Qasimiya and Ras Al Ain Irrigation Project:

It is considered one of the most important irrigation projects in Lebanon. It was executed in 1974.

It is divided into two main sections:

Section 1: The Qasimiya Channel	Section 2: The Ras el-Ain Channel

Section 1: The Qasimiya Channel

It extends over 9 km of length from the diverting dam of Zrarieh to the general distributor where it forks off into two branches: the Northern branch or the Branch of Sidon and the Southern branch or the branch of Tyre whose maximum discharge capacity amounts to 4.5 m3/second.

• The Northern Branch (Branch of Sidon):

  • It extends from the general distributor to the Sineeq course to the south of Sidon, with a length of 25 km.
  • Its discharge capacity amounts to 3.5m3/ second approximately.

• The Southern Branch (Branch of Tyre):

  • it extends from the end of the Qasimiya tunnel to Maachouk, with a length of 9 km.
  • Its discharge capacity is a 1.5 m3/second.

Section 2: Ras Al Ain Channel

It is composed of two main branches:

• The Northern Ras Al Ain Branch:

  • It extends from Ras Al Ain lakes in the south to Maachouk intersection in the north over 5 km of length.

• The Southern Ras Al Ain Branch:

  • It extends from Ras Al Ain lakes to Al Mansouri village in the south over 7 km of length.

• It currently irrigates around 3200 hectares according to three systems: gravity, pumping and modern irrigation (drip irrigation).
• The number of subscribers is around 1300, distributed in the following areas:

Main Irrigated Villages – Tyre Irrigation District

Main Irrigated Villages – Sidon Irrigation District

Main Irrigated Villages – Sidon Irrigation District – The Mountains

Main Irrigated Villages – Sidon Irrigation District- Directly from the River