This watershed, which touches Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran, has been critical to the surrounding area because it has provided food and water to the region's communities, as well as supported trade, transportation, and energy.

The river basin also plays a vital role in sustaining biodiversity and the river's ecosystem and has important cultural and historical significance.

As reported in 2016 by a journal article from Ohio State, the basin of the river system covers nearly 35,000 square kilometers or 13,700 square miles.

The Tigris River has an average annual discharge of 52 billion cubic meters, and the Euphrates River has an average annual discharge of 32 billion cubic meters.

(Gibson 2022)

(Kibaroglu, et al. 2016)

Another important issue to mention is how the decreasing water supply implicates sanitation and hygiene, increasing the risk of disease due to water contamination. For example, a lack of clean water gives rise to highly contagious diseases such as cholera which can be treated simply through effective hydration. This type of scenario would also put stress on healthcare and emergency responsiveness, creating dire consequences for many.

(Arvanita, et al. 2023)

(Rubin 2023)

The damage that has been done is likely to not be undone within this century, perhaps even the next. However, several things could potentially help ease the burden and move the nations toward a more harmonious and equitable future.

This is important to understand in order to formulate a systems thinking approach, understand the bigger picture, and identify possible solutions.

These challenges directly impact the availability of water both present day and in the years to come. Remarkably, these rivers once sustained civilizations, but are now said to be suffering a slow death.

Another problem for the basin is the quality of available water in many of the villages. Excessive drought and poor irrigation practices, including the use of synthetic fertilizers, have caused the salinity levels in the groundwater to spike. This has made the water undrinkable for many who rely on it.

In some places, the water is deemed unusable for livestock and agriculture, and even washing dishes and clothes.

(Daggupati, et al. 2017)

(Rubin 2023)

Because of these uses, water is inextricably linked to livelihood. Without it, many cannot make a means to survive in the area. In fact, according to a 2023 New York Times article, each year, thousands of people from various parts of the basin are displaced or have been forced to leave their homes in search of better economic and living conditions.

(Kibaroglu, et al. 2016)

(Rubin 2023)

Manufacturing is another major land use that produces a variety of goods for the region. This includes textiles, electronics, chemicals, construction materials, machinery, and steel.

Both agriculture and manufacturing require a large and continuous amount of water to support their processes. This puts further strain on the already fragile basin.

(Gibson, et al. 2022)

(Kibaroglu, et al. 2016)

This competition prompted some authorities to implement nationalistic reforms, which resulted in hoarding or withholding resources. The emergence of large-scale water developments and infrastructures furthered the conflict. Some have even weaponized the river's supply against neighboring nations.

One example of this type of approach is Turkey's aggressive construction of dams and hydropower projects which have reduced Iraq's water supply by nearly 80% over the past four decades. This has put a chokehold on Iraq's water supply, which is now rigorously rationed.

These disputes and the lack of transnational water cooperation and management throw the river basin, and its inhabitants, into further peril.

(Chibani 2023)

In a paper published by the Mesopotamia Water Forum in 2019, the forum recorded 117 insect species, 12 amphibians, 100 freshwater and marine fish, 251 birds, and 6 mammal species. Of these listed, many are under threat or have already been classified as a threatened species.

The declining populations of species in this region are notable given how the diversity of wildlife contributes to the basin's ecosystem. However, the habitat is no longer a "friendly" one, as the quality and quantity of the water make it unlivable for many to thrive.

(Bachman, et al. 2019)

Arvanita, E., Boti, M., Eleftheroglou, D., & Krasanaki, M. (2023, February 27). The future of the Euphrates River. The Future of the Euphrates River. https://features.csis.org/the-future-of-the-Euphrates-River/#:~:text=The%20Euphrates%20River%20is%20at,could%20be%20dry%20by%202040.

Bachmann, A., Tice, V., Ali Al-Obeidi, L., & Tuba Kilıç, D. (2019). Tigris-Euphrates River Ecosystem: A status report. https://www.savethetigris.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Paper-Challenge-C-Ecosystem-FINAL-to-be-published-1.pdf  

Chibani, A. (2023, May 31). Water politics in the Tgris-Euphrates basin. Arab Center Washington DC. https://arabcenterdc.org/resource/water-politics-in-the-tigris-euphrates-basin/#:~:text=The%20Water%2DEnergy%2DFood%20Nexus%20along%20the%20Tigris%20and%20Euphrates&text=The%20rivers’%20waters%20have%20been,collective%20punishment%20on%20certain%20populations

Daggupati, P., Srinivasan, R., Ahmadi, M., & Verma, D. (2017, January 5). Spatial and temporal patterns of precipitation and stream flow variations in Tigris-Euphrates River basin - environmental monitoring and assessment. SpringerLink. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10661-016-5752-y  

Gibson, M., et al. (2022, October 3). Tigris-Euphrates river system. Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/Tigris-Euphrates-river-system  

Kibaroglu, A., Rifai, F., Zakzok, E., Schmandt, J., Oueidat, H., Payind, A., & Melinda McClimans, E. (2016). The Tigris and Euphrates River Basins. EuphratesTigris Water Issues An Introduction. https://ohiostate.pressbooks.pub/etwr/front-matter/introduction/#:~:text=The%20Tigris%2DEuphrates%20river%20basin,banks%20of%20the%20aforementioned%20rivers.

Kibaroglu, A. (2015, July 22). Transboundary water governance in the Euphrates Tigris River Basin. E-International Relations. https://www.e-ir.info/2015/07/22/transboundary-water-governance-in-the-euphrates-tigris-river-basin/#google_vignette  

Rubin, A. J., & Denton, B. (2023). A climate warning from the cradle of Civilization. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/29/world/middleeast/iraq-water-crisis-desertification.html?auth=login-google1tap&login=google1tap

In the paper published by the Mesopotamia Water Forum, it was reported that illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing was becoming increasingly problematic, and regional experts had warned that natural resources would continue to be depleted if new policies and a more cooperative framework were not implemented to ensure sustainability.

(Bachman 2019)

Another important solution is to create a treaty or comprehensive riparian agreement that works to de-escalate conflict, improve cooperation, and support the negotiation of new transboundary solutions. With this, it would mean transparency around infrastructure use and development, and possible de-construction of previous dams that are monopolizing water flow.

Ecosystem restoration and conservation initiatives are also essential in preserving the land and enabling habitable environments for plants and wildlife, while driving down land degradation and overharvesting. As part of this, community education and involvement would be key, as well as partnering with local farmers and fishermen to support more sustainable practices.

Each of these changes could help to promote social responsibility, improve economic vitality, and create environmental sustainability for the river basin and surrounding areas. These things are imperative for the future of the cradle of human civilization.

The drop in river flows is only expected to worsen as the effects of climate change progress. The Center for Strategic and International Studies reports that the Euphrates River is at risk of completely drying up due to climate change. It has been reported this could occur as early as 2040.

(Arvanita, et al. 2023)

(Rubin 2023)