Monitoring and evaluation of soil and water conservation dams in some valleys and slopes of Al-Jabal Alkhdar

Abstract

The southern slopes of Al-Jabal Alkhdar suffer from semi-arid climatic conditions that, along with unsustainable human activity, have contributed to land degradation and placed the agricultural and pastoral sector under difficult production conditions. In this study, the condition of a number of rocky check-dams on some slopes south of Marawa in Al-Jabal Alkhdar was monitored and evaluated in terms of site efficiency, performance, and continuity in soil and water conservation. To achieve the objectives of the study, some soil properties, slope, and morphometric properties of these slopes were estimated. Soil erosion was also monitored in some tributaries of Wadi Derna coming from the south of Quba, where there is insufficient number of check-dams. Some field measurements and digital maps were used to determine the type of soil and monitor soil degradation. The study found that the tributaries coming from the south of Quba were characterized by intense erosion activity. Field observations and measurements also showed very large amounts of sediment that moved into the valley and contributed to reducing the storage capacity of the Bo-Mansour Dam before its collapse. The region's arid soil played a fundamental role in its susceptibility to erosion, in the absence of any integrated and sustainable land management system that can confront conditions of environmental fragility and expected climate changes. The study also recorded many aspects of failure and poor efficiency of many of the check-dams south of Marawa, such as irregular spacing, expanding gully erosion, partial collapses, and lack of regular maintenance. Failure to implement an integrated and sustainable management plan was a major reason for the flood’s disaster. Addressing this deficiency will undoubtedly contribute to reducing flood damage, benefiting from water harvesting, and achieving realistic spatial development.