A Proposed integrated water resources assessment process, relying on systemic view

Integrated assessment of water resources systems is one of the main steps in implementation of Integrated Water Resources Management. In other words, knowing the quantity, quality of water resources are prerequisites of management. Integrated assessment is one of the missing links in the management chain. Therefore, in this study an integrated assessment of water resources systems process is proposed and implemented. The proposed process consists of three phases: reconnaissance, conceptualization, and analysis. The reconnaissance phase consists of elements´ reconnaissance and stakeholders’ reconnaissance and participation. A combined novel framework based on ex post and ex ante assessment framework (CEPEAF) is proposed for conceptualization phase. The system dynamics modelling is adopted for the analysis phase. The proposed process has been applied in South Khorasan. The results show extension in agriculture in term of increase in cultivated area ignoring the decreasing trend in production per hectare especially in case of orchards. Simultaneously the local ground water resources have been over exploited since many years ago. Model results also showed 6 percent decrease in orchard and cultivated area alongside 4 percent increase in industry and mine production leads to a stable ground water level and GDP will be remain constant. The other important model result showed decrease in orchard area is more effective on ground water level than decrease in cultivated area.