Beka Valley Massa Dam

Location: Massa, Lebanon Client: Litani River Authority Consultants: Associated Consulting Engineers (ACE) in Association with Halcrow Construction Cost: 6 Millions US Dollars Project Description A potential dam site was identified by the Litani River Authority on the Yahfoufa -Janta River, an upper tributary of the Litani River, near Massa village on the eastern edge of the Bekka valley to the east of Zahle. Halcrow and ACE were appointed to carry out a technical prefeasibility study of a dam at this site. The Yahfoufa-Janta River has a catchment area of about 150 sq km above the dam site. Most of this is in the Anti-Lebanon mountain range and about 40% of the catchment area is in Syria. The river is ephemeral, containing little surface flow between July and November. Most of the annual rainfall in the area falls between November and February, but the peak flows in the river occur in April and May, and are derived from snowmelt from the upper catchment. Annual rainfall is very variable from year to year. The main components of the study included: • Reconnaissance, • Water Resource Assessment, • Topographic Survey, • Geological Mapping, • Geotechnical Investigation, • Hydrogeological Assessment, • Consideration of Design Alternatives, • Outline Design of dam and Ancillary Structures, • Design of measures to control infiltration upstream of dam, • Cost estimation and water cost evaluation. Consultancy Services Field investigations, detailed feasibility studies, preparation of outline designed and design guidelines.