The role of check structures in attracting tourists and reducing the risks of erosion and sediment (Case study: Khorramabad city)

Subject Areas : Geospatial systems development

Vahid Beiranvandi ¹ (MSc. Student of Watershed Management, Faculty of Natural Resources and Agriculture, Lorestan University, Iran)
Bahar Beishami ² (Assistant Professor, Tourism Research Center of RICHT, Tehran, Iran)

Received: 2021-05-16 Accepted : 2021-08-04 Published : 2022-04-21

Keywords: Risks of erosion, Cheek dams, Site Selection, C#programming language, Tourism Industry,

Abstract :

Background and Objective Human civilizations have long been formed along the rivers and water-rich areas, due to the need for water resources. Today, the growing trend of societies and the need for progress in various fields such as agriculture, housing, tourism, etc., have made the exploitation of water resources inevitable. The severe economic dependence of the country on the oil exports on the one hand, and the disregard for the potential income from different types of tourism, on the other hand, made in this study solve the problems concerning the tourism industry. While identifying a suitable place for investment in the margins of water resources, we will introduce the most crucial capacities for the growth and development of tourism in communities, including structures such as dams, rivers, and dikes correction. These structures prevent hazards such as floods, erosion, and sediment that impede sustainable development. Therefore, this research will help us in watershed management operations and tourism development, along with creating special landscapes and reducing the related expenditures. For this purpose, by preparing various scenarios for special conditions such as slopes and water canals, necessary measures such as the dikes correction can be done in the best way. Also, the present study may provide the managers and stakeholders with a better view of the field of watershed management and the tourism industry. The research questions are as follows: What are the advantages and disadvantages of constructing any type of dike for tourism?, and What is the impact of dikes correction on the catchments of the study area and its role in attracting tourists?. In today's world, where tourism is a lucrative and pervasive industry, it is possible to help attract more tourists and identify these attractions by linking the watershed management, tourism, and rural attractions. Corrective structures are small structures constructed, using simple materials such as wood, stone, stone and mortar, concrete, and gravel netting, to reduce the slope of the canals, reduce the speed of water flow, and control erosion. In this study, by determining the appropriate location of dikes correction, it has been attempted to show the role of watershed management operations in the development of tourism in an area and the ways of reducing the financial and human costs of natural threats caused by rainfall. Without carefully examining the proper location of the dikes correction, any measure will have adverse effects on rural areas, roads, farms, and gardens, as well as urban areas. By merely building some kinds of the dike, we could not hope to earn huge incomes from tourism. Therefore, in this research, the following goals would be pursued: Determining and identifying the places affected by the dikes correction plan in the study area, Preserving water and soil, preventing the erosion, and creating a tourism-friendly environment; Scientific review of the advantages and disadvantages of dikes correction; Reduction of damages resulted from the drought and creating a beautiful environment; Study of international ideas and experiences in this regard; Reviewing the works done in other areas and comparing it with the works in the study area; The performance of dikes in the study area in terms of rainfall status and its role in the rate of erosion and sedimentation; The impact of structures correction on human, social and physical capitals and its consequences for society.Materials and Methods This applied study has been conducted in Khorramabad, the center of Lorestan Province-Iran. With an area of 4942 square kilometers and an altitude of 1148 meters above sea level and having a temperate climate, this area is one of the most important and largest catchments of the Karkheh River. Using the opinion of experts and applying the #C programming language for each of the hydrological criteria with the following sub-indicators, a weight is obtained. Using the effect of the weights on the created phase map and the geographical information system, a weight map is produced. Sub-indicators include water canals (grading the streams), wells, springs, and aqueducts (location of these resources downstream of these structures), topography with geological subsections (rock hardness), coverage, slope (division in the range of 5-70%), economic and social indicators (main roads and by-ways and location of villages) and two important land usage priorities (severe dependency on the type of land coverage with regard to the erosion) and faults prepared from the Geology map (1:25000). By merging all accessible maps, suitable locations will be selected to build correction dams in proper tourist areas.Results and Discussion In this study, we examined the type of dikes correction in 8 random points of the study area, the results of which show the appropriateness of the implementation method of the study. Considering the objectives of the study and the importance of constructing each of the dikes correction in reducing the damages caused by erosion and sedimentation after rainfalls, and regarding the importance of the project in tourist attraction, and lastly to improve the performance of such projects, we will present the following suggestions: Implementation of studies in the margins of structures, for tourism development; Construction of fishing ponds in the path of correction structures and including a fishing program for tourists, with the aim of entertainment and creating inner peace; Reducing the pressure on water and land resources, by increasing currency earnings and entrepreneurship in the framework of ecotourism services; Maintaining and increasing the balance of water resources in order to attract tourists; Storage and preservation of seasonal waters in order to grow vegetation and increase the desire of tourists, in the dry seasons of the region; Piloting a part of the study area, with the aim of determining the role of dikes correction in attracting tourists and comparing it with other water resources; Using the knowledge of watershed management engineers in the scientific construction of various correction, in order to attract scientific tourists; Maximize the development of ecotourism with abandoned water resources.Conclusion The analysis of the findings of this study reveals that in order to assume tourism as an applied industry, its various aspects should be considered; The most important strategies and suggestions presented to achieve this research goal are as follows: ­ Providing simple, appropriate and practical solutions based on scientific principles to improve the employment situation, maintain and develop infrastructures, revitalize tourist sites (watershed structures) and sane financial resources. Prioritization in this way plays an effective role in making the watershed and tourism construction credits, purposeful.

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