Small dam reservoir siltation in the Atlas Mountains of Central Morocco: analysis of factors impacting sediment yield

Alahiane, Naima; Elmouden, Ahmed; Aitlhaj, Abderrahmane; Boutaleb, Saïd

doi:10.1007/s12665-016-5795-y

Cited by 31 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…This is supported by the modelling results, since TE H values often exceed TE sim and TE B estimates without overlapping uncertainty bounds (Figure 8). Haregeweyn et al, 2006;Tamene et al, 2006;Baade et al, 2012;Alahiane et al, 2016). Indeed, Brown's method was applied in many reservoir siltation studies taking place in semi-arid and arid environments (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Indeed, Brown's method was applied in many reservoir siltation studies taking place in semi-arid and arid environments (e.g. Haregeweyn et al, 2006;Tamene et al, 2006;Baade et al, 2012;Alahiane et al, 2016). For reservoirs with low C/A ratios, the selection of an adequate value D is crucial to achieve reliable TE estimates with a reasonable uncertainty (Verstraeten and Poesen, 2000).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Estimating the sediment trap efficiency of intermittently dry reservoirs: lessons from the Kruger National Park, South Africa

Reinwarth

Riddell

Glotzbach

et al. 2017

Earth Surf Processes Landf

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The assessment of sediment yield from reservoir siltation requires knowledge of the reservoir's sediment trap efficiency (TE). Widely used approaches for the estimation of the long‐term mean TE rely on the ratio of the reservoir's storage capacity (C) to its catchment size (A) or mean annual inflow (I). These approaches have been developed from a limited number of reservoirs (N ≤ 40), most of them located in temperate climate regions. Their general applicability to reservoirs receiving highly variable runoff such as in semi‐arid areas has been questioned. Here, we examine the effect of ephemeral inflow on the TE of 10 small (≤ 280 × 103 m3), intermittently dry reservoirs located in the Kruger National Park. Fieldwork was conducted to determine the storage capacity of the reservoir basins. The frequency and magnitude of spillage events was simulated with the daily time step Pitman rainfall–runoff model. Different runoff scenarios were established to cope with uncertainties arising from the lack of runoff records and imperfect input data. Scenarios for the relationship between water and sediment discharge were created based on sediment rating curves. Taking into account uncertainties in hydrological modelling, uncertainties of mean TE estimates, calculated from all scenarios (N = 9), are moderate, ranging from ±6 to ±11% at the 95% confidence level. By comparison, estimating TE from the storage capacity to catchment area (C/A) ratio induces high uncertainty (ranges of 35 to 65%), but this uncertainty can be confined (15 to 33%) when the latter approach is combined with hydrological modelling. Established methods relying on the storage capacity to mean annual inflow (C/I) ratio most probably lead to an overestimation of the TE for the investigated reservoirs. The approach presented here may be used instead to estimate the TE of small, intermittently dry reservoirs in semi‐arid climate regions. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Estimating the sediment trap efficiency of intermittently dry reservoirs: lessons from the Kruger National Park, South Africa

Reinwarth

Riddell

Glotzbach

et al. 2017

Earth Surf Processes Landf

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“…Soil erosion and land degradation have multiple impacts on water resources, ranging from deteriorating water quality to reducing reservoir capacity. Reservoir sedimentation and pollution of surface water have been linked to soil erosion in Algeria (Lahlou, 1996), Jordan (Kraushaar, 2016), Iraq (Ezz‐Aldeen et al, 2018), Morocco (Alahiane et al, 2016), and Tunisia (Hentati et al, 2010). Soil erosion also reduces soil water holding capacity, reducing the amount of soil moisture available for productive transpiration by crops (green water) and thus increasing blue water requirements over irrigated areas and compromising agriculture in rainfed areas.…”

Section: Critical Trends and Uncertainties Shaping Sustainable Water mentioning

confidence: 99%

Tackling the Trickle: Ensuring Sustainable Water Management in the Arab Region

et al. 2020

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Water scarcity in the Arab region is intensifying due to population growth, economic development, and the impacts of climate change. It is manifested in groundwater depletion, freshwater ecosystem degradation, deteriorating water quality, low levels of water storage per capita, and added pressures on transboundary water resources. High-income Arab countries have sought to circumvent the ever-present challenges of water scarcity through agricultural imports (virtual water trade), desalination, and, increasingly, wastewater reuse. In this review article, we argue that the narrative of water scarcity and supply-side technological fixes masks more systemic issues that threaten sustainable water management, including underperforming water utilities, protracted armed conflict and displacement, agricultural policies aimed at self-sufficiency, evolving food consumption behaviors, the future of energy markets, and educational policy. Water management challenges, particularly on the demand side, and responses in the Arab region cannot be understood in isolation from these broader regional and international political and socioeconomic trends. Recognizing the complex and interdependent challenges of water management is the first step in reforming approaches and shifting to more sustainable development outcomes and stability in the Arab region and beyond.

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“…South Africa requires a dual focus – both on developing further water infrastructure, plus, critically, better maintaining what is currently in place. One example here (among a range) would be the treatment of siltation and its effect on dams – a phenomenon that reduces storage capacity, with water storage, and ultimately, financial costs; a challenge well documented in the global literature, and considered as a critical example of human alteration of the earth (see, for example, Ruddiman et al., ; Yuan et al., ; Alahiane et al., ). If we consider agriculture, for example, the system detailed in Figure is still highly focused on crops, with little to no focus on livestock – yet the livestock sector in South Africa is critical to livelihood security and rural economies.…”

Section: Responsementioning

confidence: 99%

Learning from South Africa's recent summer rainfall droughts: How might we think differently about response?

Archer

2019

Area

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The 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 summer rainfall seasons in South Africa, as well as in the Southern African Development Community region more widely, are generally agreed to be the most severe droughts on record since those of the early 1980s and 1990s. Shortcomings of a more reactive approach to dealing with drought have been well covered in the literature, yet evolution in this regard remains slow. South Africa is currently in the midst of significant change at the local governmental level, as well as likely ongoing change at the national scale. As a result, this provides a potential opportunity to think differently about drought response, taking a longer term and more proactive view, also informed by longer term climate change projections. This commentary provides selected examples of where such an approach might be taken, concluding with hope for an expanded role for scientists in better informing response.

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Small dam reservoir siltation in the Atlas Mountains of Central Morocco: analysis of factors impacting sediment yield

Cited by 31 publications

References 18 publications

Estimating the sediment trap efficiency of intermittently dry reservoirs: lessons from the Kruger National Park, South Africa

Estimating the sediment trap efficiency of intermittently dry reservoirs: lessons from the Kruger National Park, South Africa

Tackling the Trickle: Ensuring Sustainable Water Management in the Arab Region

Learning from South Africa's recent summer rainfall droughts: How might we think differently about response?

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