From Floodwaters to Qanats' Renewed Life: Kermanshah on the Path to Reviving Aquifers
Kermanshah – The implementation of the 'From Catchment to Melon Field' plan, relying on watershed management, qanat revival and artificial aquifer recharge, has created new capacity for strengthening agriculture, in addition to reducing flood and soil erosion risks.
Arjan Ambassador of the Provinces Group - Kausar Yavari: In a land where water has always been the focus of the formation of civilizations, the prosperity of agriculture and the permanence of human settlements, the protection of water resources is no longer just an environmental necessity, but has become a strategic issue for maintaining food security, rural development and dealing with the consequences of climate change. Kermanshah, with its natural capacities, agricultural lands and a network of surface and underground water sources, needs more than the past solutions to establish a balance between the use of water and its protection.
The increase in population, the expansion of urbanization, the continuation of droughts, the change of rainfall patterns and the excessive extraction of underground resources have put additional pressure on aquifers. In such a situation, the management of runoff, preventing water loss due to rainfall and providing the possibility of water infiltration to the underground layers, are among the measures that can reduce part of the pressure on water resources.
The "Abkhiz to Jaliz" plan is defined in the same direction, focusing on watershed operations, aquifer management, and canal restoration; A project that tries to turn rainwater from turning into destructive runoff into an opportunity to strengthen underground reserves and support agricultural activities. The implementation of this program with the participation of the Organization of Natural Resources and Watershed Management and Basij Sazandagi has provided the basis for the implementation of projects in different regions of the province.
In areas such as Durood Faraman, Sumak and Vermzan Bilwar, measures are being taken with the aim of managing water resources, developing vegetation and increasing the productivity of natural capacities. Along with these activities, Tangknecht reverse aqueduct project is also one of the examples of artificial feeding of aquifers, using a mechanism different from traditional aqueducts, it directs surface water to the underground layers.
The importance of these actions becomes more apparent when we know that canals, in addition to their historical role in water supply, are considered to be the most compatible ways of exploiting underground resources. The restoration and restoration of these valuable structures, along with the implementation of watershed operations upstream of them, can help to increase irrigation, continue agricultural production, and reduce the vulnerability of villages to water scarcity.
However, the success of such plans is not limited to the implementation of technical structures; It also depends on continuous maintenance, evaluation of results, participation of local communities and continuity of funding. From this point of view, the Abkhiz to Jaliz project in Kermanshah can be seen as an attempt to link the management of natural resources with food security and sustainability of rural life; An effort that, in the case of targeted development and monitoring of project performance, can become an effective model for protecting water and soil and strengthening production bases in the province.
watershed management; From curbing runoff to strengthening underground aquifers
Mohammad Hossein Rostami, director general of natural resources and watershed management of Kermanshah province, in an interview with Mehr reporter, pointed out the importance of implementing watershed projects from the deprivation relief funds and stated: The implementation of these projects is one of the key programs of the Ministry of Jihad Agriculture, which is followed with the participation of the Natural Resources Organization and Basij Sazandagi and in the form of the "Watershed to Jaliz" project.
Stating that watershed management operations have a direct effect on the condition of underground water resources, he added: In addition to reducing soil erosion, these measures provide the basis for increasing vegetation cover and infiltration of water into the ground, and if there is adequate capacity in the watershed, it can lead to the strengthening of underground aquifers.
The Director General of Natural Resources and Watershed Management of Kermanshah Province continued: In this regard, projects have been defined upstream of canals so that the water from rainfall, instead of leaving the watershed quickly, penetrates the ground and after being stored in underground sources, it is put back into the production cycle through canals and wells.
Emphasizing the role of these plans in supporting agriculture and food security, Rostami said: using the capacity of aquifers and strengthening the water resources of rural areas can help to continue production activities and improve the conditions of agricultural land exploitation.
Referring to the implementation of the Watershed to Jaliz project in Darudfaraman, Sumaq, and Vermazan areas of Kermanshah, he said: These projects are being implemented with the participation of the people, and in one of the related projects, more than 170 hectares of land have been planted under saplings. In addition, the previous irrigation system is also used in this area.
Tangknecht reverse aqueduct; Containment of part of the flood upstream of Kermanshah
Director General of Natural Resources and Watershed Management of Kermanshah province, referring to Tangkneshet reverse aqueduct project, said: In this project, surface water is collected and directed to underground aquifers through installed wells. This project was in the completion stage at the time of submitting the report.
