A Management Plan of Deltaic Water Resources: A Case Study of Hendijan Delta, Khuzestan Province, Iran

Management of deltaic water resources is one of the basic necessities of Iran’s coastal area, which is highlighted in the present research. Recycling and distributing discharged water from a river mouth on the deltaic plain are the main steps of this management plan. Accordingly, this plan provides a good opportunity for land reclamation, agriculture, aquaculture and tourism. Indeed, this plan was obtained after studying Zohreh River Delta in terms of river regime, sedimentary facies, geomorphology and quality of soil horizons. Measurements of river and tidal currents and application of numerical models are preconditions of achieving such a plan. The most important parts of this plan are tidal inlets and a freshwater lake with a capacity of 25 million m3, which will be retrieved during a few days in a wet season. In total, 2,480 ha of land reclamation, 30,000 tons of wheat, and 198 ha of other land development projects will be obtainable after implementation of this multidisciplinary management plan. Such a management plan is introduced as a solution for water shortage in Iran’s coastal areas and is also compatible with other deltaic plains of rivers such as Karun, Heleh, Mond, Kol and Bahookalat.