Spatial Analysis of Erosion of the Upstream Citarum Watershed in Kabupaten Bandung

Abstract

Environmental degradation is increasing the vulnerability of Bandung Regency to erosion. One of the activities that cause environmental degradation, among others, is that waste in Bandung Regency is produced by land use patterns. Changes in land use patterns can have an impact on watershed functions. Citarum watershed is the main watershed in West Java, encompassing an area of 6, 080 km2 and reaching 300 km in length, covering the city and regency of Bandung. At the top there is the Saguling Reservoir, in the middle, there is the Cirata Reservoir and below there is the Jatiluhur Reservoir. The continuity of its function depends on the condition of the Citarum watershed. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of erosion hazard that occurred in the Upper Citarum watershed, especially in Bandung Regency. The results of this study map the level of erosion hazard so that it can be used as a reference in land control and conservation efforts for local governments and river area managers. The Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) method allows planners to predict erosion hazard levels. The influential parameters are rainfall erosivity (R), soil erodibility (K), slope and slope length (LS), cover crop (C), and land management (P). Geographic Information System (GIS), is used to calculate and analyze each USLE parameter and perform overlay techniques. Most of the Upper Citarum watershed is still in class of erosion hazard level II with soil loss of 16-60 tons/ha/year and class of erosion hazard level III with 60-180 tons/ha/year of soil loss.