Water Resource Management in the Intermountain Izeh Plain,Southwest of Iran

Ever growing demand for water for agricultural activities in the Izeh Plain has enhanced the use of groundwater.Due to enormous groundwater abstraction since 1985, the overall static water level has receded by more than 5 meters reflecting that the aquifer is under stress condition.As a result, interest is focused on application of artificial recharge as an option for groundwater management to augment water supply in this area.Therefore, in the present investigations, suitable sites for artificial recharge were selected by an integrated surface and sub-surface assessment of the area.On the basis of the data collected from four target points, it was realized that the selected sites for artificial recharge could not meet water demand of the area.In this study attention was also paid to utilization of the existing Miangran Lake water as an alternative to combat water shortage for irrigation.The study further indicated that the available Miangran Lake water could be used for irrigation of the reclaimed agricultural land and enabling to convert 2000 hectares of rain-fed land into irrigation.The total cost to utilize lake water is US$ 2,756,729 and it was estimated that the project could recoup the investment within 5 years which is quite reasonable in this water scarcity prone area.

Biostratigraphy,Microfacies and Depositional Environment of the Sarvak Formation at the Pyun Anticline(Zagros Basin,Southwest of Iran)

The Sarvak Formation is a carbonate sequence of Late Albian–Early Turonian age in Zagros Basin in Iran.In this investigation,the Sarvak Formation at the Pyun Anticline section(Izeh Zone)has been studied.It consists of 797 m thick limestone which overlies the Kazhdumi Formation conformably and underlies the Gurpi Formation unconformably at the Pyun Anticline.A very rich fossil association(85 genera and 132 species)characterizes the Pyun section.Based on the stratigraphic distribution of diagnosed foraminifera,five biozones are established:1,Muricohedbergella-Globigerinelloides sp.assemblage zone(Late Albian);2,Praealveolina iberica-Chrysalidina gradata interval zone(Early Cenomanian);3,Chrysalidina gradata-Cisalveolina fraasi(fallax)and C.lehneri interval zone(Middle Cenomanian);4,C.fraasi(fallax)and C.lehneri-Praetaberina bingistani assemblage zone(Late Cenomanian);5,Nezzazatinella picardi-MangashtiaDicyclina assemblage zone(Early Turonian).Based on the petrographic and sedimentological analyses,some 13 carbonate microfacies were identified.The investigated microfacies confirm a ramp-type paleoenvironment.These microfacies,from distal to proximal environments,consist of:MF1:planktonic foraminifera wackestone-packstone;MF2:Oligostegina planktonic foraminifera wackestone to packstone;MF3:planktonic-benthic foraminifers sponge spicules wackestonepackstone;MF4:rudist floatstone;MF5:rudist rudstone;MF6:bioclast intraclast grainstone;MF7:peloid intraclast grainstone;MF8:benthic foraminifers rudist grainstone-packstone;MF9:peloid bioclast grainstone-packstone;MF10:bioclast(benthic foraminifers)wackestone-packstone;MF11:peloid bioclast packstone;MF12:dacycladacea benthic foraminifera packstone-wackestone;MF13:miliolids wackestone-packstone.