Preliminary investigations of rocks and soil at the lower reach of Al-Shor Wadi for water harvesting

The last four decades weather forecasting data marks the precipitation declination and increase dry years, in addition to the desertification migration on the west and northwestern Mosul city. This led to studying the Al-Shor Wadi area to try to make use of the karstic spring water flow through it and to harvest the rainfall flow water. These need to select the best site to construct a dam taking into consideration the geological and geotechnical characteristics of both dam site and lake behind. The dam site appears to be appropriate relying on the large thickness and frequencies of the marl bed, the restriction of gypsum bed thicknesses and frequencies as well as, of the approximate nill karstification.