Gholam Reza Rahbar, Sayyed Ahang Kowsar
Fars Research Center
P O Box 71555-617
Shiraz, Iran
E-mail: nafissis@sums.ac.ir

In Iran floods result in more than 200 deaths and US $1 billion damage per year. The damage due to floods ranks second behind earthquakes. Floodwater spreading (FWS), particularly for the artificial recharging of groundwater (ARG), is a technique that could transform a curse into a blessing. The deluge of 1995, caused by 80 mm of rainfall during a 24-hour period, resulted in bringing an ARG system in the Gareh Bygone Plain (GBP), in southern Iran, into full operation. These floods, occurring at an interval of 50 years, cause considerable damage in the southern parts of Fars Province. Although the ARG systems are designed to withstand a once-in-every-15-year flood, the GBP scheme sustained very little damage. The flooding breached only 1% of the embankments and undermined about 19% of the chutes installed in the gaps. The cost of repairs and system maintenance are only 2.5% of the damage, which could have been inflicted on the properties, had it not been harnessed by the ARG systems. The overall government budget for prevention of flood-related damage is quite big and could be used better if there was a new flood mitigation strategy.