Development of a scenario-based approach using game theory for the restoration of Hawizeh Marsh and dust mitigation

The exploitation of water from the Main Outfall Drain (MOD) canal together with the water from the Tigris River can be considered an effective solution to reduce the water consumption from the Tigris River by Iraq's agricultural sector. This extra outflow can be used to restore Hawizeh Marsh and improve/control the consequent environmental problems (including dust storms) across the region. Accordingly, this study presents an efficient water resource management framework based on a game theory model to calculate the amount of agricultural drainage water available for exploitation in MOD, which can be integrated with the Tigris River water for agricultural irrigation. Different conjunctive water use scenarios were evaluated through a non-cooperative game theory model. The proposed optimum scenarios, in addition to supplying this wetland's water rights and consequently mitigating its environmental problems, can also perfectly meet the water demand of farmers in terms of both quantity and quality.