical recommendations of the ASPIRED

Project, he has resource limitations to proceed with the approved plan. ASPIRED

Project and the ATTC owner will discuss solutions to finalize the project with existing resources during the next reporting period.

178,028 114,542 63,486 Armavir Farmer

LLC

Yeghegnut community water supply project

Ongoing

• The ASPIRED Project completed construction of the pumping station and chlorination station, with the subsequent handover to the village.

• Further activities of this project are on hold, pending the results of the local elections on September 29, 2019 and approval of the village budget by the new village council.

For this reason, the ASPIRED Project had to extend the performance period of the contract with the selected sub-contractor, Armplast LLC, for an additional five months.

• Further explanation is provided in Section 6. Existing Problems or Issues.

120,809 79,777 41,032 Yeghegnut community

Aratashen community water supply project

Completed in June 2019

• ASPIRED completed the pilot project during the reporting period. The ASPIRED

Project finalized installation of pipes and followed up with the village to complete the internal connections and installation of water meters. The village also completed the backfilling and compacting work to bring the roads into proper condition.

• The ASPIRED team equipped the village with the water service management and billing software and trained the municipality staff on its use.

• By the end of June, the data of the majority of water users have been inputted into the database.

130,371 87,455 42,916 Aratashen community

Report Q 3 – FY 2019 21

Project Name/

Technology

Status Total cost, USD

ASPIRED

cost-share, USD

Partner cost-share, USD

Partner

Hovtashat well optimization project

Ongoing

• In April, the sub-contractor completed the engineering design of the pilot project, based on which the ASPIRED Project announced the tender for optimization of the well and installation of the irrigation network.

• Since the cost estimate in the design was higher than the projected amount, the

ASPIRED Project requested USAID approval to increasing the funding. After receiving

USAID approval, the ASPIRED team announced the tender for construction activities in May. On July 15, the ASPIRED Project contracted Yereky Mek Tegh LLC for construction works of the project.

43,539 28,587 14,952 Hovtashat community

Vedi Urban

Irrigation

Project

Ongoing

On April 1, ASPIRED contracted Kommunnakhagits LLC for the project design. In May, the sub-contractor submitted the design (blueprints and bill of quantities) for the project, based on which the ASPIRED team prepared the specifications and announced the tender for the construction activities on June 20. The tender will be evaluated and the winner will be selected in July.

147,538 59,632 87,906 Vedi Municipality

Irrigation

Improvement

Project in Pokr

Vedi

Ongoing

The ASPIRED Project signed the Cooperation of Agreement with AAF for this pilot project on June 18, 2019. On June 25, the Project announced the tender for the selection of the sub-contractor to prepare the design of the irrigation network, after which the procurement and installation of pipes will follow. ASPIRED will evaluate the tender and select the winner in July.

74,935 31,916

31,944 HAAF

11,075 Artashat Water

Users Association

TOTAL 955,185 609,752 345,433

Design of New Projects

During the reporting period, the ASPIRED and PURE-Water Project teams discussed the feasible technical solutions for implementing the irrigation project in Khachpar village. The ASPIRED engineers determined that 250 liters/second of water supplied via 500 mm pipeline will meet the irrigation demand of the village. However, the village representatives raised some concerns on the technical recommendations of the ASPIRED team, particularly that the water flow may be insufficient.

Due to this concern, the village representatives opted for a larger diameter of the pipeline that would increase the budget of the project beyond the available limits.

Upon discussion with USAID, the ASPIRED and PURE-Water teams decided to order the area topography to check the elevations and verify the estimates of the ASPIRED Project engineers. PURE-

Water team committed to completing this task in July.

Follow-up of Projects

The monitoring visit to Sipanik village revealed that the water flow from the optimized well became insufficient to meet the irrigation demand. The ASPIRED team discussed the issue with the Community

Mayor’s office, residents, and fish farmers during March-April 2019, who indicated that the water pressure had declined in their wells. Therefore, the water reaches the remote farmlands through earthen canals, but its flow is not enough to ensure effective irrigation because of high infiltration losses. The ASPIRED Project engineers recommended installing a simple booster pump at the well to increase the water flow. With approval from USAID, the ASPIRED Project installed the booster pump and helped to increase the water speed reducing the time required for irrigation.

Installation of household network in Aratashen The booster pump installed in Sipanik.

3.3 Water Regulation and Enforcement

On June 27, the Armenian Government approved the draft package of laws that entail amendments to the Water Code and the Code of…