Technical Note: Socio-Economic evaluation of watershed mechanical projects in ‎Matesang Watershed-Nikshahr

By increasing in population، water resources become more important. Watershed Management today has an essential role in water supply in arid and semi-arid regions. Study area consists of a watershed with 6100 hectares areas situate in the northeastern of Nikshahr city named Matesang in the southeastern of Iran. The survey data collected by a questionnaire، which its validity was examined by specialists such as professors، watershed and natural resource experts. Using SPSS، software reliability and Cronbach''s alpha between 0. 76 and 0. 78 were obtained for different scales. In order to evaluate the economic impacts of watershed management projects based on benefit-cost ratio analysis and questionnaire method، the Chi-square test was used. The benefit cost ratio of 1. 03 was obtained indicating the economic feasibility of the project. In order to assess the social-economic impacts of watershed management projects in the area questioners and Chi-square test was used. Chi-square test results showed، watershed projects had significant effect by reduction in immigration، flooding، unemployment، and success in flood and sediment control. Watershed management plans، were gained 100% participation satisfaction. The economic debate، results showed the significant reliability of soil and water conservation plans performance on increasing the amount of production، plant cover، the number of animals، water resources، the area of orchards and farmlands and reducing the area of uncultivated lands. In general، this research showed positive multipurpose aspects of mechanical soil and water conservation projects.