Client:  Ministry of Agriculture
Year:    1995

ISSUE
The purpose of the study was to draft an environmental impact study for the Environmental Terms approval stage, regarding the construction and operation of the irrigation project Mexiaton - Kobotadon in Fthiotida Prefecture aiming to exploit 1.630 hectares of land located in the wider area of Kobotadon, Mexiaton communities within Ipatis Municipality.

SOLUTION                                                                                                              Wider area view

The examined area is located 12km west of Lamia and extends south of the river to the foot of Iti.
The area to be irrigated is divided into two zones:

• the low zone bounded by the river and route Sperhios Lamia-Supreme.
• the high zone, which consists of the remaining upstream part of the road.

The extended crops in the region have resulted in the drilling of numerous irrigation wells leading to overexploitation of ground water aquifers and their gradual deterioration.

The planned projects works involve the following:

• Intake works, along with 18 wells.
• Open regulatory tank in the vicinity of the irrigated area, concentrated in high embankments. Inner lining is made of reinforced concrete.
• Irrigation piping network, comprising of permanent underground piping.
• Irrigation water abstractions, which are placed at a focal point on the high levels of the irrigation facility. The intersection of mobile pipes with rural road is achieved through specific technical works.
• Sewage - drainage network. For the implementation of the recovery plan in the region it is essential to address torrents Kamariotis, Kakavos, Gerakaris and Kobotadon crossing the area, forming small corrosion cones from which sediments are transported downstream of the irrigated area. For this reason, for the following projects are foreseen:
• stabilization works to the storage cone, slopes protection from erosion and sediment retention works to limit the perimeter.
• Creation of a stable bed for the onsite portion of torrents.
• Rural roads network.

It is noted that property consolidation is also included with respect to the low zone, with the exception of the area between Sperchios River and the road segment Mexiaton - Kobotadon where olive groves are found. No property consolidation area is foreseen for the high zone since the entire area covered by olive groves.

In the accounted study the exact locations of the construction works were identified while the current situation was analyzed, investigating of the state of the natural and human environment. At the same time significant information was offered with respect to the feasibility of the works along with their analytical description.
Finally, the extent and size of the caused environmental annoyance from the construction and operation of the works was described, while appropriate methods to treat environmental impacts during construction and operation phase were provided.

BENEFIT
The study was submitted to the department responsible for environmental licensing of the proposed works contributing to the resolution of cultivated land irrigation problems within the wider region of Kabotadon and Mexiaton communities in Ipati Municipality.