Assessing the Impact of Land Cover, Soil, and Climate on the Storage Potential of Dryland Sand Dams

Sand dams, a water-harvesting structure employed by rural communities in drylands have an inconsistent record of effectiveness. While many sand dams are highly functioning, improper siting, siltation, seepage, and high rates evaporation from shallow reservoirs inhibit the water storage capacity some dams. This study examines large-scale drivers dam potential through analysis integrated surface subsurface flow model. Multiple simulations were run, comparative simulation analyses consider effect geomorphological factors, intraseasonal rainfall variability, future climate conditions on performance criteria. The revealed that watershed cultivated with low crops actually reduces evapotranspiration below natural vegetation supports higher groundwater recharge. Additionally, variation volume impact less than prevailing pattern duration dry rainy seasons. constructed watersheds sandier soils may experience greater connectivity stream margins thus provide additional Lastly, change improve desirable for performance, such as extending season reducing overall evapotranspiration. However, interactions between expected other factors result net decline performance. results this help identify likely to support capturing storing throughout season.