Managed Aquifer Recharge: Potential Component of Water Management in the Syrdarya River Basin
Publication: Journal of Hydrologic Engineering
Volume 20, Issue 3
Abstract
This paper argues that sequential in-channel reservoirs in the Syrdarya River Basin of Central Asia are not sufficient to meet the needs of both upstream and downstream water users. Some of the consequences of the use of in-channel reservoirs include fresh water discharges into the saline depression and flooding of irrigated land in winter and water shortages in summer, which causes low water productivity. This study examines the feasibility of two alternative management strategies (1) building additional off-channel reservoirs, and (2) managed aquifer recharge (MAR). First, the potential for MAR in the upstream Fergana Valley is estimated through a regional assessment of MAR potential, field-scale pilot experiments, and simulation modeling. Second, the potential for MAR is analyzed for lift canal irrigation areas, which cover 70% of the irrigated highlands and the foothills in the river midstream, with a focus on energy use intensity and water and energy productivity. Third, the potential for building off-channel reservoirs and MAR is compared in the downstream portion of the river. Specifically for the Makhtaral Irrigation Project (MIP), a scenario of shifting from lift canal irrigation and groundwater extraction for drainage purposes is compared with groundwater irrigation and MAR. The MIP, located in the tail-end of the transboundary Dustyk Canal, faces waterlogging and salinity issues because of the shallow water table. The study concludes that transboundary cooperation in transboundary water transfers for MAR may increase the amount of water that could be stored underground. Overall, it is shown that there is a high potential for MAR in the Syrdarya River Basin with benefits at both the state and farm levels.
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Acknowledgments
The continuous financial support provided to this study by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Fund for International Development (OFID) and, more recently, by the CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land, and Ecosystems (WLE) is gratefully acknowledged. The authors are also grateful to the anonymous reviewers for their comments and feedback, which were useful for improving the content of this paper.
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Information & Authors
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Published In
Journal of Hydrologic Engineering
Volume 20 • Issue 3 • March 2015
Copyright
© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Oct 8, 2013
Accepted: Jun 12, 2014
Published online: Aug 18, 2014
Discussion open until: Jan 18, 2015
Published in print: Mar 1, 2015
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