Runoff and Suspended Sediment load from main Tributaries into the Zarivar Lake

The Zarivar Lake receives freshwater from six natural tributaries and a constructed diverting dam known as Ghezelchesoo. Little is known about contribution of tributaries to runoff and suspended sediments from watershed to Zarivar Lake during the seasons. During storm events and base flow periods, water samples were obtained from all active tributaries of the lake Zarivar. From March 2011 to March 2012, 7 storms which caused to runoff have been recorded. Tributaries carry an annual load of 1.62 and 6.84 million m3 of runoff during storms and baseflow condition respectively and also 708.02 tons of suspended sediments (SS) into the lake, depending on the river, floods are responsible for up to 99% of SS annual input. Ghezelchesoo has become the artificial tributary since the beginning of functioning its diversion dam in 1997