The study aims to enrich the information of planners, policymakers, and water resources managers for planning and operating dams. This research aims to address the following question: What are the environmental, economic, and social impacts of the construction and operation of dams on the environment and society? The study assumes that good management is the ideal solution to solve the problems of negative effects resulting from the construction and operation of dams. The research relied on the descriptive analytical approach in studying the positive and negative impacts of Haditha Dam and the government's role. A questionnaire was conducted for 30 specialists in urban and regional planning to find out the most important strategies for sustainable management. The questionnaire was validated and reliable to ensure the validity of the questions selected for the study. Cronbach's alpha value (α = 0.82) was good and acceptable. The study concluded the importance of involving stakeholders in the planning and decision-making process, with a survey response rate of approximately 70%. Sixty percent of respondents believe that monitoring and decision support systems represent a challenge for decision-makers in the sustainable management process. The study recommends the importance of enhancing local community participation and improving focus on sustainability mechanisms to achieve maximum benefit from dams for society. The research recommends enhancing the contribution of the local community in the decision-making process and conducting a “follow-up” to assess the environmental impact, economic returns, and social impacts resulting from the operation and construction of the dam. © (2025), (International Information and Engineering Technology Association). All rights reserved.
