KALEYA RIVER CATCHMENT REGIONAL ESTIMATION OF RESERVOIR CAPACITIES USING SONAR AND GIS APPROACHES

Small reservoirs in arid and semi-arid areas help rural communities to cope with prolonged dry spells. More recently, the construction operation of small has resulted upstream versus downstream water use conflicts some river basins. In this regard, bathymetric information could be used as a tool monitor available surface water, minimize or prevent conflicts. The challenge is that it difficult survey large number using traditional sounding methods. Despite availability new methods conducting surveys, their utilization Africa still low, particularly for depth measurements reservoirs. This paper presents modern analysis techniques applied quantifying capacities reservoirs, case Kaleya River Basin southern Zambia. objectives were to: i) create database reservoir storage capacities; ii) introduce an efficient approach monitoring capacities. A remote controlled Coden hydrographic boat equipped SONAR device mounted Trimble OmniSTAR VBS providing DGPS was capture record (xyz) data greater accuracy. Data done Surfer 13 Golden software produce ten contoured maps surveyed From information, computed, thus on stored basin. It concluded quantification capacity GIS provides quicker cost effective way obtaining accurate data. Such important resolving basins decision-making context multiple uses, climate change variability.