Debre Birhan University

College :- Agriculture And Natural Sciences

Department : Natural Resources

Management
Course : Integrated Watershed Management
Course code: NaRM411
Target group : 4 th
Year NRM student

Acadamic Year: 2016E.C/2024

Monday, June 24, 2024
 INTRODUCTION
1.1. Concept and Definition of Watershed and Other Related Terms
 Watershed is defined as a geo-hydrological or topographical unit draining to a
common point by a system of drains.
 Watershed is thus the land and water area, which contributes runoff to a
common point.
 All lands on earth are part of one watershed or other.
Generally
 Watershed is not simply the hydrological unit but also socio-political-ecological
entity which plays crucial role in determining food, social, and economical
security and provides life support services to rural people.

It encompassed both

1. Environmental resources (like land, water, soil, wild animals, and vegetative) and

2. Socio-economic (people, their farming system, economic level) and

Interactions with land resources, coping strategies, social and economic activities, and

cultural aspects.
Monday, June 24, 2024
Cont.…
Drainage basin,
 It is defined as, “any portion of the earth's surface within a
physical boundary defined by topographic slopes that divert
all runoff to the same drainage outlet
 This point could be a river mouth, lake, wetland, or even
the ocean
Cont…
 Mouth: The end of a river is its mouth.
 Confluence: in the context of rivers and watersheds,
a confluence refers to the point where two
rivers or streams meet and merge into one.
 It’s the location where their waters combine and flow
together downstream.

Monday, June 24, 2024

Cont.…

Monday, June 24, 2024

 1.2. Watershed Ecology and Watershed Functions

 Watershed ecology is the study of watersheds as ecosystems, primarily the analysis of

interacting biotic and abiotic components within a watershed’s boundaries.

 It examines how these components function together to create and maintain a healthy and

resilient ecosystem.
 Watershed ecology delves into the intricate network of life within watersheds,
 studying the interactions between the physical, chemical, and biological components that

make up these vital freshwater ecosystems.

Components of ecology

Biotic components: These are the living elements of an ecosystem, including microorganisms, plants,

fungi, animals, and birds.

Abiotic components: These are the non-living chemical and physical factors in the environment, such as

rocks, temperature, and humidity.

Ecosystems: These consist of different communities of plants, animals, and microbes, along with their

physicochemical environments.
Monday, June 24, 2024
Cont.…
It's like peering into a complex tapestry woven from rivers,

streams, lakes, wetlands, and

the surrounding landscapes, each thread influencing and

influenced by the others.

Ecosystem
 A functioning natural unit with interacting biotic and abiotic

components in a system whose boundaries are determined

by the cycles and flux of energy, materials and organisms.

 A watershed is just one of many types of ecosystems.
Monday, June 24, 2024
Watershed Functions….
 watershed performs several functions
 The provision of freshwater (particularly upland watersheds);

 The regulation of water flow;

 The maintenance of water quality;

 The provision and protection of natural resources for local

livelihoods;

 Protection against natural hazards (e.g. Local floods and

landslides);

 The provision of energy (e.g. Hydropower);

 Biodiversity conservation; and

 Recreation Monday, June 24, 2024

 1.3. Watershed Management
1.3.1. Definition and historical origins of watershed management

 Watershed management is the art and science of practicing

responsible use of land and water resources within a
watershed.
 any human action aimed at ensuring the sustainable use of
natural resources in a watershed, attempts to provide solutions to
these threats.
 It's a collaborative effort that considers the natural
environment, human needs, and future sustainability.
 It is a continuous process that requires collaboration between
scientists, engineers, policymakers, local communities, and
stakeholders who depend on the watershed's resources
Monday, June 24, 2024
Cont.…

 The origin of watershed management is closely linked

to forestry; for example, the uncontrolled removal of
forests in Europe and North America before the 1950s
created
 Significant changes in the hydrological regimes of
important watersheds,
 leading to accelerated erosion and hazards downstream.
 The recognition of this relationship between upstream
land use and water yields and quality led to the
development of watershed management concepts.
 Watershed management considers
Monday, June 24, 2024 the management and
Cont.…
 It provides a framework for integrating different land-

use and

 livelihood systems (e.g. forestry, pasture and

agriculture),

 using water as the “entry point” in the design of

interventions.

