The Karun River, Iran’s longest river with a length of more than 950 kilometers, is on the verge of an environmental disaster and severe drought.
A sharp decrease in water flow, the drying of parts of the riverbed, and the stench caused by stagnant water have sounded alarms, drawing the attention of environmental experts and activists.
Ali Arvahie, a wetland ecosystem management expert, said in an interview with the state-run Khabar Online website on Thursday, August 21, that climate change and the establishment of water-intensive industries such as steel and petrochemical plants are factors exacerbating the drying of the Karun. He stressed that the main problem is “mismanagement and poor governance of water resources,” which has resulted in dam construction and pressure for water-intensive farming, both of which fuel the crisis.
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He pointed to the construction of dams such as Karun-3, Karun-4, and Gotvand, water transfers to provinces like Isfahan and Yazd, and high-consumption crops such as sugarcane and rice in Khuzestan as the main causes of the Karun water crisis. He added that salt deposits in the Gotvand Dam reservoir have multiplied the river’s salinity.
He stressed that dam construction and water transfers have drastically altered the river’s flow, reducing water reaching downstream and wetlands, warning: “In recent years, Karun’s inflow, which once stood between 500 to 600 cubic meters per second, has in some months dropped below 100 cubic meters.”
Terrifying consequences
Arvahie went on to address the environmental impacts of the drying Karun and the stench of stagnant water, saying: “Reduced water flow lowers dissolved oxygen, increasing the risk of death among aquatic life and invertebrates. The growth of algae and anaerobic bacteria creates foul odors, and abnormal sedimentation alters habitats.”
He added: “Gases such as hydrogen sulfide can cause respiratory problems and headaches, while poor water quality exacerbates gastrointestinal and infectious diseases. There is also the possibility of rising mosquito populations and diseases such as malaria or dengue fever.”
The reduction in oxygen and increased salinity of the Karun result in the death of aquatic species and the destruction of habitats, making their migration for spawning more difficult.
Arvahie stated: “The Shadegan and Hoor al-Azim wetlands, which are habitats for migratory birds, are endangered due to declining water levels and pollution, and some species may be lost. The Karun crisis has put the entire ecological chain—from aquatic life to birds—under severe pressure.”
Forced migration
This ecosystem expert warned about forced migration if the situation continues, stating that some villagers in Khuzestan have already been forced to leave their lands due to lack of water for agriculture and soil salinity. In such circumstances, livestock farmers can no longer sustain themselves, leading to increased social discontent.
He added that reduced agricultural production, dependence on food imports, and the loss of skilled labor threaten the region’s social and economic security and may lead to demographic shifts.
According to Arvahie, the drying of wetlands could increase dust storm hotspots and threaten public health. To overcome this crisis, he said, water governance must shift from demand-oriented management toward water-saving development and guaranteeing water rights for the Karun and downstream wetlands.
In these circumstances, the Karun more than ever reflects the failure of water governance under Iran’s regime, and without effective measures, the “lifeline of Khuzestan” will turn into a permanent center of crisis.
