The Zeita Dam near the Lebanese-Syrian border is partly supplied with water diverted from the main stream of the Orontes in Lebanon through the left-bank Zeita Canal. Both this canal and the right-bank Jawsiyeh Canal are also used for direct irrigation of downstream Syrian lands. The two canals are located between the Hermel and Al Omeiry monitoring stations. Diversions through these canals may partly explain the decrease in long-term average annual discharge (approx.