Drought Reserve, Necessity for Sustainability

The level of dependence on groundwater resources is higher in arid and semi-arid climates, as far as in many of these areas, groundwater has become the only source of water supply. Iran is considered as an arid and semi-arid climate. The changing patterns of rainfall by climate change and increasing overdraft in many of district groundwater resources has an irreversible impact on this vital source. Groundwater is the main backstop for development in such areas. Therefore, management of drought risk and the dangers under climate change will depend on protecting these vital resources.This paper analyses the California experience in conserving groundwater. Based on this experience, a plan has been developed for critical groundwater resources in Iran. Drought reserve is the key concept in groundwater sustainable management, but it has always been neglected. Finally, major challenges in implementation and conserving the drought reserve have been explained, and suggestions have been made to restore this reserve to achieve management sustainable development.