HYDROLOGICAL CHANGES OF THE EUPHRATES RIVER BETWEEN AL-CHABAYISH DAM AND THE DISTRICT OF QURNA (THE CONFLUENCE AREA) AND THEIR IMPACT ON THE FUTURE OF WATER IN BASRAH GOVERNORATE

Abstract

This study was conducted to find out the hydrological changes of the Euphrates River in the study area and their impact on the discharges and levels of the river at Al-chabayish dam up to the district of Qurna, and the study proved that there are significant and noticeable changes in the amount of drainage and the quality of water in the course of the river, as these changes took place in the overall hydrological conditions of the river, the study showed that the Euphrates River suffers from a great water scarcity due to the lack of water revenues, as the Shatt al-Arab has become fed by the Tigris River only, as the Euphrates River has been It was cut by a dam called Al-chabayish dam, where it cut the river and prevented it from meeting the Tigris River in (2010), where it diverted its water to the central marshes (the marshes of Qurna) in order to feed them. This change in the Euphrates River affected the water resources in Basra Governorate. This change led to a decrease in the discharges of the Shatt alArab River, a significant decrease in levels and a significant rise in salts due to the lack of discharge, which leads to the penetration of sea water for large distances in the course of the Shatt al-Arab, as the water of the Karun and Suwaib rivers was cut off by the Iranian side on the Shatt al-Arab. This has led to a great scarcity of water, and this reflects negatively on the residents of Basrah Governorate, which suffers a lot due to this problem, as it has affected all agricultural, industrial, vital and other aspects. As most of the agricultural lands have been converted into residential plots or lands for oil extraction, the decline in water revenues reaching the Shatt al-Arab and the cutting of the Euphrates River in the cutting dam has significant effects on the future of fresh water in Basrah province.