Volume 14, Issue 1 (12-2025)
2025, 14(1): 25-43 |
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Hosseini M, Mostafavi H, Piri K, Delavar M, Davari K. Integrated Assessment and Spatial Mapping of Anthropogenic Pressures Affecting the Ecological Status of the Kashafrud River Basin. Iranian Journal of Applied Ecology 2025; 14 (1) :25-43
URL: http://ijae.iut.ac.ir/article-1-1266-en.html
URL: http://ijae.iut.ac.ir/article-1-1266-en.html
Department of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Management, Environmental Sciences Research Institute (ESRI), Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract: (58 Views)
Rivers and their basins are vital components of the hydrological cycle and natural ecosystems. However, rapid urban expansion, land-use change, overexploitation of water resources, dam construction, and the influx of industrial and agricultural pollutants have imposed significant pressures on these systems. This study adopts an integrated approach to assess anthropogenic pressures affecting the Kashafrud River Basin in northeastern Iran. Water quality was evaluated at 10 monitoring stations using the Iranian Water Quality Index for Surface Waters (IRWQIsc), while agricultural expansion, urban development, industrial activities, sand and gravel extraction, and dam construction were analyzed through spatial data and satellite imagery. Results indicate that agricultural land cover increased from 13.44% to 18.23% over the past five decades, while rangeland decreased from 58.20% to 36.98%. Simultaneously, residential areas expanded from 1.27% to 2.24%. Water quality assessments further revealed that most monitoring stations fell into the “very poor” category. Cumulative pressure analysis highlighted that the central and northeastern parts of the basin, particularly around the metropolitan area of Mashhad, are subject to the highest levels of anthropogenic stress. These findings underscore the urgent need for integrated water resources management, reconsideration of land-use development patterns, and stricter control of agricultural and industrial pollution sources to restore and ensure the long-term sustainability of the Kashafrud River.
Keywords: Kashafrud River, Water Quality, Anthropogenic Pressures, Land Use, IRWQIsc, Water Resources Management
Type of Study: Applicable |
Subject:
General
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