M Samimi - Department of Water and Waste Water, Ministry of Energy of Iran

Considering the dry and semi dry climate of Iran, many parts of the country are dealing with the water shortage and drought problems. Consequently, different methods of water management and water storage and transfer have been developed during the past centuries, in order to deal with drought problems. Along with the historical water structures, still standing to remind the efforts of our ancestors, there are also many traditional water management rules and water division and application tools, still being used by farmers. It would be helpful to study these methods of programming for water application regarding the certain topographic and climatic situations of each part in order to set compatible water management systems.One of these traditional methods, being used for a long time in different parts of the country, is using water storage ponds, to store rainfall and surface water.This article, studies the structural characteristics of these ponds in a village in Taleghan City (Donbelid), and investigates the application methods and water division programs, and participation of farmers their application and maintenance, as well as the role of storage ponds in sustainable management of restricted water resources of these villages. Considering the fact that these ponds are still being used, it would be help full to study them for better programming of water resources management plans for future

Traditional Management Methods, Storage Ponds, Water Distribution System, Farmer Contribution