Assessing the Hydrological Conditions of the Usangu Wetlands in Tanzania

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dc.contributor.authorMwakalila, Shadrack
dc.date.accessioned2016-05-05T13:57:45Z
dc.date.available2016-05-05T13:57:45Z
dc.date.issued2011-03
dc.description.abstractAlthough wetlands make up less than 10% of Tanzania, their “critical, life support, ecosystem services” sustain over 95% of lives, of wildlife and of livestock. They provide security as sources of food, water, energy, economy and livelihoods, therefore, the aim of this paper is to address the current hydrologic conditions of Usangu wetlands. Several approaches were used in the collection of data for analysis. Both primary and secondary data was collected and analysed. The key finding shows that, the overall area of the Usangu Wetlands is divided into two main portions, the Eastern Wetland and the Western Wetland, the core wetland, the Ihefu Swamp varies between 30 and 65 km2 , whereas the seasonally wetted areas varies between 260 and 1800 km2 . Major perennial rivers which feed the Ihefu swamp in Usangu wetlands include Kimani, Mbalali, Ndembera and the Great Ruaha River. The contribution from Mbalali River ranges between 69.17% and 47.78%; from Ndembera River ranges between 25% and 13.83%; from Kimani River ranges between 25% and 8.33% and from Great Ruaha River contribution ranges 24.0% and 2.96%. The irrigated agriculture is most important as a user of water and impacts most heavily on wetlands. Abstraction of water for agriculture is leading to dried up rivers, falling ground water tables, salinated soil and polluted waterways.en_US
dc.identifier.citationMwakalila, S. 2011. Assessment of Hydrological Conditions of the Usangu Wetlands in Tanzania. Journal of water Resources and Protection, 2011, 3, 876 – 882.en_US
dc.identifier.doi10.4236/jwarp.2011.312097
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11810/1804
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherScientific Researchen_US
dc.subjectRiver Flowsen_US
dc.subjectUsangu Wetlandsen_US
dc.subjectIrrigationen_US
dc.subjectGreat Ruaha Riveren_US
dc.titleAssessing the Hydrological Conditions of the Usangu Wetlands in Tanzaniaen_US
dc.typeJournal Article, Peer Revieweden_US
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