Investigating the Damaging Events of Talar River, Iran, in Tandem with Presenting a Proposed Framework

Rivers, as vital water resources, play an essential role in maintaining the health of the environment and living organisms. The rivers bordering the Caspian Sea are recognized as the most accessible surface water sources and, unfortunately, are often utilized as dumping grounds for pollutants. These rivers have a close connection with populated areas and economic activities, which is why the management issues related to them have significantly escalated. The quality of river water directly affects the health of humans and aquatic ecosystems. Pollution resulting from human activities, such as wastewater discharge, can lead to serious health and environmental problems. For example, research by Rostami and colleagues has demonstrated the negative impact of urban wastewater on the water quality of the Kanger River, which is also true for the Talaar River. These challenges necessitate multifaceted management and scientific approaches to develop protective strategies. Golamian and Yildirim's studies highlighted the impact of land-use changes on the intensity of floods and erosion, emphasizing the need for a detailed analysis of these changes. This research examines the damages inflicted on the Talaar River and provides a framework for analyzing similar hazards in other rivers across the country. The findings of this research underscore the necessity of collaboration among government agencies, local authorities, and civil society to create effective solutions for the sustainable management of water resources. By gaining a deep understanding of the existing challenges and adopting comprehensive management practices, we can help protect these valuable resources and improve the overall quality of public life.

The WRASTIC index is a systematic approach for assessing the susceptibility of watersheds to polluting surface water resources, based on key characteristics of the watershed and land use within a hydrogeological environment. This method became popular starting in 2000 and is considered one of the most comprehensive risk assessment methods for surface waters when compared to other techniques. In this approach, several factors within a watershed are meticulously evaluated to determine the sensitivity to surface water pollution, including wastewater discharge (W), effects of recreational land use (R), effects of agricultural land use (A), watershed size (S), transportation pathways (T), effects of industrial land use (I), and the extent of vegetation cover (C). The numerical values assigned to the aforementioned parameters in the WRASTIC model are used in equation to calculate the WRASTIC index value for a given watershed:
WRASTIC Index=WrWw+RrRw+ArAw+SrSw+TrTw+IrIw+CrCw
In this equation, the index (r) is used to assign scores to each parameter, while the index (w) represents the weight of the parameter. The values of (w) range from 1 to 4, and the values of (r) range from 1 to 5, with the industrial parameter being assigned a range of 1 to 8. According to the above equation, the higher the numerical value of this index, the greater the potential for pollution within the watershed. It is worth noting that for a better and more accurate assessment, the input of professionals should be utilized.

The results of the WRASTIC index assessment for the watershed of the Talaar River indicate a medium sensitivity to pollution, with a score of 5.26. This score raises concerns regarding the influx of urban and industrial wastewater, agricultural runoff, and the discharge of sewage from soakaway pits. These pollution sources pose a significant risk of severe contamination to the river, leading to consequences such as eutrophication and a decline in water quality. Furthermore, the increasing population in areas near water resources has led to land-use changes, resulting in a higher runoff coefficient and intensified flooding occurrences. These conditions may cause serious damage to infrastructures, natural ecosystems, and public health. Another weakness of the WRASTIC index is the neglect of the status of wildlife and natural habitats that are at risk, mainly due to deforestation and poaching. These issues not only threaten the biodiversity of the region but also adversely affect the ecological balance and water quality. Therefore, there is a clear need to establish a comprehensive and new framework for more accurately assessing pollution levels and maintaining ecological balance in this area. Making informed decisions and implementing proper management practices can improve water quality and contribute to the protection of the environment and biodiversity. The sustainable management and preservation of water resources and habitats require serious attention and collaboration from all stakeholders to make the best use of these sensitive and valuable ecosystems.

Crisis management and analysis of existing challenges require precise identification of damaging factors and the development of a comprehensive framework to explain the relationships between these factors. Such a framework can assist in classifying the damages incurred and improving risk management and crisis response. By examining and analyzing the damages from both temporal and spatial perspectives, a comprehensive crisis management approach can be realized. Thus, in the Talar River watershed, the presence of multiple challenges, including declining water quality, changes in hydrological regimes, alterations in adjacent land use, disregard for riverbed and buffer zone protections, illegal constructions, soil erosion, and excessive extraction of materials, necessitate the identification, management, and prioritization of existing issues to safeguard water quality and ensure environmental sustainability.