Water and Irrigation Management

Water and Irrigation Management

Environmental Impact Assessment of the Implementation of the Varamin Plain Irrigation and Drainage Network Using the ICOLD Matrix

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Maryam Eslami 1
Maryam Varavi pour 1
Mahsa Jabbari 2
1 Department of Water Engineering, College of Aburayhan, University of Tehran, Tehran, Pakdasht, Iran.
2 Department of Environment, Hydraulics and Water Structures Research Institute, Water Research Institute, Ministry of Energy, Tehran, Iran.
10.22059/jwim.2025.394257.1224
Abstract
Environmental considerations should be a priority for project implementers. Environmental impacts are one of the key pillars of sustainable development. This study examines the environmental assessment of the irrigation and drainage network in Varamin, located in Tehran Province. To achieve the research objective, significant positive and negative impacts resulting from the project implementation were identified and predicted using the ICOLD matrix. The environmental impact assessment matrix for the implementation option of the Varamin drainage network, along with the cumulative effects, is presented. The implementation option was evaluated in three phases: construction, operation, and post-impact mitigation measures. Of all the impacts, 32.88% pertained to the physical environment, 27.76% to the natural environment, and 39.36% to the socio-economic environment. The most significant positive impacts resulting from the implementation of the Varamin drainage network include 14 effects. After mitigation measures were taken, 2 effects were observed in the physical environment, 2 effects in the natural environment, and 2 effects in the socio-economic environment.
Keywords
Environmental Impact Assessment
Irrigation and Drainage Network
ICOLD Matrix
Varamin
Subjects
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Water and Irrigation Management
Volume 15, Issue 4
Winter 2026
Pages 877-888