Water Governance in the Sefidrud Basin Using the Theory of Games Approach

Water resources management in the country has been confronted with conflicts over the last years due to increasing demand on one hand and decreasing renewable water per capita on the other hand. The game theory is one of the scientific methods for resolving conflicts in management. The purpose of this study is to investigate and provide a solution to the conflict resolution of downstream part of Sefidrud dam using game theory. For modeling and analysis of the conflict, Graph Model for Conflict Resolution (GMCR) was used. After determining players (Agricultural Jihad Organization, Regional Water Company, Farmers, Governorate and Environmental Organization) and options and inserting them into the model, 128 states were created in this conflict. It uses non-cooperative solution concepts. With regard to prioritize strategies by decision-makers, 4 situations were identified as equilibrium points. After the final analysis of the software ،the most favorable state in the conflict between the points of equilibrium was the state of 96 that the farmers and the regional water company, respectively, have observed alternative irrigation and proper distribution of water required According to the results, solving these conflicts without effective governance in the large Sefidrud watershed is not possible due to the cooperation between the exploiters and the punishment of the offenders.