Control of Salinity Intrusion in Arvand Estuary Under Different Hydrological Conditions

Interaction of the saline water originated from the sea or the ocean with the riverine water is an important issue in estuarine systems. The intrusion of salt water in estuaries affects the quality of groundwater used for different purposes such as drinking, agricultural, and industrial consumptions. Several methods have been introduced by the investigators to control this natural phenomenon. The Venturi control method, submerged tidal barriers, and air curtains are examples of these methods. In this paper, the efficiency of the Venturi method for salinity intrusion control was studied for the Arvand estuary in south-western Iran. The performance of this method was assessed using three different discharges; the mean annual discharge (1050 m3/s), the minimum annual discharge (520 m3/s), and an assumed low discharge of 260 m3/s. A laterally averaged two-dimensional numerical model was used to simulate the salinity intrusion in Arvand estuary. The model was first calibrated using field data and then different scenarios were simulated. Results indicated the efficiency of the Venturi control method in decreasing the salinity intrusion length.