Assessing the Impacts of Land Use and Land Cover Changes on Hydrology of the Mbarali River Sub-Catchment. The Case of Upper Great Ruaha Sub-Basin, Tanzania

Intensification of agricultural land use and population growth from 1990-2017 has caused changes in land cover and land use of the Mbarali River sub-catchment which is located in the Upper Great Ruaha Sub basin, Tanzania. This has affected the magnitude of the surface runoff, total water yield and the groundwater flow. This study assesses the impacts of the land cover and land use changes on the stream flows and hydrological water balance components (surface runoff, water yield, percolation and actual evapotranspiration). The land use and land cover (LULC) maps for three window period snapshots, 1990, 2006 and 2017 were created from Landsat TM and OLI_TIRS with the help of QGIS version 2.6. Supervised classification was used to generate LULC maps using the Maximum Likelihood Algorithm and Kappa statistics for assessment of accuracy. SWAT was set up and run to simulate stream flows and hydrological water balance components. The assessment of the impacts of land use and land cover changes on stream flows and hydrological water balance component was performed by comparing hydrological parameters simulated by SWAT using land use scenarios of 2006 and 2017 against the baseline land use scenario of 1990. Accuracy of LULC classification was good with Kappa statistics ranging between 0.9 and 0.99. There was a drastic increase in areal coverage of cultivated land, for periods 1990-2006 (5.84%) and 2006-2017 (12.05%) compared to other LULC. During 2006 and 2017 surface runoff increased by 4% and 9% respectively;however, water yield increased by only 0.5% compared to 1990 baseline period. This was attributed to increased proportion of cultivated land in the sub-catchment which has a high curve number (59.60) that indicates a higher runoff response and low infiltration rate.

Farmers’ Perception of Soil Erosion and Adoption of Soil Conservation Technologies at Geshy Sub-Catchment, Gojeb River Catchment, Ethiopia

The study was conducted to investigate farmers’ perception of soil erosion, participation and adoption of soil conservation technologies (SWC) in Geshy sub-catchment of Gojeb river catchment, Omo-Gibe basin, Ethiopia during 2016. The study is based on a detailed survey of 77 households using structured interviews, field observation and focus group discussion. Descriptive and chi-square statistics were applied to analyze factors that affected farmers’ perceived soil erosion severity, participation and adoption options. The results revealed that about 79% of farmers perceived soil erosion problem and its consequences and 97.4% of them believed that it can be controlled. Almost all (97.4%) farmers acknowledged the presence of SWC technologies and about 92.2% of them were participated in conservation activities voluntarily. Thus, 93.5% of them realized decreasing rate of soil erosion and 79.9% of them observed an increasing trend in soil fertility status. Consequently, 94.8% of them confirmed the potential of SWC technologies to halt land degradation and improve land productivity. Furthermore, 98.7% of them were willing to adopt with very good adoption judgment and 94.8% of them were willing to continue maintaining constructed technologies in the future. Principally, farmers’ perception of soil erosion, their genuine participation derived from their conviction, and adoption of induced SWC technologies are the decisive elements for the success of watershed management interventions.

Modeling Surface Water Availability for Irrigation Development in Mbarali River Sub-Catchment Mbeya, Tanzania

Although Tanzania has a large land suitable for irrigation development, only 4.2% of the arable land which is potential for irrigation has been developed. Mbarali District is characterized by commercial and small-scale irrigation activities for paddy production. Currently, surface water availability for irrigation in Mbarali District is dwindling due to high water demands. Inadequate studies that estimate water availability for irrigation is one of the underlying factors to the lack of irrigation development in many parts of Tanzania including in Mbarali District. This study, therefore, aimed to model surface water availability for irrigation development in Mbarali River sub-catchment Mbeya, Tanzania. The Soil and Water Analysis Tool (SWAT) model and field observations were used to accomplish the study. The model estimates that Mbarali River sub-catchment receives about 631 mm of total mean precipitation annually. About 53% of received precipitation is lost through evapotranspiration, 12% recharged to deep aquifer and the remaining 35% discharged to the stream flow through surface runoff, lateral flow and return flow from unconfined aquifer. Discharge to the steam flow contributes to the total annual means of river discharge ranging from 0 - 10 cubic meters per second at upper catchment to 120 - 140 cubic meters per second at lower catchment. The study recommends that the lower reach of the Mbarali River sub-catchment is potential for irrigation than the upper reach as it has potential river flow that can support irrigation activities. The study also notes the urgent need for water reallocation plan to meet competing water needs in the lower reach of Mbarali River sub-catchment. Moreover, the study addresses the potentiality of irrigation in upper catchment under sustainable water management practices including excavation of small ponds to capture and store surface runoff for dry season use or to supplement irrigation as the rainfall declines.

