Water Appropriation Systems for Adapting to Water Shortages in Iraq

Abstract

Climate variability and population growth have intensified the search internationally for measures to adapt to fluctuations in water supplies. An example can be found in the lower part of the transboundary Tigris‐Euphrates Basin where water shortages in 2008‐2009 resulted in high economic costs to irrigation farmers. Losses to irrigators in the lower basin have made a compelling case to identify flexible methods to adapt to water shortage. Few published studies have systematically examined ways to enhance the flexibility of water appropriation systems to adapt to water shortage. This article addresses an ongoing challenge in water governance by examining how profitability at both the farm and basin levels is affected by various water appropriation systems. Four water appropriation systems are compared for impacts on farm income under each of three water supply scenarios. Results show that a (1) proportional sharing of water shortages among provinces and (2) unrestricted water trading rank as the top two appropriation systems. The shadow price of water for irrigation rises from zero at a full water supply level to US$93/1,000 m3 when supply falls to 20% of full levels. Similar methods could be used to analyze challenges facing the design or implementation of water appropriation systems in the world's irrigated regions.

Application of an Optimization Model for Assessing the Performance of Water Appropriation in Iraq

“…One of the limitations in the work by Salman et al (2014) was that the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers were considered as one individual basin inside Iraq for irrigation in thirteen provinces. Water managers in Iraq consider the two rivers as two separate basins which irrigate fifteen provinces.…”

“…Their analyses indicate that it is possible to use changes in cropping patterns as an effective tool to adapt to the negative impacts of climate change. Salman et al (2014) presented a methodology to maximize the net farm income in Iraq by producing different types of crops. Four water right (allocation) systems were considered: upstream priority, downstream priority, proportional sharing of shortage, and unrestricted water trading.…”

“…Based upon the history of Iraq's water resources systems and provincial distribution, changes were made to the mentioned model by Salman et al (2014) in order to satisfy the current conditions in Iraq. These changes affected some of the water distribution systems and the irrigated provinces for each river.…”

“…Water managers in Iraq consider the two rivers as two separate basins which irrigate fifteen provinces. Thus, in order to provide water managers more useful information, the model developed by Salman et al (2014) was modified considering the two rivers as two separate basins which irrigate fifteen provinces. Furthermore, the Salman et al (2014) model considered unrestricted water trading as one of the water allocation priorities.…”

“…Thus, in order to provide water managers more useful information, the model developed by Salman et al (2014) was modified considering the two rivers as two separate basins which irrigate fifteen provinces. Furthermore, the Salman et al (2014) model considered unrestricted water trading as one of the water allocation priorities. In Iraq, a water trading strategy is inapplicable due to Iraq's recent political, geographical, and social composition as well as other religious considerations.…”