AMU Journal System (Arba Minch University)
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Impact of Land Use/Land Cover Change on Watershed Hydrology: A Case Study of Upper Awash Basin, Ethiopia
Get PDFLand use/land cover (LULC) change is one of the important factors which have direct impacts on watershed hydrology. The impact of LULC change on streamflow of Upper Awash watershed was carried out using Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). The LULC change analysis was performed by using unsupervised classification method using Earth Resources Data Analysis System (ERDAS) imagine 8.5 software. The study results showed that the watershed experienced significant LULC change during 1986 to 2009. SWAT model was calibrated for periods 1986 to 1999 and validated for the periods 2000 to 2009. SWAT model was calibrated and validated for the sensitivity of streamflow parameters. Consequently, ten parameters were identified to be sensitive. Further, this model was utilized to assess the impact of LULC change on streamflow for period 1986 to 2009. The result showed that there was a reasonable agreement between observed and simulated streamflow with coefficient of determination (R2) and Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency values 0.86 and 0.77 for calibration, and 0.84 and 0.76 for validation, respectively. The evaluation of SWAT hydrologic response unit (HRU) due to LULC change showed that monthly streamflow was increased by 16.13 % in wet months and decreased by 20.8 % in dry months between the years 1986 and 2000. While between the year 2000 and 2009, it was increased by 0.92 % and 5.82 % for wet and dry months, respectively. Similarly, surface runoff was found increased and groundwater decreased during the study period. Further, the calibrated model can be utilized to understand risk and reliability of different structures and analysis of climate change, water quality, and sediment yield. Hence, this type of study can be useful for sustainable development in the Upper Awash basin as well as in other regions of Ethiopia
Climate Change Impact on Water Resources Availability of Finchaa-AmertiNeshe Multipurpose Cascaded Reservoirs
Get PDFThe most profound effect of climatic change may be alterations in the regional hydrologic cycle and changes in regional water availability. Besides the increasing water scarcity, climate change threatens to exacerbate the current supply-demand imbalance. In this study, the impact of climate change on water availability and reliability to satisfy the increasing demand under changing the climate on Finchaa sub-basin has been evaluated using the Water Evaluation and Planning(WEAP) model. WEAP package was utilized to simulate the future water availability using the runoff generated by the Hydrologiska Byråns Vattenbalansavdelning (HBV) model as an input. The performance of the model was assessed using statistical tools such as Nash and Sutcliffe efficiency criteria (R2) and the Relative Volume Error (RVE) during model calibration and validation steps. R2 values were greater than 0.8 and RVE values were near 0 for all the three sub-catchments showing the better performance of the model. The prediction for future climate variables, on the other hand, showed an increasing trend for both maximum and minimum temperature values. However, for precipitation, it doesn’t manifest any systematic increasing or decreasing trend in the next three decades. Consequently, the total water availability in the study area is expected to decrease by 11.88% in the next thirty years. Compared to the base scenario, the simulated future inflow to Finchaa and Neshe reservoirs has shown a slight increment at the end of 2025 and a small decrease at the end of 2040. However, the simulated future inflow volume to Amerti reservoir has shown a likelihood of small and considerable decrease at the end of 2025 and 2040, respectively. Considering the future expansion in the study area, all future and existing demand sites in the study area may be fully satisfied with 100% demand site coverageand 98.89% demand site reliability under changing the climate. Finally, it can be concluded that even though the demand in the sub-basin is increasing greatly, the available water resources is expected to be satisfactory under changing climate conditions for the next thirty years
FACTORS DETERMINING EFFECTIVE HOUSEHOLD SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN ARBA MINCH TOWN: SOUTH WESTERN ETHIOPIA
Get PDFIncreasing generation of domestic solid waste coupled with ineffective waste management service is the major challenge facing Arba Minch town. The main objective of this study is to examine the factors that determine effective household solid waste management by assessing the current status of household solid waste management practice of the town. A simple random sampling technique was applied for sample size selection of 137 households. The primary data were gathered through questionnaires, interviews, observation, and focus group discussion; whereas secondary data were extracted from different published and unpublished materials. The analysis of this study was carried out using both quantitative and qualitative techniques. The findings of the study revealed absence of functional communal waste storage materials, shortage of solid waste transportation vehicles, widespread practice of unauthorized dumping and burning, restriction of the door-todoor waste collection service mainly to the center of the town and the areas close to the main roads. The finding also disclosed that the householder’s age, sex, education, income, awareness, willingness to pay, year of stay, household size, and location of the house are the major determining factors of solid waste management at household level. Moreover, institutional factors such as solid waste facilities and equipment, finance, work force, rules and regulations, and accessibility to the private collectors determine the effectiveness of solid waste management among sample households of this study. Generally, household solid waste management of the town is poor and timely measures must be taken. Keywords: Solid Waste, Waste Management, Household Waste, Arba Minch Tow
THE VANISHING BAMBOO FOREST OF GAMO HIGHLAND: A CASE OF BASO-KULANO WATERSHED, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA
Get PDFThe main objective of the study was to examine challenges and prospects of bamboo forest in Baso-Kulano watershed, Southwestern Ethiopia. Mixed research design was employed. In this case using purposeful sampling technique three kebeles were selected as sample kebeles. From these kebeles, 125 sample household heads were proportionally selected as sample size using systematic random sampling technique. To supplement and bridge data from household survey, focus group discussion, and key informant interview and field observation were utilized. Collected data revealed the complex system of root networks of bamboo forests enabled an excellent mechanism for arresting soil erosion (25%) and buffer against climate change (18.6%). But due to farmland and settlement encroachment, lack of awareness and wasteful utilization practices, obsolete management practices and ineffective policy enforcements at grassroots level bamboo forests are under sever