Assessing Watershed Management Measures Using the Rapid Impact Assessment Matrix (RIAM) in the Khanik-Gonabad Watershed

Document Type : Research

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Soil Conservation and Watershed Management Department, khorasan Razavi Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Mashhhad. Iran

2 Associate Professor, Soil Conservation and Watershed Management Department, khorasan Razavi Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Mashhhad. Iran

3 Associate Professor, Soil Conservation and Watershed Management Research lnstitute, agricultural and natural resources Research and Education, AREEO, Tehran, Iran

10.22092/wmrj.2025.367745.1603

Abstract

Introduction and Goal
Today, due to the importance of watershed management projects and their numerous consequences, the results of implementing these projects in various regions cannot be ignored in terms of their impact on residents' livelihoods and needs. Evaluating the outcomes and effects of watershed management measures is essential to achieving beneficial results and increasing efficiency. Therefore, this study was conducted with the aim of identifying and assessing the effectiveness of watershed management measures implemented by the General Department of Natural Resources of Razavi Khorasan Province, from the perspective of experts in the Khanik-Gonabad watershed in Razavi Khorasan Province.
Materials and Methods
In this research, the Rapid Impact Assessment Matrix (RIAM) method and the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method were used to evaluate the effects of watershed management measures. Therefore, in the field phase, comprehensive data were collected from the Department of Natural Resources and Watershed Management of Razavi Khorasan Province (including: type, number, year of construction, and dimensions of the implemented watershed management structures in the Khanik Gonabad watershed). Then, the effects of watershed management measures were evaluated using the Rapid Impact Assessment Matrix (RIAM) method. In this research, key influencing factors were classified into four categories: economic, social, physical, and ecological. Each factor was scored based on the importance of conditions and temporal context. The scoring method was designed such that the overall magnitude of each criterion was determined by multiplying its relevant sub-criteria. For the temporal value criterion, its sub-criteria were summed. After obtaining these criteria, the environmental impact score of the project was calculated by multiplying these two criteria together.
Results and Discussion
The results of the study of watershed management measures in the Khanik watershed using the (RIAM) method showed that from the perspective of two social and ecological indicators, the effects and changes of the implemented measures were insignificantly positive (+A). From the perspective of the economic and physical indicators, the effects and changes of watershed management operations were small positive (+B) and medium positive (+C), respectively. In general, the study of the effects of the construction of three earthen dams in the Khanik watershed showed that the effects of watershed management measures were positive but small (+B).
Conclusion and Suggestions
The results of determining the weight of the criteria and sub-criteria using the hierarchical analysis of Khanik village showed that the highest weight among the criteria was related to the physical criterion (increasing the water yield of the aqueduct, increasing the water yield of springs, watering agricultural wells, controlling floods and sedimentation) of 0.445. This finding indicated that the implementation of watershed management measures has achieved the main objectives of the plan, namely controlling floods and feeding the aqueducts. Also, the results of the evaluation of watershed management measures using the (RIAM) method showed that the effects of these measures were positive but low. Therefore, it is suggested that these measures be implemented in combination with other biological and structural watershed management operations to increase their effectiveness.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

