The Impact of Karkheh Dam Construction on Reducing the Extent of Wetlands of Hoor-Alazim
Samira Fuladavand,
Gholam Abbas Sayyad
Issue:
Volume 4, Issue 2, April 2015
Pages:
33-38
Received:
14 December 2014
Accepted:
13 February 2015
Published:
25 February 2015
Abstract: Hoor-Alazim wetland in the southwest part of Iran at Khozestan province is located in Iran and Iraq borderline. The wetland extent depends on the entering river sediments and its supply. Hoor-Alazim is affected by the torrential sediments of rivers such as Tigris and Euphrates in Iraq and Karkheh in Iran. By 1998, Iran has started to exploit from the largest dam on Karkheh River, this river is one of the largest watery sources in Hoor-Alazim wetland. To supply with water of the dam caused to decline the quantity of entering water to the wetland and following it, the wetland extend has been reduced remarkably. Although various studies have been performed about the Hoor-Alazim wetland and it’s expansion, no study has been yet conducted about the quantity of the entering water to the wetland. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the quantity (discharge and rainfall) entering water to the wetland during a certain statistical period in 3 hydrometric stations of Karkheh watershed basin (Hufel, Neisan, Hamidieh). To achieve the purposes of this research, researchers used the recorded data and information from the Khuzestan Water and Power Authority during the last 40 years using SPSS, GIS, and RS. Also, these influenced the wetland expansion and also finally the dust production in Ahvaz city was examined. Results from this study showed that the main factor which reduced wetland expansion is the reduction of entering water to it caused by the Karkheh River drainage. Despite the rain rate in the recent years which hadn’t changed significantly, the amount of the entering water to the wetland was reduced. According to the results, the wetland expansion has changed from 900 km2 by 1991 to about 300 km2 by 2008.
Abstract: Hoor-Alazim wetland in the southwest part of Iran at Khozestan province is located in Iran and Iraq borderline. The wetland extent depends on the entering river sediments and its supply. Hoor-Alazim is affected by the torrential sediments of rivers such as Tigris and Euphrates in Iraq and Karkheh in Iran. By 1998, Iran has started to exploit from t...
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