Environmental protection measures under conditions of reclamation activities in river basins: Fid-Bau Portal

Environmental protection measures under conditions of reclamation activities in river basins

Gusev, V. P.

Conclusions 1. Additional moistening of soils by irrigation increases the rate of infiltration and overland runoff. Under certain conditions disturbance of the natural water regime of a drainage basin or its part leads to secondary salinization and waterlogging of the territory and to intensification of the erosion process. 2. Deepening and straightening of the channels of water intakes and cutting of catch canals lower the natural base of drainage, increase the zone of depression of groundwaters and their flow to intakes, and disturb the historically established hydrological equilibrium in the drainage basin being drained and adjacent ones. 3. Without providing environmental protection measures, land reclamation is accompanied frequently by intensification of the migration of suspended and water-soluble soil-fertility elements to water objects, which leads to pollution of water sources. 4. The main measures for protecting water and soil resources in land reclamation are a determination of the boundary of drainage and irrigation ameliorations and zone of nonintervention, standardization of the areas of drainage and irrigation in river basins, calculation of the maximum allowable withdrawal of water from the river runoff for irrigation, additional water regulation, construction of water-recycling systems, and implementation of erosion-control measures.