Simulation and Detecting Streamflow Fluctuations using Drought Severity Index

Abstract

In recent decades, amongst the natural disasters that affected human life on earth, the frequency of drought is higher than other disasters. A study region was selected with a desirable situation in terms of soil potential so that such potential was estimated to be 60 thousand hectares while the total area of water and dry farming lands is one-third of this potential. Therefore, the limiting agricultural development in this region was water restriction and there was practically no land restriction in agricultural development. Thus, in the current study, the need for water transferring in different levels of agricultural development was investigated in the form of a water transfer plan. Scenarios include implementing an artificial recharge plan as well as increasing the area under cultivation and irrigation efficiency to balance the aquifer. The results of the first scenario showed that to balance the groundwater, at least 45 million cubic meters of water must be transferred to the plain annually. The results of the scenario analysis indicated that the water transferred to plain, the area under cultivation can be increased up to 21000 hectares. The results of the third scenario showed that the pressurized irrigation plan could be developed up to 26000 hectares to increase the cultivation area.