Runoff variation as a consequence of climate and land-use change in the Province of Pesaro-Urbino (Marche Region, Italy): implications in water resources management and rivers’ ecosystem protection.

The paper presents the analysis of precipitation and temperature variations during the 1980-2010 period within the Province of Pesaro-Urbino and its effect on the water cycle, in terms of runoff and net infiltration changes. The aim is to develop a preliminary assessment of how runoff in the main catchments changed over the time, compared to a previous time-series (1950-69), representing the climate during a period of high socio-economic development, when most of the local water-supply infrastructures were designed and realized. The assessment is meant to suggest up-to date criteria to public regulators, especially intended to set new minimum flow constraints to specific river sections (DMV: minimum flow need for ecosystem, required by law), where impact of surface water withdrawals are more evident.