Assessing impacts of land use/land cover changes on the hydrology of Upper Gilgel Abbay watershed using the SWAT model

Population and economic growth, the consequent increase in food demands have put great pressures on environmental resources they are driving rapid LULC changes. This study is aimed to examine impacts of land use/land cover changes hydrology Upper Gilgel Abay watershed. Landsat images (Landsat 5 TM 1986, ETM+ 2003, 8 OLI-TIRS 2021) were categorized into classes following supervised image classification technique, Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was used evaluate hydrological The result analysis revealed an cultivated (11.7%) a decrease forest (39.6%), shrubland (17.5%), grassland (5.6%), water bodies (25%) during 1986–2003 periods. On other hand, between 2003 2021 periods, land, decreased while woodland grew up. Consequent taking place 1986 surface runoff (6%) yield (1.8%) increased, but groundwater flow (37.9), lateral (4.1), soil (1.85), evapotranspiration (2.2%) at watershed-scale. In contrast, average watershed time scales, flow, water, owing growth decline land. also indicated sub-watershed scales. change status components 2003–2021 periods different compared with findings scale. suggests improvements vegetation covers reduce content area particular Ethiopian Highlands general.