The Alps are a recognised climate change hotspot. In Italy’s Valle dei Laghi, droughts have already disrupted wine production and triggered hard decisions over how to share limited water supplies. A new video from the IMPETUS project shows how scientists, farmers and local authorities are working together to strengthen resilience — with the help of a powerful new decision-support tool.
A delicate balance under threat
Around 15% of Italy’s energy is generated by nearly 5,000 hydroelectric plants. In Trentino, mountain water flows fuel both agriculture and hydropower — like the Santa Massenza plant, which supplies electricity to the entire province.
But climate change is putting this balance under pressure. Agriculture — especially wine production — is the region’s second-largest user of water. After several dry years, both power generation and crop irrigation are being challenged.
In 2023, extreme weather — including heat, hail and fungal diseases — led to a 13% drop in national grape production compared to the year before.
“These weather extremes bring a stress situation in the plants,” says Stefano Pisoni, a local winegrower whose family has worked the land since 1852. “It’s as if the weather no longer has an identity — too hot, too cold, too dry, too wet.”
Drip irrigation meets climate crisis
The Trentino province has several ‘irrigation consortia’ – groups of farmers that manage water distribution. The Alto Garda Irrigation Consortium manages 1,400 hectares of farmland and draws water from hydroelectric systems.
“Already for over twenty years we have chosen drip irrigation as our irrigation system because we draw water from a hydroelectric system,” says Bruno Lutterotti, the head of the consortium.
He says that although drip irrigation has proven to be successful in the past twenty years, the more drastic effects of climate change mean that the system is reaching a critical moment.
Between 2019 and 2023, consecutive dry years caused hydropower production to fall by 30%. That year, Italy also lost its place as the world’s top wine producer.
That crisis led to the consortium starting an initiative to create a better model to manage their water better, says Bruno Lutterotti. Scientists of the IMPETUS project want to support this initiative with a tool to strengthen resilience of the territory and the community.
Science for smarter water use
“The tool that we are developing within the demo site of the IMPETUS project is a ‘decision support system,’” says Valentina D’Alonzo of the Eurac Research Institute. “It is helping the decision makers to understand the situation, to have future scenarios and to understand how to act.”
Through a web app, users can access:
- Monitoring data from previous months
- A forecast section showing near-future scenarios
- A projection section indicating what could happen without action
The tool also simulates different management strategies — from adjusting dam operations to using wetlands as natural water reservoirs — helping authorities prepare for a range of climate futures.
A digital twin of the valley
The system also includes a ‘digital twin’ of the valley, created by project partner Waterjade. This hydrological model simulates water movement using meteorological data such as temperature, precipitation and evapotranspiration, and mimics real-world processes like snowmelt, soil infiltration and water balance. Forecasts are based on data from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts.
Building on these insights, possible measures include using smart technology to find and repair leaks, protecting and restoring wetlands to store water, and involving citizens to raise awareness and support community action.
From tradition to innovation
From historic hydropower to biodynamic winegrowing and modern irrigation, the Valle dei Laghi has long led the way in smart water use. But as climate change intensifies, new tools and partnerships are helping the region take the next step in resilience.
