An Approach toward Integrated Management for Wadi Haseeb Watershed using Remote Sensing GIS and Hydrological modeling System, East Khartoum, Sudan

Abstract

This study has been conducted in Wadi Haseeb Watershed, which originates from the upland in South East of Khartoum State. It descends in the North West direction to the confluence with the Blue Nile. The objective of this study was to specify an integrated management strategy to harness the potentiality of the watershed for sustainable agricultural purposes. An integrated approach of remote sensing (RS), geographic information system (GIS), hydrologic engineering center geospatial hydrologic modeling extension (HEC-GeoHMS) and hydrologic modeling system (HMS4.0) was performed to develop a daily rainfall-runoff model. The watershed was delineated and divided into four basins yielding an average water volume of 23 million cubic meters month-1. The results indicated that the first scenario needed 48 MCM month-1 whereas watershed discharge was 23 MCM month-1 with a deficit of 25 MCM month-1. The second scenario needed 32 MCM month-1, leading to a deficit of 9 MCM month-1. The third scenario needed 4 MCM month-1 with a water surplus of 19 MCM month-1. However, it was not economically and technically feasible to construct a canalization system for this small area. The questionnaire analysis indicated that high flood levels increased the cultivated area of some farms from 0.8 to 22 ha and the yield of sorghum from 400 to 2500 kg ha-1. The effect of the flood on the cultivated area and crop yield was highly significant (P ≤ 0.01) during high flood periods and significant (P ≤ 0.05) during the low floods.