For years, the nomads of the Gareh Bygone Plains of Iran were suffered poverty, ignorance, desertification and drought and floods. The program introduced desertification control through floodwater spreading towards artificial discharge of groundwater, employed infrastructure, reforestation, and community education and mobilization. After 5 years, documented results showed that 8 million cubic meters of floodwater provided ample freshwater, fuelwood and employment opportunities, and reduced the work burden on women and children. This led to a government policy adopting aquifer management as a program and allocating a annual budget.