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Modeling Hydrological Responses to Land Use Dynamics, Choke, Ethiopia

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Abstract

The main objective of this study was to assess the hydrological response of the Choke mountain range to land use dynamics. Two watersheds, Muga and Suha watersheds, were selected for detailed evaluation and analysis. The study was conducted using integrated applications of remote sensing and the Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). The SWAT model was calibrated using Sequential Uncertainty Fitting (SUFI-2) algorithm in SWAT-CUP. Decadal land use maps (1985, 1995, and 2005) were used to simulate the hydrological responses. Simulated model results showed that over the past two decades (1985–2004), the total annual surface and lateral streamflows in the watershed increased at a rate of 1.2 mm/year and 0.57 mm/year, whereas the annual total groundwater flow and percolation in the basin decreased at a rate of 1.6 mm/year and 1.77 mm/year respectively. The decrease in the streamflow was more pronounced during the dry season (October to May), for which statistically significant declines of the base flow or the low flow at a rate of 0.37 m3/year and 0.73 m3/year in the Muga and Suha watersheds, respectively, were found. In the wet season (June to September), the peak flow has increased by 50% in Muga and 94% in Suha watersheds. Results of this study showed that the SWAT model can be an effective and useful tool for the assessment of response of watersheds to land use alterations.

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Acknowledgements

The first author is grateful for the financial support from the University of Gondar for carrying out his PhD at Ethiopian Space Science and Technology Institute (ESSTI) and also to Florida International University (FIU) for providing assistance in the 2-month research visit. We would like to thank U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) Earth Explorer and Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS) Global Digital Surface Model “LOS World 3D-30m” (AW3D30) Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency of Earth Observation Research Web site for kindly providing us to access satellite images. We also extend sincere thanks to the Ethiopian Ministry of Water, Irrigation, and Electricity, National Meteorological Service Agency and Mapping Agency for kindly providing us with the data flow, rainfall and temperature data and topographic map, respectively.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Remote Sensing Research and Development Department, EORC, Ethiopian Space Science and Technology Institute, Addia Ababa, 33679, Ethiopia

    Agenagnew A. Gessesse

  2. Department of Physics, University of Gondar, Gondar, 196, Ethiopia

    Agenagnew A. Gessesse

  3. Department of Earth and Environment, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA

    Assefa M. Melesse & Anteneh Z. Abiy

  4. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Wollo University, Wollo, 1145, Ethiopia

    Fikru F. Abera

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  1. Agenagnew A. Gessesse
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  2. Assefa M. Melesse
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  3. Fikru F. Abera
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  4. Anteneh Z. Abiy
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Contributions

Agenagnew A. Gessesse conducted this study as part of his PhD Thesis under the guidance of Prof. Assefa M. Melesse who also reviewed the manuscript. Anteneh Z. Abiy has served as a peer mentor to the first author during summer 2018 for part of this manuscript preparation and contributed in the model setup, run and editing of the manuscript. Fikru F. Abera has also contributed to the data preparation and interpretation in the model, run and editing of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Agenagnew A. Gessesse.

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Gessesse, A.A., Melesse, A.M., Abera, F.F. et al. Modeling Hydrological Responses to Land Use Dynamics, Choke, Ethiopia. Water Conserv Sci Eng 4, 201–212 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41101-019-00076-3

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