Overview to Potential Sources, Soil Salinization and Expansion Level of Lake Basaka, Central Rift Valley Region of Ethiopia

Melaku Tafese Awulachew

doi:doi:10.11648/j.wros.20200904.11

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Overview to Potential Sources, Soil Salinization and Expansion Level of Lake Basaka, Central Rift Valley Region of Ethiopia

Melaku Tafese Awulachew

Published in Journal of Water Resources and Ocean Science (Volume 9, Issue 4)

Received: 13 May 2020 Accepted: 12 June 2020 Published: 8 September 2020

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Abstract

The aim of this overview is extended to indicate the Potential Sources, Soil salinization and expansion level of lake Basaka. Lake Basaka is located in the middle Awash River Basin, Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia at about 200 km south East of the capital city, Addis Ababa. The lake is expanding as opposed to the other rift valley lakes in Ethiopia, which are shrinking, Lake Basaka is found to be expanding at an alarming rate. This overview indicates the expansion area/level/ of the lake is challenging the socio-economics and environment of the region signiﬁcantly. With this point of view the lake’s expansion is due to the agricultural sugarcane farm land use type near Beseka Lake and mostly due to the increased ground water ﬂux to the lake. The potential sources or ground water ﬂux to the lake could be an increase of ground water recharge following the establishment of irrigation schemes in the region, subsurface inﬂow from far away due to rift system inﬂuence, and Lake Neotectonism. The significant expansion of Lake Basaka during the past 35 years started after the introduction of Matahara sugar state. The expansion is affecting both the ground water dynamics and soil salinization of the nearby sugarcane Plantation and, if it continuous, the sustainability of the plantation itself is under great risk. The future expansion of the highly saline lake may be aggravated towards the east and Northeast direction due to the topography of the area. This has the potential to displace Matahara town and impact the sugar Plantation during the next two-three decades years. Assuming the past trends, the lake isexpected to join Awash River, thereby impacting all downstream irrigation developments in the Awash basin, and affecting the livelihood of the people depending on the water resources of this basin. Generally, the lake’s has poor water quality and its expansion rate damaging effect to the region, and mitigation measures are very important for sustainable lake management.

Published in	Journal of Water Resources and Ocean Science (Volume 9, Issue 4)
DOI	10.11648/j.wros.20200904.11
Page(s)	71-76
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Lake Basaka, Potential Source, Expansion Area, Soil Salinization, Ground Water Flux

References

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APA Style

Melaku Tafese Awulachew. (2020). Overview to Potential Sources, Soil Salinization and Expansion Level of Lake Basaka, Central Rift Valley Region of Ethiopia. Journal of Water Resources and Ocean Science, 9(4), 71-76. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wros.20200904.11

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ACS Style

Melaku Tafese Awulachew. Overview to Potential Sources, Soil Salinization and Expansion Level of Lake Basaka, Central Rift Valley Region of Ethiopia. J. Water Resour. Ocean Sci. 2020, 9(4), 71-76. doi: 10.11648/j.wros.20200904.11

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AMA Style

Melaku Tafese Awulachew. Overview to Potential Sources, Soil Salinization and Expansion Level of Lake Basaka, Central Rift Valley Region of Ethiopia. J Water Resour Ocean Sci. 2020;9(4):71-76. doi: 10.11648/j.wros.20200904.11

