Natural problems affecting water management in front of major dams and reservoirs in Iraq during dry or wet years

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the impact of natural challenges on water management in front of major dams and reservoirs in Iraq during both dry and wet years. The effects of these challenges have intensified since the 1990s due to global warming, caused by air pollution, disruptions in atmospheric composition, and the destabilization of natural ecosystems. These environmental imbalances have weakened the Earth's ability to withstand increasing human pressures, creating conditions for a climate crisis that threatens further catastrophic consequences—particularly in ecologically sensitive areas within arid and semi-arid regions, including Iraq and its surrounding territories, where the sources of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers are located. The study investigates the impact of climate change on the surface area of water bodies, particularly lakes formed in front of dams, by analyzing climate variables and their direct and indirect effects on the volume of incoming water to reservoirs and the amount of water released from strategic storage to meet essential human needs. The research relies on data from the Iraqi Ministry of Water Resources, specifically the Dams and Reservoirs Department, as well as climate data from selected monitoring stations representing these water bodies. Additionally, hydrological data on water inflows, outflows, water levels, and surface area measurements were analyzed for the study period (1980–2024). The findings reveal significant shortcomings in Iraq’s major storage and water control projects, particularly in water management, planning, and implementation. These deficiencies reduce the effectiveness of these projects and limit their potential benefits. Furthermore, the study confirms that inadequate water management has exacerbated the impact of climate change on Iraq’s water bodies, posing a growing environmental and resource challenge.