Circa 35 km southeast of Amman, the Jordan University Station for Arid Land Research is located near Muwaqqar. The University Research Station, covering an enclosed area of approximately 2000 dunams (±200 ha), has served as a pilot site for implementing water harvesting measures and agricultural experiments by the Faculty of Agriculture since 1985. Three dams were initially built to harvest floodwater for irrigation. Additionally, various 3R interventions, including floodwater spreading, gabion check dams, and contouring measures, were demonstrated at the site. The absence of upstream protection measures, however, resulted in heavy dam siltation, and due to insufficient maintenance and decreasing interest in the location, its condition deteriorated significantly.

Under the 3R’s project, the University Station is renovated in collaboration with the Jordan University. As part of this activity, the existing dams were excavated and two additional storage ponds were constructed in early 2024. To prevent siltation of these structures, upstream catchment protection and rehabilitation of degraded lands is key. A soil erosion mapping exercise using RUSLE was performed to identify the main erosion hotspots. Implementing suitable 3R practices in these area is strongly advised to reduce land degradation and prevent siltation of the dams downstream.