Difference between revisions of "Urmia Lake: The Need for Water Diplomacy"
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|Population=4.6 | |Population=4.6 | ||
|Area=51,876 | |Area=51,876 | ||
| − | |Geolocation=37.7600895, 45. | + | |Geolocation=37.7600895, 45.4814114 |
| − | |Issues= | + | |Issues={{Issue |
| + | |Issue=Agricultural Lands: Importance of agricultural productivity and negative impacts from agricultural water use | ||
| + | |Issue Description=35 dams built on 21 rivers in the basin combined with groundwater exploitation in response to recent drought cycles have depleted the Lake’s water level. This is combined with degradation of agricultural lands and the resultant loss of productivity, soil erosion and salinization, and other land impacts from water scarcity. A continued trend could lead to future migration or other human displacement from these lands. A collapse of the agricultural economy would lead to myriad social and economic problems stemming from ruined livelihoods, unemployment and social migration from the rural region to cities. | ||
| + | |NSPD=Water Quantity; Ecosystems; Assets | ||
| + | |Stakeholder Type=Federated state/territorial/provincial government, Sovereign state/national/federal government, Local Government, Development/humanitarian interest, Environmental interest, Community or organized citizens | ||
| + | }}{{Issue | ||
| + | |Issue=Tourism – as lake levels drop, the scenic and recreational value of the lake also decreases | ||
| + | |Issue Description=Lake Urmia and its islands are designated as a national park and the Lake has historically been a tourist destination. Visitors come for the swimming, boating, and enjoying the scenery and diverse wildlife the park offers. A reduction in tourism value due to desiccation of the lake has direct economic impacts and lead to a reduced educational impact (such as awareness of biodiversity) from the park’s existence and related activities. | ||
| + | |NSPD=Ecosystems; Assets; Values and Norms | ||
| + | }}{{Issue | ||
| + | |Issue=Link between the water level in Lake Urmia, public health, and environmental health problems | ||
| + | |Issue Description=Industrial pollutants and heavy metals, and the use of large quantities of pesticides to control parasites and weeds have accumulated in groundwater and surface water that inflow to the lake. Therefore, Urmia Lake's water contains Cl-, Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Hco3-, K+, Li, So42+, and F (Abazopoulos et al., 2006). In recent years, half of the lake has changed to saline area that contains these toxic materials. If winds blow from this polluted area near the lake to other places in the region, the consequence would be a huge change in the cycle of region's ecosystem also in people's life. For example, in the cities, by breathing this toxic air, people will have many illnesses such as breathing problems. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The lake's water salinity increased significantly and supersaturated with brine, and this will continue in the future, too. The number of visiting birds has been reduced significantly. The lake is a significant habitat for Artemia (brine shrimp), which are valued food source for migratory birds, including flamingos. Increasing salinity threatens the various species | ||
| + | |NSPD=Water Quality; Ecosystems; Assets | ||
| + | |Stakeholder Type=Local Government, Environmental interest, Community or organized citizens | ||
| + | }} | ||
|Key Questions= | |Key Questions= | ||
|Water Feature= | |Water Feature= | ||
Revision as of 09:38, 28 January 2015
| Geolocation: | 37° 45' 36.3222", 45° 28' 53.081" |
|---|---|
| Total Population | 4.64,600,000 millionmillion |
| Total Area | 51,87651,876 km² 20,029.324 mi² km2 |
| Climate Descriptors | Humid mid-latitude (Köppen C-type), Continental (Köppen D-type), Dry-summer |
| Predominent Land Use Descriptors | agricultural- cropland and pasture, agricultural- confined livestock operations |
| Important Uses of Water | Agriculture or Irrigation, Domestic/Urban Supply, Industry - consumptive use, Industry - non-consumptive use, Other Ecological Services |
Contents
Summary
Natural, Historic, Economic, Regional, and Political Framework
Issues and Stakeholders
Agricultural Lands: Importance of agricultural productivity and negative impacts from agricultural water use
NSPD: Water Quantity, Ecosystems, Assets
Stakeholder Types: Federated state/territorial/provincial government, Sovereign state/national/federal government, Local Government, Development/humanitarian interest, Environmental interest, Community or organized citizens
Tourism – as lake levels drop, the scenic and recreational value of the lake also decreases
NSPD: Ecosystems, Assets, Values and Norms
Link between the water level in Lake Urmia, public health, and environmental health problems
NSPD: Water Quality, Ecosystems, Assets
Stakeholder Types: Local Government, Environmental interest, Community or organized citizens
Industrial pollutants and heavy metals, and the use of large quantities of pesticides to control parasites and weeds have accumulated in groundwater and surface water that inflow to the lake. Therefore, Urmia Lake's water contains Cl-, Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Hco3-, K+, Li, So42+, and F (Abazopoulos et al., 2006). In recent years, half of the lake has changed to saline area that contains these toxic materials. If winds blow from this polluted area near the lake to other places in the region, the consequence would be a huge change in the cycle of region's ecosystem also in people's life. For example, in the cities, by breathing this toxic air, people will have many illnesses such as breathing problems.
The lake's water salinity increased significantly and supersaturated with brine, and this will continue in the future, too. The number of visiting birds has been reduced significantly. The lake is a significant habitat for Artemia (brine shrimp), which are valued food source for migratory birds, including flamingos. Increasing salinity threatens the various species
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