Assessing the Water-Resources Potential and Soil Erosion Hotspot Areas for Sustainable Land Management in the Gidabo Watershed, Rift Valley Lake Basin of Ethiopia

For development of a comprehensive sediment management plan, it is crucial to categorize watersheds on the basis soil erosion hotspot areas extend useful life water bodies (e.g., Gidam reservoir). The goal this study was assess surface potential and identify Gidabo watershed in Ethiopia using Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model. SUFI-2 (Sequential Uncertainty Fitting Version 2) program used calibrate model, model’s performance evaluated. According catchment prioritization analysis, some sub-basins with similar land use, cover, type but higher slope would generate yield. Furthermore, conservation scenarios were developed SWAT, model result showed that average annual yield could be reduced by application grassed waterway, filter strips, terracing, contouring 49%, 37.53%, 62.32%, 54.6% respectively. It concluded reduction applying terracing more effective than other measures for affected sub-basins. varies spatially from sub-basin sub-basin, mean monthly 33 million cubic meters. These findings can help decision-makers develop appropriate strategies minimize rate allocate different types demands. Strip planting, or contour farming may necessary chosen sites reduce effect slopes runoff flow velocity transport capacity.