Water resources management in Sistan with an approach to cope with dust storms and desertification phenomena

In arid areas, water resources management and utilization is of great importance in minimizing the damage caused by water shortages in these areas while maximizing water resources efficiency. The present research aims to assess water resources management in Sistan with an approach to cope with dust storms and desertification phenomena using lexicographic goal programming method. Lexicographic goal programming is one of the most important multi-objective optimization problem solving methods. GAMS programming was considered to design research model. The results showed that according to the experts, in order to coping with dusts phenomenon, followed by meeting domestic demands in Sistan, water transfer priorities are related to critical control point of Hamoon Wetland and plantation areas in wind sedimentation. For this, once research model was run and under optimal water resources management, in addition to meeting all domestic consumption demands, the amount of water transmitted to Hamoon Lake to supply its minimum water requirement was 61.4 million cubic meters. Hence, the water needed for the stabilization of the critical control point of Hamoon Wetland was fully supplied. In addition, under optimal management conditions, water transportation to plantation farms of northern Mohammad Shahkarm and Jazinak cities was increased by 13.22 and 7.76 million cubic meters, respectively, i.e. up to twice a current value. As a result, all of water demands in these sectors have been met completely. According to the results, under optimal water management conditions in addition to meeting basic needs, water transferring to critical control point of fine grain sediment origins to stabilize them.