Socio-Economic and Environmental Impacts of Erosion and Sedimentation in Sudan

Abstract

Severe soil erosion is experienced in the watersheds of the Blue Nile and Atbara rivers originating from the Ethiopian highlands. The resulted sediment causes sedimentation of dams’ reservoirs, power houses, inlet channels of pumping stations and irrigation canals. Storage capacities of reservoirs are reduced to 50% due to sedimentation. The high silt content during the flood periods causes frequent blockage of turbine inlets of the major hydropower station at Roseries dam resulting in severe power shortages. Inlet channels of the major irrigation schemes in the Northern region are now severely affected by sedimentation and morphological changes of the river Nile. Inlets are clogged with sediment and are now inoperative. Others will follow affected by the steady propagation of the problem. In irrigation canals, sedimentation affects directly the operation and maintenance of the irrigation systems, draining annual maintenance budgets and causing severe water shortages and crop damage. Bank erosion in Northern Sudan is causing tremendous problems to local people, reducing their already small cultivable lands. In fact it is not only a problem of loosing lands, crops and power by erosion and sedimentation, but it has significant social, economic and environmental implications as well.