Assessing the Performance of Nonstructural Operational Solutions for Main Irrigation Canal under Inflow Fluctuations (Case Study of Roodasht Main Irrigation Canal Zayanderood Basin)

Improving management of existing irrigation canals is indispensable in order to save more water. In this study, a set of four nonstructural solutions introduced in order to improve the operational performance of a main irrigation canals suffering from fluctuations of inflow water. To this end the existing operation of the Roodasht main irrigation canal was simulated applying a mathematical model and assessed by the operational performance evolution indices. Then the abovementioned solutions were investigated. The four solutions consist of operation with known disturbances; unknown disturbances; rotational water delivery out of the intakes alongside of the main canal and increasing discharge inflow. The results indicated that operational level were improved by the solutions, for example by employing the third and the forth operational solution, average value of the maximum error in water delivery was decreased by 25% and adequacy of water delivery activity was improved by18% respectively. Also, the results showed that under severe decrease of inflow to the canal, the mentioned solutions improved water delivery and distribution between upstream and downstream 17 percent.