Explaining the technical specifications of this project, Rostami said: Tangknecht reverse aqueduct consists of a main gallery with a diameter of one meter and a length of five thousand and 76 meters and 30 wells with a depth of 6 to 12 meters and a diameter of one meter.
He added: Estimates show that this structure has the capacity to feed 1,292,696 cubic meters of water to the underground aquifers during four months of the year. Also, at the time of the flood, the possibility of reducing the peak flow of the flood to a maximum of 240 liters per second has been predicted for it; This issue is of particular importance due to the location of this area in the upstream of Kermanshah city.
Director General of Natural Resources and Watershed Management of Kermanshah Province, referring to the implementation dimensions of the project, stated: This project has been implemented in an area of more than 15 thousand hectares and with a credit equivalent to 180 billion Rials.
Rostami pointed out: According to the presented statistics, the implementation of watershed operations in some areas has resulted in an increase of one and a half to five times the discharge of canals. Also, the reduction of soil erosion by about 9 tons per hectare per year and the annual infiltration of about 500 cubic meters of water per hectare are among the other reported results of these measures.
He emphasized: Continuing the implementation of watershed projects and paying attention to the natural capacities of each region can play an effective role in reducing the pressure on underground water resources, protecting the soil and supporting agricultural production.
canals; Iranian heritage for water sustainability and rural life
Hashem Nouri, head of the Watershed Department of the Deputy Watershed Department of the General Directorate of Natural Resources and Watershed Management of Kermanshah province, in an interview with Mehr reporter, referring to the historical position of canals in water resources management, said: Canals are considered to be one of the innovations and honors of Iranian culture and civilization.
Stating that Iran is one of the leading countries in the world in the construction and operation of aqueducts, he added: According to the statistics provided, the country has about 60,000 aqueducts that have the capacity to supply more than seven billion cubic meters of underground water annually. Water that is mainly used in agriculture.
The head of the watershed department of the deputy watershed department of the General Department of Natural Resources and Watershed of Kermanshah province continued: One of the important features of canals is the transfer and extraction of water without the need for direct consumption of electricity or fossil fuels. Estimates show that if the volume of water supplied through canals was to be collected using pumping and electricity, a capacity equivalent to 800 megawatts of electricity would be needed.
Emphasizing the importance of reviving and maintaining these traditional structures, Nouri said: In addition to historical and cultural value, canals have a significant capacity to support agriculture and preserve the life of villages, and for this reason, their restoration, restoration and dredging have been considered in the country's upstream documents and laws.
Referring to Article 35 Clause of the Sixth Development Plan Law, he stated: In this law, the rehabilitation, restoration and dredging of canals is specified at an annual rate of five percent of the current situation during the implementation of the program, with an emphasis on watershed and aquifer management activities.
Revival of canals; The link between water conservation and the sustainability of villages
Head of Watershed Department of Kermanshah Provincial Watershed Department, pointing to the direct connection of sustainable water sources with the economic and social status of villages, said: along with the implementation of watershed and watershed management operations, the restoration of canals, in addition to protecting the valuable heritage of aqueducts and kariz, helps the continuation of agricultural production and the stability of rural settlements.
Nouri added: Strengthening water resources in villages can create the basis for controlling migration from the origin and providing the conditions for reverse migration. Because more stable access to water is one of the effective factors in maintaining agricultural activities and providing life and employment in rural areas.
Referring to the consequences of large-scale migration from the villages, he said: In the past, the increase in migration to the cities has caused many social and cultural damages, but the implementation of effective measures in the field of watershed management and the restoration of canals can provide the basis for the return of a part of the population to these areas by strengthening the productive capacities of the villages.
Nouri emphasized: Utilizing the capacity of canals and linking it with watershed management programs is a solution to protect water resources, continue agriculture and strengthen the sustainability of local communities. An approach that can combine environmental benefits with economic and social goals of rural areas.
The implementation of the watershed to Jaliz project in Kermanshah shows that the intelligent management of surface and underground water can simultaneously help reduce flood damage, protect the soil and support agricultural production; However, turning the technical capabilities of this plan into a sustainable achievement requires the completion of half-finished projects, timely provision of credits, continuous monitoring of the aquifers' feeding rate, and the publication of measurable results. It is expected that the responsible bodies will provide the opportunity for the villages of the province to benefit more from sustainable water resources by purposefully expanding watershed operations, rehabilitating damaged canals, and attracting the participation of farmers and local communities, so that water and soil protection will become a tangible opportunity to boost production, reduce migration, and hope for the future in the rural areas of Kermanshah.