Groundwater-Drought Conjunctive Management: A review of California Experiences

Document Type : Review Article

Authors

• N. Gazor Habibabadi
• H. Derakhshan

PhD Student, Department of Water Science and Engineering, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

10.22067/jwsd.v10i1.2302-1219

Abstract

Iran is located in an arid and semi-arid region, where a large part of its water needs is provided by groundwater resources. In severe and prolonged periods of drought when it is not possible to supply water from surface water resources; Groundwater will be the only source of water supply. Not paying attention to demand management and not controlling over-harvesting during the drought period can further reduce the groundwater storage. Preventive strategies are necessary to reduce the effects of drought and protect groundwater. But unfortunately, most of the strategies to reduce the destructive effects of drought are passive (or reactive) and seek to supply water shortages from groundwater resources during the drought period, and attention to the active strategies of combined groundwater-drought management has been neglected. Therefore, due to the increase of severe and long-term droughts under climate change, it is necessary to pay attention to active strategies and new approaches. Demand management and harvesting reduction as a proactive approach can reserve groundwater in normal and wet years and increase drought resistance by preserving underground resources and ensure water supply security during severe droughts. This article is compiled in two parts in order to explain this approach. The first part describes the planning of related organizations for the combined management of drought and groundwater, and in the second part, the new approaches implemented in California as well as its application in Iran are explained.

Keywords

• Drought Reserve
• Water Supply
• Groundwater
• Climate Change
• Resiliene

Main Subjects

• Water, Ecosystem and Environment
• Water Management and Economy
• Surface and Groundwater Resources

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