WASE-TANA

Water and sediment budgets of Lake Tana for optimisation of land management and water allocation (Ethiopia)

Introduction

WASE-TANA is a demand-driven action research project that will (1) increase the understanding of hydrology and sediment in order to develop tools and strategies that would contribute to proper planning and management of land and water resources of the Lake Tana basin, and hence (2) enhance the capacity of Bahir Dar University and local institutions (PhD and MSc training) and to promote integration among stakeholders dealing with land and water issues.

A hydrological model and a sediment budget will be quantified for Lake Tana basin; catchment management maps and decision support system for water allocation will be prepared; and research outcomes made available to stakeholder organizations, policy makers and the broad public.

Project outline

The overall developmental objective of the project is to contribute to sustainable management of land and water resources in Lake Tana basin. The project will provide scientific evidence and raise awareness about water and sediment problems associated to the lake and show alternative options to minimize these problems and bring sustained use of the land resources and lake. Academically, this project will strengthen the capacity of BDU, BWR and EPLAUA staff.

» Click here to download the complete project outline in PDF.

Project partners

• VLIR-UOS
• Ghent University
• KULeuven
• Bahir Dar University
• Bureau of Environmental Protection Land Administration and Use in Amhara National Regional State
• Bureau of Water Resources Development in Amhara National Regional State

» Click here to download a detailed list of the project partners.

Project activities

• Kick-off workshop: 1-8 November 2010, Summerland Hotel, Bahir Dar
• Project formulation workshop: Bahir Dar, 19-25 July 2009

Master thesis students involved in the research

• Charlotte Colot (KULeuven Department of Soil and Water Management, 2011-2012): Soils and land use in Lake Tana basin. (preliminary title)
• Ruben Maes (KULeuven Department of Geography, 2011-2012): Sediment yield of the rivers in Lake Tana basin. (preliminary title)
• Ludwin Poppe (UGent Department of Geography, 2011-2012): Regional geomorphology of Lake Tana basin (Ethiopia). (preliminary title)

Complementary to other projects

• "Land Management" and "More Crop per Drop" projects of VLIR-Mekelle University Institutional University Cooperation
• The environmental changes in the adjacent Tekeze basin (to the North East) since the late 19th century are studied by the research group on Physical Geography at Ghent University

Scientific output

No scientific output available yet.

Reference material for downloading

• Grabham & Black, 1925. Lake Tana mission (673MB, password protected) ^NEW
• Topographic maps 1:50 000 of Lake Tana basin Southern (107MB, password protected)
• Topographic maps 1:200 000 of Lake Tana basin 1978-1982 (40MB, password protected)
• Topographic maps 1:250 000 of Lake Tana basin (post 2000) (80MB, password protected)
• Topographic maps 1:50 000 of Lake Tana basin (233MB, password protected)