Hydrological Impacts of Flood Storage and Management on Irrigation Water Abstraction in Upper Ewaso Ng’iro River Basin, Kenya |
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Authors: | Stephen N Ngigi Hubert H G Savenije Francis N Gichuki |
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Affiliation: | 1. Department of Environmental and Biosystems Engineering, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 29053-0065, Nairobi, Kenya 2. Millennium Villages Project, Earth Institute at Columbia University c/o MDG Center, P.O. Box 30677-00100, Nairobi, Kenya 3. Institute for Water Education (UNESCO-IHE), P.O. Box 3015, 2601 DA, Delft, The Netherlands 4. Delft University of Technology, P.O. Box 5048, 2600 GA, Delft, The Netherlands 5. International Water Management Institute (IWMI), P.O. Box 2075, Colombo, Sri Lanka
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Abstract: | The upper Ewaso Ng’iro basin, which starts from the central highlands of Kenya and stretches northwards transcending different climatic zones, has
experienced decreasing river flows for the last two decades. The Naro Moru sub-basin is used to demonstrate the looming water crisis in this water scarce river basin. The objective of the study was
to show the extent of dry seasons’ irrigation water abstractions on river flows, and to assess the hydrological impact of
flood storage on temporal water distribution and irrigation water management. Decreasing river flows are attributed to over-abstraction
mainly for irrigating horticultural crops. The number of abstractors has increased four times over a period of 10 years. The
amount of water abstracted has also increased by 64% over the last 5 years. Moreover, the proportion of unauthorized abstractions
has been increasing over the years, currently at about 80% and 95% during high and low flows respectively. This has resulted
in alarming conflicts among various water users. The situation is aggravated by low irrigation efficiency (25–40%) and inadequate
flood storage facilities. The paper analyzes over 40 years’ observed river flow data and 5-year interval water abstraction
monitoring records for 15 years. It assesses whether flood storage and management, can reduce dry seasons’ irrigation water
abstractions without significantly reducing river flows to affect the sustenance of natural ecosystems downstream. The results
demonstrate that flood storage and management can reduce water abstraction and increase river flows during the dry seasons,
without significantly reducing high flows to affect the downstream water users. However, socio-economic, hydrological and
environmental implications should be considered if a sustainable river basin water resources management strategy is to be
developed and implemented. The case study of Naro Moru sub-basin is representative of the situation in the other sub-basins, and hence can be taken as a pilot basin for developing
an integrated water resources management strategy that will foster socio-economic development with minimal negative hydrological
impacts in the water scarce upper Ewaso Ng’iro river basin. |
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Keywords: | River water withdrawals Low river flows Water conflicts Flood storage River basin water resources management |
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