Water Resources Improvement in Southeast Afghanistan: Remote Project Planning and Decision Support Modeling

Improved use of water resources in Afghanistan has become an important priority in U. S. Army operations. To further this, the Army Corps of Engineers, the U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, and the U. S. Geological Survey in conjunction with the U. S. Army's Task Force (TF)Yukon (4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division) has undertaken a ground-breaking project to assess and prioritize numerous water resource improvement projects in SE Afghanistan. Conditions for completing traditional site-related review and planning are, to say the least, difficult. Our objective here was to identify and evaluate potential water resource projects in the southeast provinces using applied remote sensing science and technology. Sources of data included high-resolution satellite imagery, high-resolution elevation models, ground-truth from field personnel, existing spatial data and reports, and authors' experience in-country. Thousands of square kilometers were reviewed at scales up to 1:750 to identify and evaluate 295 potential water resource projects (storage dams, diversions, power generation, or upgrades to existing facilities, and watershed restoration). Each project was then prioritized using an industry-standard decision support model, integrating both engineering and watershed factors, such as sedimentation and stream system stability, cost indices, storage efficiency, benefiting agricultural lands, and environmental impacts. This study provided a systematic, detailed product to support field design, based on recognized expert evaluation. The report is now providing guidance to the Afghan ministries and coalition partners on developing water resource projects in a responsible and sustainable manner. In addition, the collected data are being used to scope potential water restoration projects and develop site plans. Utilizing remote sensing technology and expert personnel in this manner helped to maximize effectiveness of field investigation, sending ground personnel to only the most favorable sites for further evaluation, thereby reducing time on the ground in a difficult environment.