MONIDRI - A PARTICIPATORY IDSS FOR WATER USE MANAGEMENT IN AGRICULTURE AT RIVER BASIN LEVEL A. Fais 1 , P. Nino 1 , G. Dono 2 , S. Severini 2 , P. Bazzoffi 3 , R. Napoli 3 , G. Giannerini 4 , A. Turchi 4 , A. Giovacchini 5 , U. Minelli 5 , L. Perini 6 1: Istituto Nazionale di Economia Agraria – INEA; 2: D.E.A.R. - Dipartimento di Economia Agroforestale e dell’Ambiente Rurale – Università della Tuscia – Facoltà di Agraria; 3: Istituto Sperimentale per lo Studio e la Difesa del Suolo – ISSDS; 4: Altavia srl; 5: Consorzio ITA (ITALECO S.p.A. e AQUATER S.p.A.); 6: Ufficio Centrale di Ecologia Agraria – UCEA. Abstract: MONIDRI is a research project based on the development of a DSS on water use in agriculture at river basin level, financed in the framework of the Italian Research Ministry strategic research founds on water resources (co-financed by the Italian Agriculture Ministry). The integration of the monitoring/evaluation/simulation specialised models related to the several aspects of water cycle inside a river basin, and consequently of the different disciplines and experts involved in water use monitoring and management, inside the framework of the related users/actors is the goal of the project. The DSS and the models are being testing in three river basins test areas, with the involvement of the water management and use local actors. Keywords: IDSS; GIS, Remote sensing, ground and surface water, field water requirements, water balance, water use scenarios INTRODUCTION Proper management of water resources, particularly in a situation of competing usage and/or scarcity of water resources, or where there is a high risk of hydrological hazards, is a key factor in sustainable development in many parts of the world. The participatory approach in water management, as a basis for the social and economic evaluation of water in its competing aspects, is a key innovative feature of MONIDRI , together with integrated computer models based approach in water monitoring and water use management. Computer models, providing the basis for river basin analysis of water availability and demands, provide the technical and scientific support to co-ordinate water management and planning. The integrated management in water resources requires a cross-sectoral approach, taking into account water supply and management of demand, and reflecting the interactions between human and natural systems. Computer models (such as run-off calculation model, ground and surface water dynamics model, soil flow monitoring model , artificial water basin surface/volume diagrams for water availability monitoring model, crop water requirements model, economic and environmental evaluation on water use, civil/industrial/environmental water use monitoring models, etc.) are combined into an integrated decision support system (IDSS), based on GIS technology, capable of providing tools for an updated monitoring and management of water, in order to support local administrations in planning water resources usage. MONIDRI relies on the integration of the different specialised models and, consequently, of the different disciplines and experts involved in water use, and is finalised to local capacity building . MONIDRI has a participatory approach, consisting in the involvement of local actors in water use and management (land reclamation and irrigation consortium – Consorzi di Bonifica – River Basin Authority, Municipality, farmers, etc.) for the implementation of the IDSS and the organisation of the local administrative structure (where not already present), that will be responsible for water use planning and supply at river basin level. A secondary objective is to evaluate and identify synergies among alternative utilisation of existing water resources. The IDSS consists of the integration of monitoring/evaluation/simulation models, related with the various aspects of the water cycle inside a river basin (i.e. run-off calculation model, ground and surface water dynamics model, soil flow monitoring model , artificial water basin surface/volume diagrams for water availability monitoring model, crop water requirements model, economic and environmental evaluation on water use, civil/industrial/environmental water use monitoring models, etc.). The IDSS is GIS based. The GIS (SIGRIA - based on bottom - up approach) is implemented with several cartographic layers (land use, soil, irrigated areas, irrigation network, water sources, climate, etc.) and