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TRANSBOUNDARY WATER MANAGEMENTConference on Utilizing Rice Paddies for GroundwaterRecharge in the Kumamoto regionKumamotoCityDischargeSource: T. TanakaConference on Utilizing Rice Paddiesfor Groundwater Recharge(Consisting of Kumamoto Pref.,Kumamoto City, relevant two localgovernments, four local land improvingdistricts and JA)FinancialsupportMake anapplicationand reportConf. on Proc Agricul.of Water Cycle Type(Relevant two localgovernments, four localland improvingdistricts and JA)Proceeding and adjustmentof the projectFinancialsupportMake anapplicationEffective recharge to groundwater reservoirCorporativefarmersRechargeCity, two local governments and the large groundwaterusers in the city areas to support the funding system.Each year the Kumamoto Prefecture, Kumamoto Cityand two local governments together with JA discussdevelopment initiatives and the preservation ofgroundwater resources in the region. During the sixyears 2004-2009 6 the system increased the rechargedarea of abandoned paddy fields from 255 hectares permonth to around 550 hectares per month, while estimatedgroundwater recharge amounts increased from8.73 million m 3 /year to 16.77 million m 3 /year. As aresult, the spring discharge rate in Lake Ezu, which islocated in the discharge area of the groundwater flowsystem in the Kumamoto region, has recovered to alevel of around 12 years before.Accepting those fruitful effects of the system forgroundwater recharge, the Kumamoto Prefecture and13 local governments made a long-term groundwatermanagement plan in 2008, for which the target yearis 2024. According to a report by Kumamoto City, thetarget groundwater recharge amount in 2024 has beenset at 73 million m 3 /year, with reduced groundwaterwithdrawals set at 16 million m 3 /year. This targetgroundwater recharge amount for the KumamotoArtificial groundwater recharge through an abandoned rice paddy field (left: before flooding, right: after flooding)[ 90 ]