Abstract
This study identified the importance of watershed attributes for water resource management using ArcGIS software, ASTER DEM and satellite images for the Chelekot micro-watershed, Tigray, Ethiopia. The study also evaluate the different hydrological parameters which are significant for the water resource management within the micro-watershed and finds the alternative solutions for water harvesting in the study area through the introduction of suitable soil and water conservation structures based on the finding. Principal watershed attributes including drainage pattern, topographic parameters, land use types, and soil types were evaluated and interpreted for the study micro-watershed. ArcGIS software was used for the computation, delineation of the boundary and morphometric analysis of the micro-watershed using topographical maps and ASTER DEM data. Results indicate that the micro-watershed has classified as a dendritic pattern with stream orders ranging from first to fifth order. The micro-watershed has homogeneity in texture and lack of structural control of surface flow. The drainage density is medium which indicates the area contains soils with medium infiltration rates and moderate relief. Drainage texture, stream frequency and the form factor of the micro-watershed are 4.1, 1.7 and 0.4 respectively. The bifurcation ratio of the micro-watershed ranges from 1 to 4.5 and the elongation ratio is 0.7 which reveals that the micro-watershed belongs to the less elongated shaped micro-watershed category. The mean bifurcation ratio of the whole micro-watershed is 3.3 indicating that the drainage pattern is not greatly influenced by geological structures. The micro-watershed land covers includes: cultivated land (75.8%), settlement and open land (10.5%), shrubs and plantation (13.2%), and water body (0.4%). The major soil types are Vertisol (58%), Camisole (32%), Regosol (9.5%) and Luvisol (0.7%). The textural classes are clay (5%), silty clay (22%), clay loam (17%), sandy loam (21%) and loam (35%) based on the soil textural map of the micro-watershed. Our results revealed that using GIS and ASTER DEM data based watershed morphometric analysis and hydrological evaluation at watershed scale is more applied and precise compared to other available techniques.
Highlights
In semi-arid and arid areas of Africa, urban expansion, irrigation projects, and climate change, along with insufficient and unpredictable pattern of the rainfall pose pressure on existing water resources
Our results revealed that using GIS and ASTER Digital elevation models (DEMs) data based watershed morphometric analysis and hydrological evaluation at watershed scale is more applied and precise compared to other available techniques
The results of the study indicate that the pattern classification of the micro-watershed is a dendritic type, which is characterized by homogenous subsurface strata
Summary
In semi-arid and arid areas of Africa, urban expansion, irrigation projects, and climate change, along with insufficient and unpredictable pattern of the rainfall pose pressure on existing water resources. Surface and ground water resources are inadequate to meet the crop water requirement and water for domestic consumption due to a rapid population growth and the demand for more water. The demand for water has increased over the years making the assessment of the quantity and the quality of water resources and its optimal utilization most critical. There is an urgent need for the evaluation of water resources as water plays a primary role in the sustainability of livelihoods and regional economy. Ever-growing population and urbanization are leading to over-utilization of water resources, exerting pressure on the limited civic amenities many of which are on the brink of collapse [1] [2]
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