LAUSR

One of the most valuable ecosystems that are located in the northwest of Iran is the Urmia Lake Basin. Drying the Urmia Lake has led to an environmental, social and economic crisis. In the present study, in addition, completing information on groundwater quality in the Eastern area of Urmia Lake, the effects of changes in the level and quality of Urmia Lake on basin waters for various utilizations is investigated. To do this research geographic information systems in the study area (including Shabstar, Oskou, Azarshahr, and Ajabsheir plains) was used. Qualitative parameters of groundwater were analyzed using the modified Mann–Kendall test and also with using the Theil–Sen estimator, values of trend slope from 2010 to 2015 were estimated and for doing all of these tests, the software R was used. Accordingly the trend slopes of the qualitative parameters, 40% in Shabstar, 74% in Ajabsheir plain, 26% in the Azarshahr plain, majority of parameters except pH (about 94%) in the Oskou plain have been positive changes trending in SAR, Na+, %Na+, and Cl− indicate which geological and hydrological properties can play a main role in these changes and it can be concluded that changes in the quantity and quality in Lake Urmia has a significant impact on the quality of groundwater in the eastern basin of the Urmia Lake.