Methods of reconstruction and exploitation of irrigation-mastered estuaries in the South of European part of Russia
In the paper issues of improving the methods of exploitation of irrigation-engineering of estuaries in the South of the European part of Russia discussed both in terms of water-reclamation activities (maintenance service of melioration systems) and fodder production for the purpose of environmentally safe utilization and conservation of natural resources of these unique ecosystems. Natural estuaries are closed flat-bottomed depressions, where due to the spring soil moisture with surface runoff waters, highly productive grass stands have been formed. Since the middle of the last century, the filling of estuaries with water came from the channels of irrigation systems. This provided annual rainfalls of soils over large areas and stable getting a high gross yield of fodder. The incident in the short term the restructuring of the operating regimes of estuaries has led to the transformation of the valuable forage grasses in the communities of little value and caused a significant reduction in the productivity of meadows. Due to a number of reasons, it is not advisable to talk about the intensification of feed production in most estuaries at the present time. It should be about reasonable use of water resources, rational management of the economy, involving the preservation of the estuary for a long period of time. This requires: compliance with science-based norms and terms of flooding; the creation of productive and durable herbage; creation of comfortable conditions for valuable types of herbs. Violations of the norms and terms of flooding are usually caused by a malfunction of engineering structures. The article presents typical faults of engineering structures of irrigation-developed estuaries and ways of their elimination. For the sustainable functioning of the estuaries, it is necessary to create a system of integrated assessment and monitoring of their condition. The information system is based on geoinformation technologies. This approach allows to implement direct operational management of the whole complex of restoration works, water resources and operation of irrigation-equipped estuaries.