Water Resour Manage (2009) 23:2343–2360 DOI 10.1007/s11269-008-9384-z Optimal Water Resources Management: Case of Lower Litani River, Lebanon J. Doummar · M. A. Massoud · R. Khoury · M. Khawlie Received: 10 September 2008 / Accepted: 20 November 2008 / Published online: 9 December 2008 © Springer Science + Business Media B.V. 2008 Abstract The pressures of human population and patterns of development fre- quently jeopardize the integrity of river systems worldwide. An integrated approach to water resources management is essential, particularly in developing countries. This study presents the results of the water resources optimization conducted for the Lower Litani River Basin in Lebanon. The overall aim of the project is to develop, test, and critically evaluate an innovative approach to water resources management in the Mediterranean region. The method explores the ways in which multiple environmental, economic, and social benefits can be achieved through integrated management of water resources. The Water Resources Model was utilized to assess the efficiency of the baseline model scenario and for the optimization process of the different scenarios of the Litani Lower Basin. Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats analysis was applied in order to derive the objectives and constraints. Results revealed that the potential retained scenarios aim at de- creasing water consumption and demand, losses, and return flow. These scenarios mainly include the shift to drip irrigation, awareness campaigns, and losses control in domestic supply pipes. Other retained scenarios having a higher shortfall rely on the use of the Channel concrete lining to decrease losses and return flow, in addition to the awareness campaigns in both domestic and irrigation sectors, and less consumptive/more efficient irrigation methods such as sprinkler and drip irrigation J. Doummar · R. Khoury Earth Link and Advanced Resources Development (ELARD), Beirut, Lebanon M. A. Massoud (B ) Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Riad el Solh 1107 2020, P.O. Box 11-0236, Beirut, Lebanon e-mail: may.massoud@aub.edu.lb M. Khawlie National Center for Remote Sensing (NCRS), Beirut, Lebanon