Monday, June 24, 2024

 1.3.2. Why watershed-based management
approaches
 Traditional approaches to water resource management often
focused on political boundaries or individual sources of
water.
 Watershed-based management flips the script and offers
several advantages:
 Considering the whole picture: Watersheds, the areas that
drain into a particular body of water, treat water as a
connected system.
 This means upstream activities can impact downstream
users, so managing the entire watershed makes sense
 Addressing root Monday,
causes:June 24,Pollution
2024 problems like runoff
Cont.…
 Balancing competing needs: Watersheds can juggle the needs of
different users, like agriculture, industry, and households, while
protecting the overall health of the water resource
 Collaboration and efficiency By bringing stakeholders together,
watershed management fosters collaboration and avoids
duplication of efforts, leading to more efficient use of resources
 Prioritizing effectively Watershed approaches allow for better
identification of the most pressing water quality issues, leading
to targeted and cost-effective solutions
 Overall, watershed-based management provides a holistic approach
to protecting our water resources.
Monday, June 24, 2024
 1.3.3. Aims and principles of watershed management
.

Watershed management aims

 To promote the sustainable use of all the resources within a watershed.
 It means balancing the environmental, social, and economic needs of the

area. :
 Generally , to achieve a healthy and sustainable balance between

human needs and the natural functions of a watershed

some specific goals of watershed management:
Soil and water conservation
 involves preventing soil erosion, retaining rainwater, and enhancing

groundwater recharge. These practices help maintain soil fertility and

ensure a steady supply of clean water.
Water resource management
 This includes optimizing water allocation, storage, and utilization for

various purposes like irrigation, domestic water supply, and maintaining

healthy ecosystems.

Monday, June 24, 2024

Cont.…
Flood and drought control
 Watershed management practices can help regulate water flow, reducing
the intensity of floods during heavy rain and mitigating droughts by
promoting better water storage capacity in the watershed.
Improved water quality
 Healthy watersheds with good management practices can filter pollutants
more effectively, leading to cleaner water sources.
Habitat protection
 Watershed management aims to protect and restore habitats for plants and
animals within the watershed.
Socio-economic benefits:
 By ensuring clean water supplies, reducing flood risks, and improving
overall environmental health, watershed management contributes to the
social and economic well-being of the communities that depend on the
watershed.
 Overall, watershed management is a multifaceted approach that strives to
strike a balance betweenMonday,
usingJune
the24,
resources
2024 a watershed provides and
Cont…
some of the core principles:
Watersheds as natural systems
 Interconnected systems where land, water, vegetation, and living beings are all
interrelated..
Continuous and multi-disciplinary approach
 Watershed management is an ongoing process that requires continuous monitoring,
adaptation, and collaboration between various disciplines like ecology, engineering,
economics, and social sciences.
Partnership, science, planning, and results
 Effective watershed management involves partnerships among
stakeholders, informed by sound science, well-defined plans, and a
focus on achieving measurable results.
Flexibility and adaptability
 Watersheds are dynamic systems, and management practices need to be
flexible and adaptable to changing circumstances, new information, and
unforeseen challenges.
These principles form the foundation for successful watershed
management, ensuring a holistic and long-term approach to protecting
these vital natural resources.
Monday, June 24, 2024
1.3.4. Benefits of watershed management
approaches
Benefits of Effective Watershed Management:
Clean drinking water:
 Reduced pollution and improved water quality lead to safer and more
reliable drinking water supplies.
Healthy ecosystems:
 Diverse and thriving plant and animal communities within the watershed.
Reduced flood risks:
 Strategies can help mitigate flood damage to property and infrastructure.
Sustainable water resources:
 Conservation practices ensure water availability for future generations.
Improved quality of life:
• Clean water and healthy ecosystems contribute to a higher quality of life
for humans living within the watershed.
In general, Watershed management is a crucial tool for ensuring the health
and sustainability of our vital water resources.

