An investigation into the major causes of declining water availability in the Kura River Basin

Abstract

Declining water availability in the Kura River Basin is a multidimensional water-security challenge shaped by climatic variability, human withdrawals, irrigation inefficiency, river regulation, water quality and transboundary management. This article develops an original student research review into a structured synthesis of hydrological, environmental and governance evidence while preserving its central research question, source figure and emphasis on evidence quality. Historical studies indicate substantial variation in Kura flow and document periods of reduced discharge, while recent tree-ring reconstruction demonstrates that wet and dry phases have occurred over long timescales. Irrigation and other abstractions can intensify seasonal scarcity, particularly where conveyance losses increase the amount of water required to satisfy demand. Reservoirs alter the timing and distribution of flow rather than producing a uniform effect on annual discharge, and declining water quality can reduce the amount of water suitable for particular uses without necessarily reducing physical river volume. The review therefore distinguishes water quantity from water quality and measured observations from projections or secondary interpretations. It concludes that resilient management requires long-term hydrological monitoring, efficient irrigation, adaptive reservoir operation, pollution control, ecosystem restoration and coordinated data exchange. From a green-economy perspective, such measures protect agricultural productivity, water security and ecosystem services while reducing long-term environmental and economic risk.