Effects of Irrigation Practices and Lacustrine Aquifer Development on Water Availability in Ziway-Abijata Corridor
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Date
2007-02
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Addis Ababa Universty
Abstract
Water availability is becoming a sensitive issue in the country in general. When it comes to the
water stressed regions like the Main Ethiopian Rift the situation is highly aggravated. So it is
timely to properly asses the water availability indicators and impact of water utilization for
different purposes.
The present study area is located at the floor of the Main Ethiopian Rift, where the interconnected
surface water bodies are found in a fine state of balance. The main objective of the study is to
evaluate water utilization and its impact on the water resources of the area.
Abstraction from the upstream water resource will have a severe impact on the down stream
water bodies. This is evident in the flow regime of River Bulbula. The interconnectivity is not
limited to surface water bodies, but there is also strong interaction between surface water bodies
and subsurface. So it became evident in this research work that the abstraction from subsurface
has got an impact on the overall water resources.
Hydrological data interpretation from stream flow and lake level measurements clearly depicted
the trend and status of the water resource in Ziway-Abijata Corridor is at risk. The risk is extreme
in the case of down stream closed Lake Abijata.Since there is no quantitative data on groundwater trend and status, qualitatively speaking still the
groundwater resource base is also at risk in the Main Ethiopian Rift in general and the rift floor in
particular. The conjunctive nature of the surface and subsurface water resources in the area
justifies this condition.
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Keywords
Ziway-Abijata Corridor