Institutional Structures and Sustainability of Projects in Nyangores River Sub-Catchment Basin in Bomet County, Kenya

Integrated basin management approach has been applied in Nyangores River sub-catchment basin, since the year 2009 but with minimal success. Sub catchment degradation, organizational weakness, the flow and quality of water had started to diminish, creating challenges for local livelihoods, wildlife in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve, and in maintaining biodiversity and healthy ecosystem functioning. Water resources can be successfully managed only if the natural, social, economic and political environments, in which water occurs and used, are taken fully into consideration. The aim of this study is to determine the influence of institutional structures influence on sustainability of projects in Nyagores river sub-catchment basin in Bomet County, Kenya. The research designs used were descriptive survey and correlational research design. Stepwise and purposive sampling formed the sampling procedure. The results are presented descriptively using Tables while for qualitative data, narrative statements were used. Questionnaires, Interview guide and document analysis were used for data collection. The sample size was 371, from a targeted a population of 56,508 household heads and 10 informants, purposively selected from the water concerned institutions and ministries of Water and Agriculture. Total of 371 questionnaires were given out to the respondents and only 321, were duly filled and returned representing (86.5%). The objective was to establish the extent to which institutional structures influence sustainability of projects in Nyangores River sub-catchment Basin. The results indicated that there was a positive correlation r = 0.552, (p is was rejected and concluded that there is a significant relationship between the institutional structures and sustainability of projects in Nyangores river sub-catchment basin. R2 was 0.304;hence, 30.4% of changes in sustainability of projects are explained by institutional structures. Recommendations are;ensure a stringent policy for robust planning and management, and more robust forum for the stakeholders to complement the efforts of WRUA. It is suggested for further research, similar studies are done for the other adjacent river basins and to investigate ways of raising the level of community participation in the basin.

Land Cover Change and Its Socio-Economic Impact on the Residents of the Mara River, Kenya

Anthropogenic activities are increasingly catalyzing natural climatic factors that drive land cover change at different spatial scales. Available land cover data of the Mara River basin however give a broader picture of the entire basin regardless of the heterogeneity that exists at the sub-catchment level. This study sought to establish sub-catchment specific information on land cover changes through examination of satellite images of four Mara River sub-catchments (Amala, Nyangores, Talek and Sand River) for the period 1987-2017. The relationship between temperature, rainfall and land cover was also computed. In addition, a household survey and focus group discussions were conducted in each sub-catchments to establish the socio-economic impacts of land cover change on the community’s wellbeing. Forest cover was dominant in Amala (39.8%) and Nyangores (43.7%) sub-catchments in 1987 but by 2017 crop lands had surpassed forest cover in the two sub-catchments, accounting for 53.2% and 45.7%, respectively. However, in Talek (52.8%) and Sand River (47.4%) sub-catchments, grassland was the dominant land cover type in 1987 and after the 30 year period, grasslands remained dominant in Sand River, while shrub land became dominant in Talek sub-catchment. A weak positive correlation was observed between rainfall and forest cover, shrub land and cropland, while a negative correlation was observed between rainfall and bare land. Average temperature showed a positive moderate correlation with bare land and built up areas. Analysis of survey data revealed that livestock keeping, temperature increase, type of trees, education level of household head and weak environmental laws were the main drivers of land cover change (P −0.587), beans (r = −0.5459), sorghum (r = −0.351), cow peas (r = −0.544), and pigeon peas (r = −0.337). Focus group discussions participants were supportive of environmental protective measures to reverse negative land cover changes, while planting drought resistant trees, crop diversification and awareness creation among community members were recommended as the most ideal environmental management strategies.