Azizpoor F, Haghi Y, Bayat M, Karaminasab S. 2021. Evaluation of the effects of watershed projects on the socioeconomic and system of rural areas (Case study: Kordian Section-Jahrom City). Journal of Geographical Research on Desert Areas. 9(1): 19-44. (In Persian). https://dor.isc.ac/dor/20.1001.1.2345332.1400.9.1.2.4
Dadrasi Sabzevar A, Ghazanchian A, Namaki M. 2016. The factors analysis of information, related to socio-economic effects of watershed management activities, according to the villager’s point of view of Gosh Watershed of Mashhad. Journal of Watershed Engineering and Management. 8(3): 290-302. (In Persian). https://doi.org/10.22092/ijwmse.2016.106812
Ekhtesasi M, Chezgi J, Khajavi M. 2021. Evaluation of watershed management projects and offering appropriate strategy and solution for their development using SWOT and AHP model in arid and semi-arid regions. Journal of Watershed Engineering and Management. 13(1): 55-64. (In Persian). https://doi.org/10.22092/ijwmse.2020.127843.1721.
Gheisari Y, Heshmati Gh, Niknahad Ghermaker H. 2022. Investigation of some ecological factors affecting habitat distribution Sumac (Rhus Coriaria L.) in rangeland ecosystems (Case study: Kalat Rangelands of Gonabad). Journal of Plant Ecosystem Conservation. 10(1): 225-252. (In Persian). http://pec.gonbad.ac.ir/article-1-830-en.html.
Gilbuena JR, Kawamura A, Medina R, Amaguchi H, Nakagawa N, Du Bui D. 2013. Environmental impact assessment of structural flood mitigation measures by a rapid impact assessment matrix (RIAM) technique: A case study in Metro Manila, Philippines. Science of the Total Environment. 456–457. 137–147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.03.063.
Hasani H, Maleki M. 2019. Socio-economic impact assessment of watershed plans implemented from the perspective of stakeholders (Case study: Hasan Abdal Basin- Zanjan Province). Iranian Journal of Watershed Management Science and Engineering. 13(45): 54-62. https://dor.isc.ac/dor/20.1001.1.20089554.1398.13.45.10.4
Karimi Sangchini, Ehsan Alvandi E. 2023. Socio-economic Effects of Implemented Projects of Watershed Management from the Expert’s Perspective in Rimeleh Watershed, Lorestan Province, Whatershed Management Research. 36(138): 34-49. (In Persian). https://doi.org/10.22092/wmrj.2022.358255.1464
Khatibi A. 2016. Evaluation of watershed measures and resilience of villagers against drought. Master's thesis in watershed management fild, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. (In Persian). pp. 1-142.
Madani S, Moghadami Sh, Abedinzadeh N, Malmasi S. 2016. Application of Analytical Hierarchy Process to Compare Simple and Modified RIAM methods, (Case study: Environmental Impact Assessment of Tiam Steel Plants). Journal of Environmental Sciences and Technology. 18(1): 45-59. (In Persian). https://www.magiran.com/p1596584.
Maddi E, Maleki M. 2018. Evaluating the socio-economic effects of implemented natural resources projects from the point of view of the beneficiaries (case study: Andabil Watershed-Khalkhal City). Marta Magazine. 12(3): 279-267. (In Persian). https://dor.isc.ac/dor/20.1001.1.20080891.1397.12.3.2.0
Mekonnen M, Abeje T, Addisu S. 2021. Integrated watershed management on soil quality, crop productivity and climate change adaptation, dry highland of Northeast Ethiopia. Agricultural Systems. 186: 102964. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2020.102964
Motaghian M, Alavinia H, Ghazavi R. 2023. Evaluation of the performance of mechanical and biomechanical measures of watershed management on changes in floods, erosion, sedimentation and vegetation in arid and semi-arid areas. (Case study: Badkash Watershed in Minab City). Arid Regions Geographic Studies. 14(53): 67-84. (In Persian). https://doi.org/10.22034/jargs.2023.397286.1029.
Pastakia CMJA. 1998. The rapid impact assessment matrix (RIAM) for EIA. Jornal of Environmental Impact Assessment Review. 18(5): 461-82.
Saby L, Nelson JD, Band LE, Goodall JL. 2021. Nonpoint source water quality trading outcomes: Landscape-scale patterns and integration with watershed management priorities. Journal of Environmental Management. 294:112914. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112914
Soltaninezhad M, Mehrabi A, Ahmadi H. 2022. Economic and effectiveness evaluation of watershed management measures by quantitative and qualitative methods in Manojan Kerman. Whatershed Management Research. 35(135): 60-70.  https://doi.org/10.22092/wmrj.2022.354192.1402
Sun Y, Tong S, Yang YJ. 2016. Modeling the cost-effectiveness of stormwater best management practices in an urban watershed in Las Vegas Valley. Applied Geography. 76:49-61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeog.2016.09.005

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 25 November 2024
  • Revise Date: 01 January 2025
  • Accept Date: 18 March 2025

Share

How to cite

Statistics