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@article{10.11648/j.wros.20200904.11,
  author = {Melaku Tafese Awulachew},
  title = {Overview to Potential Sources, Soil Salinization and Expansion Level of Lake Basaka, Central Rift Valley Region of Ethiopia},
  journal = {Journal of Water Resources and Ocean Science},
  volume = {9},
  number = {4},
  pages = {71-76},
  doi = {10.11648/j.wros.20200904.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wros.20200904.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.wros.20200904.11},
  abstract = {The aim of this overview is extended to indicate the Potential Sources, Soil salinization and expansion level of lake Basaka. Lake Basaka is located in the middle Awash River Basin, Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia at about 200 km south East of the capital city, Addis Ababa. The lake is expanding as opposed to the other rift valley lakes in Ethiopia, which are shrinking, Lake Basaka is found to be expanding at an alarming rate. This overview indicates the expansion area/level/ of the lake is challenging the socio-economics and environment of the region signiﬁcantly. With this point of view the lake’s expansion is due to the agricultural sugarcane farm land use type near Beseka Lake and mostly due to the increased ground water ﬂux to the lake. The potential sources or ground water ﬂux to the lake could be an increase of ground water recharge following the establishment of irrigation schemes in the region, subsurface inﬂow from far away due to rift system inﬂuence, and Lake Neotectonism. The significant expansion of Lake Basaka during the past 35 years started after the introduction of Matahara sugar state. The expansion is affecting both the ground water dynamics and soil salinization of the nearby sugarcane Plantation and, if it continuous, the sustainability of the plantation itself is under great risk. The future expansion of the highly saline lake may be aggravated towards the east and Northeast direction due to the topography of the area. This has the potential to displace Matahara town and impact the sugar Plantation during the next two-three decades years. Assuming the past trends, the lake isexpected to join Awash River, thereby impacting all downstream irrigation developments in the Awash basin, and affecting the livelihood of the people depending on the water resources of this basin. Generally, the lake’s has poor water quality and its expansion rate damaging effect to the region, and mitigation measures are very important for sustainable lake management.},
 year = {2020}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Overview to Potential Sources, Soil Salinization and Expansion Level of Lake Basaka, Central Rift Valley Region of Ethiopia
AU  - Melaku Tafese Awulachew
Y1  - 2020/09/08
PY  - 2020
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wros.20200904.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.wros.20200904.11
T2  - Journal of Water Resources and Ocean Science
JF  - Journal of Water Resources and Ocean Science
JO  - Journal of Water Resources and Ocean Science
SP  - 71
EP  - 76
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-7993
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wros.20200904.11
AB  - The aim of this overview is extended to indicate the Potential Sources, Soil salinization and expansion level of lake Basaka. Lake Basaka is located in the middle Awash River Basin, Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia at about 200 km south East of the capital city, Addis Ababa. The lake is expanding as opposed to the other rift valley lakes in Ethiopia, which are shrinking, Lake Basaka is found to be expanding at an alarming rate. This overview indicates the expansion area/level/ of the lake is challenging the socio-economics and environment of the region signiﬁcantly. With this point of view the lake’s expansion is due to the agricultural sugarcane farm land use type near Beseka Lake and mostly due to the increased ground water ﬂux to the lake. The potential sources or ground water ﬂux to the lake could be an increase of ground water recharge following the establishment of irrigation schemes in the region, subsurface inﬂow from far away due to rift system inﬂuence, and Lake Neotectonism. The significant expansion of Lake Basaka during the past 35 years started after the introduction of Matahara sugar state. The expansion is affecting both the ground water dynamics and soil salinization of the nearby sugarcane Plantation and, if it continuous, the sustainability of the plantation itself is under great risk. The future expansion of the highly saline lake may be aggravated towards the east and Northeast direction due to the topography of the area. This has the potential to displace Matahara town and impact the sugar Plantation during the next two-three decades years. Assuming the past trends, the lake isexpected to join Awash River, thereby impacting all downstream irrigation developments in the Awash basin, and affecting the livelihood of the people depending on the water resources of this basin. Generally, the lake’s has poor water quality and its expansion rate damaging effect to the region, and mitigation measures are very important for sustainable lake management.
VL  - 9
IS  - 4
ER  -

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Author Information

Melaku Tafese Awulachew

Department of Food Science and Nutrition Research, Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Kulumsa Agricultural Research Center, Assela, Ethiopia

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APA Style

Melaku Tafese Awulachew. (2020). Overview to Potential Sources, Soil Salinization and Expansion Level of Lake Basaka, Central Rift Valley Region of Ethiopia. Journal of Water Resources and Ocean Science, 9(4), 71-76. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wros.20200904.11

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ACS Style

Melaku Tafese Awulachew. Overview to Potential Sources, Soil Salinization and Expansion Level of Lake Basaka, Central Rift Valley Region of Ethiopia. J. Water Resour. Ocean Sci. 2020, 9(4), 71-76. doi: 10.11648/j.wros.20200904.11

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AMA Style

Melaku Tafese Awulachew. Overview to Potential Sources, Soil Salinization and Expansion Level of Lake Basaka, Central Rift Valley Region of Ethiopia. J Water Resour Ocean Sci. 2020;9(4):71-76. doi: 10.11648/j.wros.20200904.11

