Author(s): Devaraja Pathirage Chanaka Laknath, Thotapitiya Arachchillage Jeewanthi J. G. Sirisena
Linked Author(s): D.P.C. Laknath
Keywords: Nyabarongo River, soil erosion, empirical models, SDR, annual sediment yield
Abstract: The sediment study in a basin is a prerequisite for any dam construction. In the context of field measurements inadequacy, the estimation of soil erosion in a given catchment is a tedious and complex process. Generally, all the eroded material neither enters the stream system nor deposits in the reservoir. Hence, to estimate the soil loss from the catchment, sediment delivery ratio (SDR) was considered in order to estimate the sediment yield at the reservoir. Thus, sediment yield was estimated for a proposed dam across the Nyabarongo River in African continent. Accordingly, applicability of two widely used empirical erosion models (i. e. USLE & RUSLE) was assessed for a reservoir in severely eroding river basin. Comparing with sediment yields estimated by other researchers for the watersheds in African continent as well as predicted global mean values, estimated sediment yield values by USLE & RUSLE were recognized as reliable values for the proposed dam site
Year: 2017