Azagegn, Tilahun (PhD)Wondemneh, Paulos2020-09-162023-11-092020-09-162023-11-092020-07-07http://10.90.10.223:4000/handle/123456789/22333Temcha river catchment is located in central part of upper Blue Nile river basin in North West Ethiopia. The area covers 1979km2 and elevation varies from 4000 to 1400 meter above sea level. The groundwater potential assessment of the catchment has been done by integrated aquifer characterization, hydrogeochemical evaluation and recharge estimation. Lithologic units in the catchment include, Quaternary sediment, Miocene shield volcanic rocks (Choke basalt, trachyte plug, Choke rhyolite, Kutye basalt and Arat Mekeraker basalt rob-Gebeya basalt), tertiary flood basalt; such as Lumame basalt, upper basalt, middle basalt and lower basalt, and Mesozoic sandstone. Lineaments have NE-SW and S-N orientation. Different Volcanic rocks and quaternary unconsolidated sediments countered in the catchment were categorized into high, moderate and low productive aquifer system. Weathered and fractured tertiary flood basalts and thick alluvial deposits are the main water bearing aquifers in the study area. Accordingly, the intermountain areas i.e. sentera and Yewula plains are groundwater potential zones for groundwater exploitation and development. The occurrence of groundwater in the catchment is controlled by the structural and geomorphological setting of volcanic rocks and their associated sediment. Fractured and moderately weathered volcanic rocks interlayered with clay sediments are suitable for groundwater storage. The main recharge source of the area is precipitation and areal depth of precipitation is 1606.6mm/year. The Recharge rate estimated from soil water balance and base flow separation methods are 126.4 mm/year and 147.6 mm/year respectively. From physicochemical analyses of water sample, the dominant water type is Ca-Mg-HCO3 with low TDS value in highland areas (recharge zone) and the water type at a discharge area are Ca-Na-Mg-HCO3 with relative high TDS value compared with the recharge area. Piper Schoeller and pie diagrams have been used to understand the hadrochemical facies. Most of the water samples quality result shows the area is suitable for domestic and irrigation purpose.enGroundwater PotentialGroundwater RechargeTemcha River CatchmentWater QualityThesis