Subtle Impacts of Temperature and Rainfall Patterns on Land Cover Change Overtime and Future Projections in the Mara River Basin, Kenya

The interactive and cumulative effect of temperature and rainfall on land cover change is a priority at global, regional and local scale. This study examined changes in six land cover categories (forestland, grasslands, shrub land, bare land, built-up areas and agricultural lands) in four sub-catchments (Amala, Nyangores, Talek and Sand River), of the Mara River basin over a 30-year period (1987-2017) and made predictions of future land cover change patterns. Landsat Imageries of 90 m resolution were retrieved and analyzed using ArcGIS 10.0 software. Relationship between NDVI, temperature and precipitation was determined using Pearson’s correlation coefficient, while Markov chains analyses were performed on different land cover categories to project future trends. Results showed low to moderate (R2 = 0.002 to 0.6) trends of change in NDVI of different land cover categories across all sub-catchments. The greatest change (R2 0.34 to 0.5) was recorded in bare land in three of the four sub-catchments studied. Precipitation showed a strong positive correlation with built-up areas, forestlands, croplands, bare land, grasslands and shrub lands, while temperature correlated strongly but negatively with the same land cover categories. The change detection matrix projected significant but varying changes in land cover categories across the four sub-catchments by 2027. This study underscores the impact of changing climatic factors on various land cover categories in the Mara River basin sub-catchments, with different land cover categories exhibiting strong positive sensitivity to high precipitation and low temperature and vice-versa.

Lithological and tectonic response on catchment characteristics of Rishi Khola, Sikkim, India

Rishi Khola,a sub-watershed of Teesta river,traverses along the Main Central Thrust(MCT)with a multitude of litho units and structural entities.This study examines the impact of tectonic and lithologic controls in configuring the catchment characteristics of Rishi Khola,Sikkim,India.Corrected SRTM 30m DEM and Landsat 8 satellite image have been used for extracting the river network,preparing the sub-catchments,the longitudinal profile and thereby calculating the morphotectonic indices.An aggregated tectonic index(ATI)has been prepared to map the intensity of tectonic perturbations in the fluvial environment using the entropy weightage method(EWM)and Weighted Linear Combination(WLC).The undulating nature of the longitudinal profile with prominent knick points confirms the presence of tectonic disturbances and lithological variations.From all the computed morphotectonic indices and the ATI,it has been evident that the region has experienced surface deformations.When viewed at the entire catchment,the morphotectonic indices suggest ample responses to the tectonic perturbations due to the dominance of lithology-controlled hill slope processes and fluvial erosion.The spatiality of the tectonic sensitiveness is rather concentrated into certain pockets of differential stress field formed due to fault thrusting of the Himalayas.The study chiefly focuses on the peculiarity of the watershed which displays a complex response of tectonic and rock structure;wherein the proposed methodology has been successful in excavating such complex responses around the Himalayan thrusts.

Modelling surface runoff using the soil conservation service-curve number method in a drought prone agro-ecological zone in Rwanda

Runoff farming is reported to improve land productivity and crop yields in hot and dry climates.This study was conducted to assess the available rainwater that can be harvested in a conserved catchment in a drought prone agro-ecological zone.The study was carried out in the Cyili sub-catchment,southern province of Rwanda,which has an irregular rainfall pattern and unexploited runoff water.Soil Conservation Service-Curve Number method (SCS-CN),CROPWAT model version 8 and Hazen model with an average daily rainfall data recorded from 1971 to 2016 were applied to estimate the runoff and water requirements in the study area.Findings of the study revealed that more than half rainfall water received in the catchment was lost through runoff (229.8 mm) and effective rainfall was lower (246.9 mm) than the actual crop water requirement for maize (330 mm).The expected seasonal surface runoff volume to be harvested by the farmers was 3008 m3 ha-1 per season and 1.29 × 106 m3 per season for the entire whole sub-catchment (430 ha).Based on Hazen model,the return period of low rainfall (dry spell) event would be expected every 2 years with a 98% probability of occurrence.Cyili sub-catchment has higher potential runoff volume to stabilize the deficit of water demand in the period of short rainy season.This suggests that rainwater harvesting through supplementary irrigation is an option to improve the crop yield in the dry period as well as in the annual dry season.