Monday, June 24, 2024

 1.4. Watershed Management Zones
 Watershed management zones are specific areas within a
watershed that are designated for targeted management
practices. These zones are typically delineated based on
factors such as:
Land use
 This could include forests, agricultural land, urban
areas, and wetlands.
Topography
 The slope and elevation of the land can influence water flow
and erosion patterns.
Soil type
 Different soil types have varying capacities for holding
water and filtering pollutants.
Hydrology
 This refers to the movement and distribution of water within
Monday, June 24, 2024
1.5. Challenges of Watershed Management
While watershed management offers numerous benefits, implementing and
maintaining effective strategies comes with its own set of challenges.
Here are some key obstacles to consider:
 Complexities:
 Interconnectedness: Watersheds are dynamic and complex systems with
interconnected elements like water flow, land use, and biodiversity.
 Understanding and addressing these interdependencies requires a
comprehensive and integrated approach.
 Data scarcity: Accessing and analysing reliable data on water quality, land
use, and other crucial factors can be challenging, especially in resource-limited
settings. This can hinder informed decision-making.
 Competing interests: Balancing the needs of different stakeholders, including
communities, industries, and environmental groups, can be difficult. Finding
sustainable solutions often requires compromise and negotiation
Monday, June 24, 2024
Cont.…
 Some of the major  Addressing these challenges:-
constraints of watershed  Requires collaborative efforts
management in Ethiopia from diverse stakeholders,
are:- including
 lack of awareness among  governments,

policymakers,  communities,

 policy and strategy related  NGOs, and private companies.

constraints,  Utilizing innovative technologies,

 socioeconomic and biophysical fostering open communication,

and
constraints,
 adopting flexible and adaptive
 capacity constraints, approaches are key to overcoming
 financial and incentive these obstacles and achieving
constraints and sustainable watershed
 lack of community awareness management.
Monday, June 24, 2024
Cont.…
 Degradation: This is caused by the unsustainable
exploitation of natural resources, leading to the loss of
value of the watershed over time.

 It leads to poverty, food insecurity and social conflict.

Watershed degradation is

 The loss of value over time, including loss of the

productive potential of land and water, accompanied by
significant changes in the hydrological behavior of a river
system

 which results in the inferior quality, quantity and timing of

Cont.…
 It is the outcome of the interaction of physiographic
features, climate and poor land use, as well as other human
activities
 Watershed degradation accelerates
 Ecological degeneration,
 Reduces economic opportunities and
 Increases social problems

Monday, June 24, 2024

Cont.…
Ecological
 Decreasing amount and quality of water resources
 Damages caused by natural disasters (heavy storms, landslides, wildfire, etc.)
 Extensive and rapid deforestation and forest degradation through legal and
illegal exploitation, which can reduce the replenishment of groundwater and
increase the amount of sediment in surface water
 Clearing and conversion of forests mainly into agriculture land uses
 increased run-off and erosion
 Siltation and sediment discharge declining on the mainstream through
deposits of sediment in reservoirs and irrigation systems on the tributaries ˆ
 Reduced biodiversity with known and unforeseeable impacts on ecological
integrity and food production
 intruding salinity impacting agriculture and biodiversity in the Mekong Delta
in Viet Nam, declining during previous years
 Increase of soil and water contamination from inappropriate use of chemicals
in all countries
Monday, June 24, 2024
Cont.…
 Increase of nutrient levels in the Mekong due to increased use of fertilizer causing algae
blooms and negatively impacting aquatic life

Socio-economic
 Rural poverty in the uplands, causing migration to crowded urban centres

 Food insecurity

 Degradation of land through improper land use and unsustainable farming reducing
productivity and income

 Rapid population growth which increases pressure on natural resources and land scarcity

 Increasing conflicts over land, forest and water resources

 Increased competition for resources and resource allocation difficulties

 Lack of access to knowledge and decision making powers for women

 Poor infrastructure and therefore limited access to markets, health care and education

 Expanding irrigation leading to increased water demands

Monday, June 24, 2024
Cont.…
Technical
 Poorly planned and executed development activities (roads,
housing, mining, recreation, etc.), impairing streams and
polluting the natural environment
 Increasing pollution through use of chemicals (pesticides /
fertilisers), especially in the agricultural sector
 Changes in river flow regime through the construction of
dams for hydropower generation and irrigation storage
 Over abstraction of surface and groundwater, particularly
for irrigation
Monday, June 24, 2024
Cont.…
 Development of urban centres: This leads to the invasion of
natural areas, the loss of biodiversity, and the increase of
pollution and waste.

 Competition and conflict: This arises from the different and

sometimes conflicting interests and needs of the
stakeholders in the watershed.

 Interruption of water flow: This affects the availability and

quality of water for various purposes, such as irrigation,
drinking, and hydropower.

 Development of industries: This poses a threat to the

Monday, June 24, 2024