Spatiotemporal Siltation Patterns in Moroccan Dam Reservoirs: A Geographic Information System Approach

Abstract

Siltation of dams appears as an urgent global concern, especially in arid and semi-arid regions concerned by the challenges of managing their limited water resources. These challenges worsen by the increase in water demand driven by population growth, aggravated by the adverse effects of climate change, in particular the siltation of dam reservoirs. This article focuses on the spatiotemporal analysis of the accumulation of sediments in Moroccan dam reservoirs. The methodology involves the collection, verification, correction, and interpolation of bathymetric data, which are organized and visualized in temporal and spatial dimensions using a dedicated Geographic Information System (GIS). The spatial distribution maps generated facilitate the identification of the area most severely impacted by the siltation of dams. The analysis emphasizes that siltation affects all Moroccan watersheds, with a particular emphasis on the Moulouya watershed due to the characteristics of its soil and its arid climate, further aggravated by heavy rainfall and deforestation. This integrated approach, combining bathymetric data with GIS technologies, improves our understanding of dam siltation in Morocco. The results provide valuable information for decision-makers and water resource managers, providing essential information for strategic planning and the implementation of measures to mitigate the impact of siltation.