Problems of using irrigation reservoirs in the arid zone of the European territory of Russia

Abstract

The aim of the research is to assess the reasons for the degradation of irrigation reservoirs in the arid zone of the European Territory of the Russian Federation and to identify measures necessary for their rehabilitation and resumption of irrigation. Accordingly, the following problems are solved: identification and analysis of the main reasons for a significant reduction in the use of reservoirs for irrigation; assessment of changes in the conditions of functioning of irrigation reservoirs in the arid zone of the European Territory of the Russian Federation; justification of the need to restore irrigation from irrigation reservoirs; justification of the possibility of restoring irrigation from irrigation reservoirs. The research was carried out on the example of the Remontnenskoye reservoir, located in the semi-desert zone on the border of the Rostov region and the Republic of Kalmykia, according to the methodological approaches, which included both field measurements of water objects, statistical methods respect to the obtained data, and stochastic modeling of water use according to the developed rules for runoff regulation. Among the results of the work the established facts of climate warming and siltation of the reservoir with its corresponding shallowing, which leads to a significant increase in evaporation losses, are noted. The need for proper functioning of reservoirs is confirmed by the requirements of the declaration for safety of hydraulic structures and environmental requirements for managed water resources. The possibility of potential use of reservoirs for irrigation is confirmed by modeling results according to rational rules of water resources management.