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Watershed modeling for reducing future non-point source sediment and phosphorus load in the Lake Tana Basin, Ethiopia

  • Sediments, Sec 3 • Hillslope and River Basin Sediment Dynamics • Research Article
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose

Agricultural intensification to meet the food needs of the rapidly growing population in developing countries affects water quality. In regions such as the Lake Tana basin, knowledge is lacking on measures to reduce non-point source pollutants in humid tropical monsoon climates. The aim of this paper was, therefore, to develop a non-point model that can predict the placement of practices to reduce the transport of sediment and phosphorus (P) in a (sub) humid watershed.

Materials and methods

In order to achieve the objective, hydrometeorological, sediment, and P data were collected in the watershed since 2014. The parameter efficient semi-distributed watershed model (PED-WM) was calibrated and validated in the Ethiopian highlands to simulate runoff and associated sediments generated through saturation excess. The P module added to PED-WM was used to predict dissolved (DP) and particulate P (PP) loads aside from discharge and sediment loads of the 700 ha of the Awramba watershed of Lake Tana basin. The PED-WM modules were evaluated using the statistical model performance measuring techniques. The model parameter based prediction of source areas for the non-point source sediment and P was also evaluated spatially and compared with the Topographic Wetness Index (TWI) of the watershed.

Results and discussion

The water balance component of the non-point source model performed well in predicting discharge, sediment, DP, and PP with NSE of 0.7, 0.65, 0.65, and 0.63, respectively. In addition, the predicted discharge followed the hydrograph with insignificant deviation from its pattern due to seasonality. The model predicted a sediment yield of 28.2 t ha−1 year−1 and P yield of 9.2 kg ha−1 year−1 from Awrmaba. Furthermore, non-point source areas contributed to 2.7 kg ha−1 year−1 (29%) of DP at the outlet. The main runoff and sediment source areas identified using PED-WM were the periodically saturated runoff areas. These saturated areas were also the main source for DP and PP transport in the catchment.

Conclusions

Using the PED-WM with the P module enables the identification of the source areas as well as the prediction of P and sediment loading which yields valuable information for watershed management and placement of best management practices.

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Acknowledgements

The study was funded in part by USAID through the research project “Participatory Enhanced Engagement in Research” or PEER Science project (grant number AID-OAA-A-11-00012). Additional funding was also obtained from Higher Education for Development (HED), US Department of Agriculture (USDA), International Science Foundation, IFS (grant number W/5709) in Sweden and funds provided by Cornell University partly through the highly appreciated gift of an anonymous donor. This work was undertaken as part of the CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land, and Ecosystems (WLE). The contents of the paper are the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the US government.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Civil and Water Resources Engineering, Bahir Dar Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

    Mamaru A. Moges, Seifu A. Tilahun & Tammo S. Steenhuis

  2. International Water Management Institute (IWMI), East Africa and Nile Basin Office, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    Petra Schmitter

  3. Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA

    Tammo S. Steenhuis

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  1. Mamaru A. Moges
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  2. Petra Schmitter
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  3. Seifu A. Tilahun
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Contributions

Mamaru A. Moges has carried out the data collection, main research, and writing and Petra Schmitter has contributed in the editing and re-writing of the manuscript. Seifu A. Tilahun has contributed in editing the manuscript and providing reagents for P tests. Tammo S. Steenhuis contributed in designing the methodology and the manuscript set up.

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Correspondence to Mamaru A. Moges.

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Responsible editor: Rajith Mukundan

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Moges, M.A., Schmitter, P., Tilahun, S.A. et al. Watershed modeling for reducing future non-point source sediment and phosphorus load in the Lake Tana Basin, Ethiopia. J Soils Sediments 18, 309–322 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-017-1824-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-017-1824-z

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