Water resource sustainability in catchment areas, particularly in Iran’s arid and semi-arid regions, represents a fundamental challenge for sustainable development and environmental security. This study aims to conduct a comparative analysis of water resource sustainability components in the Kor River catchment, focusing on the role of geographic location (upstream and downstream of the Droudzan Dam) and stakeholder perspectives (experts and farmers). The research method is applied and descriptive–analytical, and the data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire covering four main components: enabling environment, institutions and participation, management tools, and financing. Data analysis was performed using statistical tests including the t-test, Mann–Whitney test, Friedman test, and two-way ANOVA in SPSS software. The results indicate that sustainability components are in a more favorable condition in downstream villages compared to upstream ones, with the greatest differences observed in the indices of institutions and participation and management tools. Experts generally provided a more positive assessment of the sustainability status than farmers, who highlighted operational and economic challenges more prominently. The financing component received the lowest score in both areas, indicating weaknesses in economic support and sustainable investment. The findings emphasize the necessity of adopting a participatory, justice-oriented, and indigenous approach to water resource management, aimed at strengthening institutional and financial infrastructures while increasing the role of local stakeholders in decision-making. This study proposes a novel, human-centered model for assessing water resource sustainability that can also be extended to other similar catchment areas.


Extended Abstract
Introduction
Introduction: Water resource sustainability in watersheds, particularly in the arid and semi-arid regions of Iran, represents one of the major challenges for sustainable development and environmental security. Despite an average annual rainfall of approximately 250 mm and an evaporation rate of nearly 1500 mm, the growing demand for water in agriculture, drinking supply, and industry has led to groundwater depletion and increased drought vulnerability. The Kor River watershed, where the Dorudzan Dam is located, represents a clear example in which unequal water allocation between upstream and downstream areas has generated social and economic tensions. The present study aims to conduct a comparative analysis of the components of water resource sustainability in the Kor River watershed, with particular emphasis on the role of geographical location (upstream and downstream of the Dorudzan Dam) and the perspectives of key stakeholders (experts and farmers).

Method
This research is applied in purpose and descriptive–analytical in design, focusing on the comparative analysis of water resource sustainability components. The statistical population consisted of water resource experts and exploiting farmers in the study area. Data were collected through a researcher-developed questionnaire covering four main components: enabling environment, institutions and participation, management tools, and financing. Content validity was confirmed by 10 subject-matter experts, and reliability was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS software. Independent sample t-tests were used to compare sustainability levels between upstream and downstream areas, while the Mann–Whitney test was applied to analyze differences in stakeholder perspectives due to non-normal distributions. The Friedman test was used to rank the sustainability components, and a two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was employed to evaluate the interaction effects of geographical location and stakeholder type. The normality of the data was confirmed using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test. This analytical framework ensured the scientific validity of the results and provided a reliable basis for policy recommendations.

Findings
The results of the statistical analyses indicate that water resource sustainability components are in a more favorable condition in villages located downstream of the Dorudzan Dam compared to those upstream. The most significant differences between the two areas were observed in the components of institutions and participation and management tools. These differences are largely attributed to downstream access to dam-related infrastructure such as irrigation canals and monitoring stations, as well as the establishment of local cooperatives. In contrast, upstream areas face topographic limitations and insufficient monitoring. From the stakeholders’ perspective, experts provided a more optimistic assessment of the sustainability status than farmers. Farmers emphasized practical challenges, such as high pumping costs, as well as economic constraints including insufficient subsidies. The financing component received the lowest score in both regions. The two-way ANOVA results confirmed that weak economic support, limited public–private investment, and instability in government budgets contribute significantly to this issue. These findings highlight the socio-spatial heterogeneity of water resource sustainability and underscore the need for targeted interventions.

Conclusion
The findings of this study emphasize the necessity of adopting a participatory, equity-based, and locally grounded approach to water resource management. Considering the observed spatial heterogeneity, such an approach requires strengthening institutional and financial infrastructures. The two-way interaction analysis indicates that increasing the role of local stakeholders in decision-making—through mechanisms such as adaptive governance models—can improve farmers’ satisfaction and reduce spatial disparities. Practical recommendations include the development of digital management tools for upstream areas, the implementation of localized training programs for farmers, the adoption of equity-based water allocation policies based on hydro-economic models, and the periodic evaluation of sustainability using composite indicators. These interventions can help address financial limitations and improve overall sustainability levels. This study presents a novel, human-centered model for assessing water resource sustainability that integrates both qualitative and quantitative stakeholder perspectives and has the potential to be applied to other watersheds with conditions similar to those in Iran. The study’s limitations include its local scale; therefore, future research is recommended to incorporate long-term dynamic modeling under different climate scenarios. The proposed model aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6 and SDG 13, and can provide a foundation for national water policy development.

Funding
This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Authors’ Contribution
Authors’ Contributions: All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection, and analysis were performed collaboratively. All authors contributed to writing the manuscript and approved the final version.

Conflict of Interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Acknowledgments
The author(s) declare that there are no acknowledgments.