Abstract
This study shows how community-based hydrometeorological monitoring programmes can provide reliable high-quality measurements comparable to formal observations. Time series of daily rainfall, river stage and groundwater levels obtained by a local community in Dangila woreda, northwest Ethiopia, have passed accepted quality control standards and have been statistically validated against formal sources. In a region of low-density and declining formal hydrometeorological monitoring networks, a situation shared by much of the developing world, community-based monitoring can fill the observational void providing improved spatial and temporal characterisation of rainfall, river flow and groundwater levels. Such time series data are invaluable in water resource assessment and management, particularly where, as shown here, gridded rainfall datasets provide gross under or over estimations of rainfall and where groundwater level data are non-existent. Discussions with the local community during workshops held at the setup of the monitoring programme and since have demonstrated that the community have become engaged in the project and have benefited from a greater hydrological knowledge and sense of ownership of their resources. This increased understanding and empowerment is at the relevant scale required for effective community-based participatory management of shallow groundwater and river catchments.
Highlights
Continuous time series of rainfall, river flow and groundwater level vary in their availability
Satellite and reanalysis rainfall products are often promoted as the solution to low‐density gauge networks, the greatest accuracy of such products is achieved in areas with abundant ground observation data to aid calibration (Dinku et al, 2008; Fekete et al, 2004; Symeonakis et al, 2009)
Buytaert et al (2014) present case studies detailing the benefits of community involvement in hydrological issues from Peru; identifying the hydrological impacts of land use change on ecosystems in remote upland areas beyond the range of formal monitoring networks, from Ethiopia; engaging farmers to rehabilitate gullies following soil erosion caused by poorly implemented land management practices, from Nepal; where communities have taken the lead in water sharing arrangements in an arid region, and from Kyrgyzstan; where water users associations (WUAs) are being set up who are installing monitoring schemes to replace those which died out at the end of the Soviet period
Summary
Continuous time series of rainfall, river flow and groundwater level vary in their availability. The majority of the literature presenting community‐based monitoring programmes has sought to detail the benefits brought to the community though few (if any) papers have attempted to quantitatively validate the collected data in a statistical manner akin to the abundant literature validating remote sensing products against ground observations. It will be determined here whether community‐based monitoring can provide data which can be satisfactorily validated against formal sources to provide improved spatial and temporal resolution, and whether it can supply reliable hydrogeological data where there are no formal alternatives. As formal monitoring networks continue to decline in many parts of the world, we determine if community‐based monitoring programmes can be a viable complement
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
