The cartography and quantification of irrigated fields in the context of decreasing rainfall constitute a key element for water resources management. Therefore, in this context, the use of remote sensing methods applied to Landsat-type images with a high spatial resolution for monitoring the changes in land use in general and irrigated crops, in particular, is highly relevant. This paper aims to present a method for mapping spatial and temporal changes in irrigated parcels in the Guigou Plain, located in the central Middle Atlas, based on Landsat images and fieldwork. For the years 1985, 1998, 2010 and 2018, the use of a supervised classification method based on the principle of machine learning, fed by precise field surveys, has made it possible to highlight a significant extension of irrigated areas to the expense of pastureland and rainfed crops. Over the entire period under consideration, the results obtained with good precision (98.5% overall accuracy) showed that the area under irrigated crops has increased from approximately 699 ha to 3988 ha, i.e. an increase of 570%. The corollary of this increase is strong pressure on the water resource, especially groundwater. This information on the total extension of irrigated plots can be taken as a reference in the perspective of reasoned management of water resources in the sector.

The lakes represent important surface water resources and form an integral part of wetlands. The most concerning aspect of the degradation of these areas is the complete drying up of the lakes. In the Mediterranean basin, successive changes in land use practices in the context of climate change have strongly influenced wetland areas. In this study, we opted to use Landsat satellite images to monitor the extent of the water surface in two representative lakes (Aoua and Ifrah) of the tabular Middle Atlas (TMA). The results obtained from the processing of satellite images show a significant regression in the surface area of the lakes, with periods of complete drying for Aoua lake, endangering their fragile ecosystems and biodiversity. This very critical situation of the two lakes is linked to the conjunction of natural and anthropogenic factors. The analysis of climatic data shows a significant climate change from the 1980s, with long periods of drought. In parallel, the study area has undergone remarkable modifications in land use, mainly characterized by a significant extension of irrigated agricultural areas to the detriment of grazing and rainfed crop lands. In three decades, the area of irrigated crops has increased from approximately 1300 hectares in 1985 to 7070 hectares in 2022, representing an increase of 542%. The findings presented in this study reveal the extent of lake degradation in the TMA and reflect the alarming decline in groundwater levels. This indicates that the development of a strategy for the protection of water resources should be considered as a matter of urgency.