Drought Management for Optimazation of Water Resources

The planning and investing in various sectors، especially agriculture is required precise knowledge of the regional climate، How the drought phenomenon has been in the past، present and would be in the future in the region. The objective of this study is forecasting drought in city of Bojnourd for optimal management of water resources and its effects on agricultural production. Needed data for drought prediction obtained from synoptic meteorology stations and Bojnourd Agricultural Organization. To determine drought periods، the SPI drought index was used. Effects of drought on production and farmers، income were determined. The results showed that the wettest and driest years were 1990-1991 and 1987-1988 years respectively. During the period، the region faced with 10 wet and 11 dry years. The most severe drought happened in the winter of 1999 with the cumulative SPI of -2. 85، the lowest drought was in the fall of 2007 with -0. 54 cumulative SPI.