Investigating the Effects of Plastic Rain Shelter on Sediment Yield to Hydroelectric Reservoirs in Cameron Highlands using RUSLE through GIS Application

Abstract

Sedimentation in reservoirs is a common cause of lake and reservoir deterioration. Soil erosion becomes more likely with changing land use and greater development in the catchments, resulting in higher sediment yield into the reservoir. For many years, extensive increase in agricultural farming areas that mostly open fields have been a disadvantage for dams due to their potential to create and transport significant amounts of sediment. Farmers in Cameron Highlands, lately, invested heavily in plastic rain shelters to house their vegetables, flowers, and fruit trees, which are put on steep slopes; however, no similar study has been undertaken on the possible consequences on reservoirs. This paper aggregates predicted annual soil loss for reservoir in Upper Catchments of Cameron Highlands, Malaysia for the years 2017 and 2020 focusing on the application of plastic rain shelters, using Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model derived in GIS specifically using QGIS. Precipitation, soil erodibility, topography, cover management, and support practise information gathered for modelling reasons. Plau’ur, Telom, Kial, and Kodol, Upper Bertam, Middle Bertam, Lower Bertam, Habu, Ringlet, and Reservoir were the sub-catchments studied in this study. According to the findings, the sediment yield of the whole catchment was inversely proportional with the area of rain shelter from 207,305.33 m3/year with 13.78 percent rain shelter in year 2017 to 228,682.23 m3/year with 9.16 percent rain shelter in year 2020.