The hydrogeological water balance of Barm-e-Shour wetland in the Haftkel city, Khuzestan province

Wetlands are the most important and yet vulnerable environmental resources which are vital as water resources to agriculture, springs, ground water recharge and ecology. Therefore, the management and restoration of the wetlands are of great importance and require hydrogeological scrutiny. Barm-e-Shour is one of the most important wetlands in Khuzestan province and is utilized for drinking and agricultural purposes. The wetland is situated on Gachsaran evaporate formation. There are no permanent surface inflows, yet the wetland maintains a steady reservoir, despite the recent drought and water supply limitations. Water and recharge origin which require calculating hydrogeological balance have not been studied so far. To achieve this goal, the iso-depth map, annual water level fluctuation, catchment area and different parameters of water balance were determined. The maximum depth during the dry season was about 3 meters. According to hydrogeological surveys the water balance was positive so that the yearly inflow of water was about 10912 m3 indicating the main role of ground water in wetland recharge. Considering the karst development and isotopic results, carbonates of the Asmari anticline is the most probable source of Barm-e-Shour wetland water.