Iran’s longest river is drying up due to dam construction, water mismanagement, and climate change, threatening ecosystems, public health, and livelihoods in Khuzestan.
A River on the Brink
The Karun River, stretching more than 950 kilometers and known as Iran’s longest river, is on the verge of an unprecedented environmental catastrophe. Declining water flow, the drying up of riverbeds, and the stench of stagnant water have alarmed experts and activists, raising fears of irreversible damage.
Ali Arwahi, a wetland ecosystem management specialist, told Khabar Online on Thursday, August 21, that while climate change plays a role, the root of the crisis lies in “incorrect governance and inefficient management of water resources.” He pointed to excessive dam construction, water-intensive agriculture, and the expansion of industries such as steel and petrochemicals as major culprits.
Dam Construction and Water Mismanagement
Arwahi highlighted the construction of dams such as Karun 3, Karun 4, and Gotvand, as well as water transfers to provinces like Isfahan and Yazd, as key drivers of the crisis. In Khuzestan itself, high-consumption crops such as sugarcane and rice have compounded the strain on water resources.
He noted that salt accumulation in the Gotvand Dam reservoir has drastically increased the river’s salinity, worsening ecological damage. “In previous years, the Karun’s flow, which was once between 500 and 600 cubic meters per second, has dropped below 100 cubic meters in some months,” Arwahi warned.
Ecological and Health Consequences
The expert described alarming impacts of reduced flow and stagnation:
- Aquatic ecosystems are collapsing as low oxygen levels and rising salinity kill fish and invertebrates, disrupt spawning, and destroy habitats.
- Algal blooms and anaerobic bacteria create foul odors and toxic gases such as hydrogen sulfide, causing respiratory problems and headaches.
- Public health risks include increased digestive and infectious diseases, and the spread of mosquito-borne illnesses like malaria and dengue fever.
Arwahi warned that wetlands such as Shadegan and Hur al-Azim—critical habitats for migratory birds—are now under severe threat from both water shortages and pollution. “The Karun crisis has put pressure on the ecological chain from aquatic animals to birds,” he said.
Human and Social Impacts
The crisis has forced many villagers in Khuzestan to abandon their homes due to the salinity of farmland and lack of irrigation water. Livestock farmers, unable to sustain herds, are losing their livelihoods.
Arwahi warned that continued decline in agriculture would increase food dependency, drive migration, and threaten the region’s social and economic stability. He emphasized that reduced agricultural production and loss of skilled labor could alter the demographic fabric of Khuzestan, further fueling discontent.
Dust storms, fueled by the drying of wetlands, are also expected to increase, worsening respiratory diseases and public health challenges across the region.
A Call for Reform in Water Governance
Arwahi stressed that overcoming the Karun crisis requires a shift from demand-driven exploitation to sustainable management, including proper water harvesting and restoring the river’s water rights. Without decisive measures, he warned, the “blood vessel of Khuzestan” could turn into a permanent center of environmental and social crisis.
The Karun River’s plight is more than an environmental issue; it is a reflection of systemic governance failure in the Iranian regime. Dam construction, poor planning, and shortsighted policies have compounded climate pressures, leaving Khuzestan vulnerable to ecological collapse, public health emergencies, and forced migration.
If action is not taken soon, the Karun—once the lifeline of southwest Iran—may become a symbol of the regime’s failure to safeguard the nation’s most vital natural resources.
