Construction of an Earthen Dam in Masavo Valley Leads to Water Stability and Strengthens Sustainable Tourism in Qaleh Bala
The head of the Department of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts of Shahroud County announced the implementation of an earthen dam construction project in the Masavo Valley of Qaleh Bala village.
According to the Iran Heritage News Agency reporter, Seyyed Mohammad Sadegh Razavian announced today, Sunday, June 7, 2026: The Islamic Council and the village council of Qaleh Bala, with the aim of storing winter rainfall and preventing surface water loss, have undertaken the construction of an earthen dam in the Masavo Valley, the first valley on the path to the region's famous Mehdi Cave.
The head of the Department of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts of Shahroud County, referring to the fact that this project was implemented and put into operation with a budget of over 500 million Rials, added: This action in a region facing water resource limitations not only leads to the strengthening of local agriculture and horticulture but also provides the ground for preserving the ecosystem and the continuity of the village's social and economic life, a matter of double importance for a global tourist destination.
He stated: This valuable village is not only known for its terraced architecture, pristine nature, and ecotourism capacities, but today, with a forward-looking approach in the field of natural resource management, it also serves as a notable model for other regions of the country.
Razavian, stating that the main goal of this project was to control surface flows and enhance the recharge of underground aquifers, explained: The waters that were previously lost without use are now, through gradual infiltration into the ground, helping to revive the old qanats of the village and play an important role in increasing the stability of the region's water resources.
The head of the Department of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts of Shahroud County elaborated: From the perspective of international standards, sustainable tourism is achieved when infrastructure development goes hand in hand with the protection of natural resources and local identity, and Qaleh Bala, by implementing such projects, has shown that it is pursuing the path of globalization by relying on responsible management and local community participation.
He emphasized in the end: The Masavo Valley earthen dam project is a successful example of synergy between water resource management and the preservation of rural identity, and it can be used as a low-cost, high-yield, and scalable model for other tourist destination villages.