Estimating sediment yield risk of reservoirs in northern Ethiopia using expert knowledge and semi quantitative approaches

Reservoir siltation is a serious problem that threatens the productivity and sustainability of water-harvesting schemes. Quantification of sediment deposition in reservoirs and understanding of its major drivers are needed to apply targeted management interventions. Most of the techniques used to es...

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Autores principales: Tamene, Lulseged D., Abegaz, A., Aynekulu, Ermias, Woldearegay, Kifle, Vlek, Paul L.G.
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Wiley 2011
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/34524
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author Tamene, Lulseged D.
Abegaz, A.
Aynekulu, Ermias
Woldearegay, Kifle
Vlek, Paul L.G.
author_browse Abegaz, A.
Aynekulu, Ermias
Tamene, Lulseged D.
Vlek, Paul L.G.
Woldearegay, Kifle
author_facet Tamene, Lulseged D.
Abegaz, A.
Aynekulu, Ermias
Woldearegay, Kifle
Vlek, Paul L.G.
author_sort Tamene, Lulseged D.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Reservoir siltation is a serious problem that threatens the productivity and sustainability of water-harvesting schemes. Quantification of sediment deposition in reservoirs and understanding of its major drivers are needed to apply targeted management interventions. Most of the techniques used to estimate sediment deposition in reservoirs require extensive measurements on a frequent time basis, as well as being costly and time-consuming. Thus, a rapid and relatively economical means of assessing the erosion susceptibility of catchments and predicting their sediment yield potential is necessary. In this study, expert-based rankings and semi-quantitative factorial scoring approaches were applied to assess the siltation severity of 25 reservoirs in the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia. The results were then correlated with quantitative sediment yield estimates acquired for representative sites, and a sediment yield predication model was developed for the region. The calibrated model has an efficiency and relative root mean square error (RRMSE) of 79 and 36%, respectively, which is considered adequate to assess erosion susceptibility and siltation risk of reservoirs in similar environments. The study demonstrates that expert knowledge and rapid characterization of catchments, in terms of susceptibility to erosion, are viable options for assessing siltation risks and for analysing controlling factors at a larger number of sites, with minimum costs and acceptable accuracy.
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spelling CGSpace345242024-05-01T08:19:21Z Estimating sediment yield risk of reservoirs in northern Ethiopia using expert knowledge and semi quantitative approaches Tamene, Lulseged D. Abegaz, A. Aynekulu, Ermias Woldearegay, Kifle Vlek, Paul L.G. Reservoir siltation is a serious problem that threatens the productivity and sustainability of water-harvesting schemes. Quantification of sediment deposition in reservoirs and understanding of its major drivers are needed to apply targeted management interventions. Most of the techniques used to estimate sediment deposition in reservoirs require extensive measurements on a frequent time basis, as well as being costly and time-consuming. Thus, a rapid and relatively economical means of assessing the erosion susceptibility of catchments and predicting their sediment yield potential is necessary. In this study, expert-based rankings and semi-quantitative factorial scoring approaches were applied to assess the siltation severity of 25 reservoirs in the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia. The results were then correlated with quantitative sediment yield estimates acquired for representative sites, and a sediment yield predication model was developed for the region. The calibrated model has an efficiency and relative root mean square error (RRMSE) of 79 and 36%, respectively, which is considered adequate to assess erosion susceptibility and siltation risk of reservoirs in similar environments. The study demonstrates that expert knowledge and rapid characterization of catchments, in terms of susceptibility to erosion, are viable options for assessing siltation risks and for analysing controlling factors at a larger number of sites, with minimum costs and acceptable accuracy. 2011-12 2014-02-02T16:39:50Z 2014-02-02T16:39:50Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/34524 en Limited Access Wiley Tamene, L. Abegaz, A. Aynekulu, E. Woldearegay, K. & Vlek, P.L.G. 2011. Estimating sediment yield risk of reservoirs in northern Ethiopia using expert knowledge and semi quantitative approaches. Lakes and Reservoirs: Research and Management, 16:293-305.
spellingShingle Tamene, Lulseged D.
Abegaz, A.
Aynekulu, Ermias
Woldearegay, Kifle
Vlek, Paul L.G.
Estimating sediment yield risk of reservoirs in northern Ethiopia using expert knowledge and semi quantitative approaches
title Estimating sediment yield risk of reservoirs in northern Ethiopia using expert knowledge and semi quantitative approaches
title_full Estimating sediment yield risk of reservoirs in northern Ethiopia using expert knowledge and semi quantitative approaches
title_fullStr Estimating sediment yield risk of reservoirs in northern Ethiopia using expert knowledge and semi quantitative approaches
title_full_unstemmed Estimating sediment yield risk of reservoirs in northern Ethiopia using expert knowledge and semi quantitative approaches
title_short Estimating sediment yield risk of reservoirs in northern Ethiopia using expert knowledge and semi quantitative approaches
title_sort estimating sediment yield risk of reservoirs in northern ethiopia using expert knowledge and semi quantitative approaches
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/34524
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