Application of MIKE Basin in the Zayandeh Rud Catchment

Abstract

MIKE Basin—a decision support tool for integrated water resource management—was applied to represent the complex water use and management processed in the Zayandeh Rud basin.

The main water resource requirement is for the agricultural sector, which is described in the model through the general irrigation approach based upon the FAO65. For each of the 15 identified irrigation networks, the following data was included and assigned: selected crops and orchard types, irrigation methods, crop and orchard calendar generalisation, soils characteristics, climate and reference evapotranspiration time series, deficit distribution method and the surface and groundwater supply. Additional water users for municipal and industrial purposes and water transfers to and from the catchment were included in the model. Furthermore, the seepage from the Zayandeh Rud was calculated in FEFLOW and included in the MIKE Basin model.

In terms of water supply, surface water has the first priority, followed by groundwater in case of water deficit. Both major dams within the catchment—Zayandeh Rud dam and Khamiran dam—were included in the model. The non-standard water management rules for the Zayandeh Rud Dam and the water supply rules were defined according to the prioritisation and water rights framework using customised scripts.

Simulations were performed for the period from 1379 to 1387 (Persian calendar), providing good results and matches with measurement data, although it is almost impossible to represent the storage management with only one parameter set for the entire simulation period. An example of the practical value of the model has been performed.