Havza sürdürülebilirlik indeksinin Türkiye'de uygulanması: Ergene havzası örneği | Implementation of watershed sustainability index in Turkey: Ergene basin case study

Ergene Watershed is a transboundy basin which is located in the Northwest of Turkey. The basin area is 1.448.812 ha. and the population of basin is 1.592.855 in 2012. Most of domestic wastewater of population is discharged into receiving environment without treated. Ergene Watershed is the one of the most important basins in terms of industry. More than 2000 industrial plant are located in this basin. Ergene Watershed is also important for agriculture. Basin meets the %6 of sunflower production, %54 of rice production and %12 of wheat production of Turkey. All this production activities leads to pressure on Ergene Watershed and cause environmental pollution. Ergene Watershed is one of the Turkey's most polluted basins.In this study, the current situation of the sustainable integrated water resources management in Turkey and its development between 2008-2012 have been elaborated, especially in Ergene basin with the Chavez and Alipaz's Watershed Sustainability Index. The lacking points and the positive developments have been identified, and the methods which will facilitate the use of this index in Turkey has been discussed. However, the change of index with giving different coefficient and choosing WSI indices which is representing the current situation and development between 2008-2012 has been discussed.As a result, WSI score 0.70, weighted score 0.67, current situation score 0.38 and development score 0.69 is calculated. When all scores is utilized, WSI assessment was found moderately successful between 2008 and 2012 in Ergene Watershed. In this thesis, future projections are also made and potential future changes are discussed. Through this thesis, it is criticised that the effect of index's assessing sustainability with assessment of sustainable watershed management in one of the basins of Turkey.