The potential for flooding in Koro Bakara watershed area, East Luwu due to the land conversion

Abstract

Changes in land use in protected forest areas to pepper plantations are one of the serious problems that occur around the Koro Bakara watershed in East Luwu. This study aims to determine (1) irregularities in land use in the Koro Bakara watershed at East Luwu, (2) The level of flood vulnerability in the Bakara East Luwu watershed as a result of land use mismatch. This research was carried out in the East Luwu Koro Bakara watershed area with a total watershed area of 14,010 ha, administratively located in the Sorowako area, Towuti District, East Luwu Regency. The method used was the SWAT Method (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) by using ArcSwat software. This research is included in non-experimental research, namely by using direct observation in the field. Input data in the SWAT Model are slopes, land cover, climate, and soil types. The research shows that the total area of forest area that is in accordance with the pattern of space is only 15.92% for protected forest areas and 6.04% for limited production forest areas. In the Koro Bakara watershed based on the results of the wetness index analysis, there were 71.24% of the watershed area included in the category of no potential, 1.03% of the watershed area included in the category of medium potential, 27.72% of the watershed included in the category of high potential flooding.