Hydrologic Structures in the Tigris-Euphrates Basin and Their Impact on the Vitality of the Marshes

Abstract

Hydrological conditions of the Iraqi Marshes have changed over the course of the past decades. The hydrological system of the marshlands lost many of its components during the draining in the 1980s and 1990s. Some of its integrity returned after the partial restoration since 2003. In current times, the hydrology of the marshlands remains susceptible to droughts and decreased water flows from upstream. The impact of dam construction on the hydrology of the Marshes has been considerable: due to reduced water levels from the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, different areas of the Marshes remain hydrologically disconnected and fragmented, compared to earlier levels. Salinization caused by changes in the hydrological regime has damaged the ecology of the marshlands. Restoration of the hydrological regime of Iraqi Marshes depends on the water quantity and quality that feed the marshlands. Re-flooding alone has not restored the hydrology of the marshlands; instead, further comprehensive data on water discharge and quality is still needed. A management plan would have to find suitable alternative water supplies, especially with regard to discharge which is of low quality, or establish suitable treatment so that salinity levels are reduced before it enters the marshland area. To better determine the quality, quantity, and hydroperiod of the hydrological regime of the Marshes, further research is needed. Technology could facilitate hydrological conditions in the Marshes, provided it is based on reliable water allocations and target environmental variables.