Flood‐oriented watershed health and ecological security conceptual modeling using pressure, state, and response (PSR) approach for the Sharghonj Watershed, South Khorasan Province, Iran.

Today, watersheds have changed under the influence of various environmental and human factors, and their expected performance has decreased in terms of meeting human needs, providing natural responses, and reducing environmental risks. However, evaluating health status and its impact on various factors has not been given enough attention. To this end, an attempt has been made to evaluate the health and ecological security of the subwatersheds of the Sharghonj Watershed using the pressure‐state‐response approach emphasizing flood‐related issues in the region. Toward that, 21 preliminary hydrological, anthropogenic, natural, and climatic criteria were selected. The preliminary variables were then finalized based on the results of the collinearity test and the data availability. The final variables were appropriately allocated to pressure, state, and response (PSR) indices, and associated health and ecological security indices were determined at the subwatershed scale. The results showed that the PSR ranged from 0.56 to 0.86, 0.46 to 0.84, and 0.35 to 0.96, respectively. Health and ecological security also varied from 0.53 to 0.83 and 0.27 to 1.01 in different subwatersheds. Eventually, the weighted mean PSR indices for the Sharghonj Watershed were 0.72, 0.67, and 0.73, respectively. The weighted mean health and ecological security indices were 0.70 and 0.68, respectively. The research results indicated that the dynamic of various variables related to floods considerably affects the health of the Sharghonj Watershed. It could be concluded from the results that the Sharghonj Watershed is highly flood‐susceptible, whose health and ecological security status was mainly controlled by the damages due to the destruction of residences and orchards by floods in the past few years. The results of the current study provide an appropriate roadmap to the decision makers and planners for the better management of the watershed resources in the region through allocating adequate financial support and implementation measures to priority subwatersheds. Highlights: Flood‐based health of the Sharghonj Watershed, Iran, was levied using 21 criteria.Barberry orchards played an essential role in determining watershed health.Proper land‐use and floodplain management affected watershed health positively.The health and security changes of the Sharghonj Watershed were dissimilar.Flood damages mainly controlled the health and ecological security status. Recommendations for Resource Managers Determining the determinant factors on flood‐related issues in the study watershed to accordingly implement appropriate flood control measures.A problem‐oriented approach and in‐depth conceptualization of pressures and management policies applied to watersheds are essential in integrated watershed management.Designating the subwatershed‐specific best management scenarios based on the health and ecological security conditions in a technically productive and economically efficient strategy.Focusing on priority subwatershed to shortly adopt appropriate measures before worsening the governing conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]