Assessment of soil erosion risk in a semi-arid climate watershed using SWAT model: case of Tata basin, South-East of Morocco

Abstract

Increased sedimentation is the main problem that affects dam efficiency by reducing storage capacity. Planning for dam construction and maintenance requires design strategies that heavily depend on integrated basin models, properly identifying principal sediment origins within the watershed and qualifying the sediment production rate. In this research work, the physically-based watershed SWAT model, defined as the Soil and Water Assessment Tool, was used to estimate the rate of sediment production for future dams in the Tata basin, located in southeast Morocco. The model was calibrated and tested for uncertainty by the employment of the algorithm Sequential Uncertainty Fitting-2. The outputs were used for assessing critical sediment source areas. Calibration and validation of the model were performed by monthly data. The values for Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient, Percent bias coefficient and determination coefficient (R2), respectively, during the calibration period 1990–1998 (0.96, −13% and 0.96) and the validation period 1999–2006 (0.77, + 11% and 0.93) indicate the accordance with the results obtained for the measured flow and the simulated flow values. The annual sediment yield of the Tata basin extends from 0 to 11 t/ha/y with a mean of 2.3 t/ha/y. The spatial distribution of these sediments varies from upstream to downstream. The downstream basin generated more sediment to the river per unit area, though it was less than the total amount of the basin for the upstream area. This variation is influenced by the increased downstream surface runoff and also by other characteristics of the basin such as slope and lithology. The low erosion places correspond to areas with lithological formations that are more resistant to erosion.

Pollution Vulnerability of the Ghiss Nekkor Alluvial Aquifer in Al-Hoceima (Morocco), Using GIS-Based DRASTIC Model

“…Research using the DRASTIC vulnerability model and nitrate contamination in Morocco indicates an increased risk of groundwater pollution from seawater intrusion and human activities; the most vulnerable areas are located alongside agricultural areas as well as villages and cities. This causes a serious environmental problem for the groundwater reserves in the coastal areas of Morocco [ 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 ]. Consequently, in the Ghiss Nekkor alluvial aquifer, our results show that the levels of EC generally exceed the WHO recommended limits.…”

Integrating remote sensing, GIS-based, and AHP techniques to delineate groundwater potential zones in the Moulouya Basin, North-East Morocco

“…The recharge of groundwater is monitored by various parameters of which precipitation is the main source of groundwater recharge (e.g., Aswathi et al 2022;Echogdali et al 2022b). Precipitation intensity is one of the key factors controlling the recharge-runoff relationship.…”

Application of Fuzzy Logic and Fractal Modeling Approach for Groundwater Potential Mapping in Semi-Arid Akka Basin, Southeast Morocco

“…Sediments and alluvium from the recent Quaternary cover mainly the downstream portion of the basin along the Akka wadi. Geologically, the Akka basin belongs to the Anti-Atlas chain and is characterized by different types of rocks ranging from the Precambrian to the recent Quaternary [34][35][36]. The substratum consists of quartzites, dolerites, and volcanic-sedimentary rocks of the Precambrian.…”