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@article{10.11648/j.wros.20200904.11,
  author = {Melaku Tafese Awulachew},
  title = {Overview to Potential Sources, Soil Salinization and Expansion Level of Lake Basaka, Central Rift Valley Region of Ethiopia},
  journal = {Journal of Water Resources and Ocean Science},
  volume = {9},
  number = {4},
  pages = {71-76},
  doi = {10.11648/j.wros.20200904.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wros.20200904.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.wros.20200904.11},
  abstract = {The aim of this overview is extended to indicate the Potential Sources, Soil salinization and expansion level of lake Basaka. Lake Basaka is located in the middle Awash River Basin, Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia at about 200 km south East of the capital city, Addis Ababa. The lake is expanding as opposed to the other rift valley lakes in Ethiopia, which are shrinking, Lake Basaka is found to be expanding at an alarming rate. This overview indicates the expansion area/level/ of the lake is challenging the socio-economics and environment of the region signiﬁcantly. With this point of view the lake’s expansion is due to the agricultural sugarcane farm land use type near Beseka Lake and mostly due to the increased ground water ﬂux to the lake. The potential sources or ground water ﬂux to the lake could be an increase of ground water recharge following the establishment of irrigation schemes in the region, subsurface inﬂow from far away due to rift system inﬂuence, and Lake Neotectonism. The significant expansion of Lake Basaka during the past 35 years started after the introduction of Matahara sugar state. The expansion is affecting both the ground water dynamics and soil salinization of the nearby sugarcane Plantation and, if it continuous, the sustainability of the plantation itself is under great risk. The future expansion of the highly saline lake may be aggravated towards the east and Northeast direction due to the topography of the area. This has the potential to displace Matahara town and impact the sugar Plantation during the next two-three decades years. Assuming the past trends, the lake isexpected to join Awash River, thereby impacting all downstream irrigation developments in the Awash basin, and affecting the livelihood of the people depending on the water resources of this basin. Generally, the lake’s has poor water quality and its expansion rate damaging effect to the region, and mitigation measures are very important for sustainable lake management.},
 year = {2020}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Overview to Potential Sources, Soil Salinization and Expansion Level of Lake Basaka, Central Rift Valley Region of Ethiopia
AU  - Melaku Tafese Awulachew
Y1  - 2020/09/08
PY  - 2020
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wros.20200904.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.wros.20200904.11
T2  - Journal of Water Resources and Ocean Science
JF  - Journal of Water Resources and Ocean Science
JO  - Journal of Water Resources and Ocean Science
SP  - 71
EP  - 76
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-7993
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wros.20200904.11
AB  - The aim of this overview is extended to indicate the Potential Sources, Soil salinization and expansion level of lake Basaka. Lake Basaka is located in the middle Awash River Basin, Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia at about 200 km south East of the capital city, Addis Ababa. The lake is expanding as opposed to the other rift valley lakes in Ethiopia, which are shrinking, Lake Basaka is found to be expanding at an alarming rate. This overview indicates the expansion area/level/ of the lake is challenging the socio-economics and environment of the region signiﬁcantly. With this point of view the lake’s expansion is due to the agricultural sugarcane farm land use type near Beseka Lake and mostly due to the increased ground water ﬂux to the lake. The potential sources or ground water ﬂux to the lake could be an increase of ground water recharge following the establishment of irrigation schemes in the region, subsurface inﬂow from far away due to rift system inﬂuence, and Lake Neotectonism. The significant expansion of Lake Basaka during the past 35 years started after the introduction of Matahara sugar state. The expansion is affecting both the ground water dynamics and soil salinization of the nearby sugarcane Plantation and, if it continuous, the sustainability of the plantation itself is under great risk. The future expansion of the highly saline lake may be aggravated towards the east and Northeast direction due to the topography of the area. This has the potential to displace Matahara town and impact the sugar Plantation during the next two-three decades years. Assuming the past trends, the lake isexpected to join Awash River, thereby impacting all downstream irrigation developments in the Awash basin, and affecting the livelihood of the people depending on the water resources of this basin. Generally, the lake’s has poor water quality and its expansion rate damaging effect to the region, and mitigation measures are very important for sustainable lake management.
VL  - 9
IS  - 4
ER  -

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