An integrated approach for sustainable water resources management of Messara Basin, Crete, GreeceAn integrated approach for sustainable water resources management of Messara Basin, Crete, Greece Peer-Reviewed Journal Publication Δημοσίευση σε Περιοδικό με Κριτές 2015-10-092009enA methodology for an integrated water resources management was developed for a typical Mediterranean island environment with limited field data. The Penman-Monteith method was found the most appropriate to evaluate the potential evapotranspiration. The Sacramento model was used to calculate the hydrologic equilibrium of the basin and to provide the spatiotemporal distribution of the infiltration as an input to the Modflow model, along with a detailed hydrogeological structure of the basin in order to simulate the groundwater budget. The water resources management program RIBASIM was used to provide the results from alternative scenarios. This methodology was successfully applied to the Messara basin in Crete in which an overexploitation of groundwater has occurred in a large number of wells since 1984 and that continues to increase at alarming proportions. A number of alternative measures are suggested for protection and sustainable development of water resources of the Messara area in compliance with the Water European Directive.http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/European Water Resources Association27-2815-30 Tsanis Giannis Τσανης Γιαννης M. Kritsotakis Hydrological