Lessons learnt from basin management in Iran and the world (case study Helmand, Danube and Colorado basins)

Abstract

In recent years, river flow into Sistan dam changed because of construction of dams and expansion of irrigation areas in the upper Helmand basin. Planning for construction of more dams and heightening of Kajaki dam in Helmand basin shall intensify the severity of water shortage of Sistan dam and Hamun Lake. Sistan dam located at downstream of Helmand river on Sistan branch of the Helmand river, power shifts in Afghanistan and expansion of irrigation areas in upstream basins and absence of an integrated authority/management in the basin are the major problems. Political nature of international protocols for management of the basin is another problem for water resource management in the region. Above mentioned issues forced the local water authorities to solve the problems using natural and man-made reservoirs and interlink canals, called Chah-Nimeh dams. This study focused on comparison of Helmand, Danube and Colorado river basins to find possible acts in Helmand basin.