Possibility of reusing Al-Machraya River for feeding Hawizeh marsh

Al Machraya River was considered as one of the water feeders of Hawizeh Marsh. In 1986, the outlet of this river into the marsh was blocked and the river was used as a main channel for the East Tigris Irrigation Project near Kalat Salih. This causes significant decrease in the available water supply sources, deterioration in the water quality distribution patterns and increasing the stagnation areas within the marsh. This research aims to study the possibility of reusing this river for feeding Hawizeh Marsh. A frequency analysis study was carried out to study the maximum and minimum probable water level (MMPWL) of Tigris River at the upstream of Kalat Salih Barrage. Six statistical models; Normal distribution, Log-Normal type II, Log-Normal type III, Pearson type III, Log- Pearson type III and Gumbel type I distribution were used to estimate the MMPWL. The results show that Pearson type III and Gumbel type I distribution models are the best to fit the maximum and minimum daily water level (WL), respectively, at the upstream of the Barrage. The estimated MMPWL were compared to the required WL in Hawizeh Marsh. The difference between Tigris River and Hawizeh Marsh water levels were found to be not operative to cause a significant flow toward the marsh. Therefore, Al Machraya River cannot be used to feed Hawizeh Marsh.