<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Intensification of extreme rainfall-runo events in arid and semi-arid regions because of climate change induce the water erosion that contributes considerably to the loss of vegetal layers of soils and reduce the storage capacity of dams by silting of transported sediments from the watershed to the impoundment. This paper aims at proposing means for protecting the Mghila dam against silting by identification and delimitation of vulnerable areas to water erosion. This dam, built in the North-West of Algeria, ensures irrigated cultivation. Topographical, geological, and land use characteristics of the watershed were analyzed using the geographic information system (GIS). Analysis of results has allowed the identification by area percentage four-vulnerability classes with sensitivity to the water erosion: low(18.89%), medium (13.08%), high (65.05%) and very high (8.38%). The spatial distribution of the lithological substratum friability, the vegetation cover and slope degrees have led to the development of an e cient strategy for the watershed management in order to reduce the e ect of water erosion on soil degradation and silting of the Mghila dam.</p>
</abstract>

Intensification of extreme rainfall-runo events in arid and semi-arid regions because of climate change induce the water erosion that contributes considerably to the loss of vegetal layers of soils and reduce the storage capacity of dams by silting of transported sediments from the watershed to the impoundment. This paper aims at proposing means for protecting the Mghila dam against silting by identification and delimitation of vulnerable areas to water erosion. This dam, built in the North-West of Algeria, ensures irrigated cultivation. Topographical, geological, and land use characteristics of the watershed were analyzed using the geographic information system (GIS). Analysis of results has allowed the identification by area percentage four-vulnerability classes with sensitivity to the water erosion: low(18.89%), medium (13.08%), high (65.05%) and very high (8.38%). The spatial distribution of the lithological substratum friability, the vegetation cover and slope degrees have led to the development of an e cient strategy for the watershed management in order to reduce the e ect of water erosion on soil degradation and silting of the Mghila dam.

Analysis and Mapping of Water Erosion Vulnerability Using GIS for the Mghila Watershed, Northwest of Algeria

Laboratory of Protection and Preservation of Water Resources

Department of Water Sciences and Environment, Faculty of Technology

2Water and Environmental Engineering Laboratory

Archives of Hydro-Engineering and Environmental Mechanics

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Intensification of extreme rainfall-runo events in arid and semi-arid regions because of climate change induce the water erosion that contributes considerably...

Analysis and Mapping of Water Erosion Vulnerability Using GIS for the Mghila Watershed, Northwest of Algeria

Published Online: Jul 05, 2023

Page range: 71 - 87

Received: Feb 20, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/heem-2023-0005

Keywords
water erosion, silting, extreme rainfall-runo, arid regions, sediment transport

© 2023 Abdelkader Ratiat et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Analysis and Mapping of Water Erosion Vulnerability Using GIS for the Mghila Watershed, Northwest of Algeria

Published Online: Jul 05, 2023

Page range: 71 - 87

Received: Feb 20, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/heem-2023-0005

Keywordswater erosion, silting, extreme rainfall-runo, arid regions, sediment transport

© 2023 Abdelkader Ratiat et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
water erosion, silting, extreme rainfall-runo, arid regions, sediment transport