Hydrogeological and geophysical investigation for evaluating the salt/fresh water distribution in Saidia plain (North-Eastern Morocco)

North-eastern Morocco has a Mediterranean c1imate, with low rainfall, which is irregularly distributed both within the year and over succeeding years. The c1imate is very dry in summer, and moderately to weakly humid in winter. The coastal area shows groundwater salinization, which is due to the presence of connate saltwater or to sea water intrusion. Low salinity water resources are scarcc, and should be carefully managed. The present study focuses on an aquifer system in the Mediterranean coastal area of northeastern Morocco. It is situated in the most easterly coastal plain, up to the Aigerian border: the eastern part of Saidia plain. This plain is mostly dispersely populated, with agricultural activity, while the city of Saidia is a summer resort. In the western part, outside the studied area, a large sea fish farm is causing extensive groundwater salinization by leakage from sea water filled basins. Saidia plain is an elongated area, squeezed in between the Ouled Mansour hills and the sea. To the east, it is bounded by the Aigerian border, following the Kiss River. From north to south, several parts, occurring as longitudinal, parallel strips, can be distinguished (fig. I): the shore, the northern dunes, the Sareg mud flat, the southern dunes, and finally the Merzakan mud flat, up the Ouled Mansour hills.