ASSESSING THE INFLUENCE OF THE AL WAHDA DAM COMMISSIONING ON FLOOD FLOWS AND LOW WATER LEVELS IN THE GHARB PLAIN, MOROCCO

Driss El Karfa; Jamal Al Karkouri; Mouhcine Batchi; Hommane Boudine

doi:10.2298/IJGI240122010E

Authors

Driss El Karfa Ibn Tofail University, Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, Laboratory of Territories, Environment and Development, Kénitra https://orcid.org/0009-0001-2707-2691
Jamal Al Karkouri Ibn Tofail University, Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, Laboratory of Territories, Environment and Development, Kénitra https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0049-9847
Mouhcine Batchi Ibn Tofail University, Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, Laboratory of Territories, Environment and Development, Kénitra https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0915-6592
Hommane Boudine Ibn Tofail University, Faculty of Sciences, Geosciences Laboratory, Kénitra https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2894-8867

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2298/IJGI240122010E

Keywords:

maximum daily flows, return periods, breakup, low flow, Gharb Plain

Abstract

The Sebou Basin is one of the most important hydrographic basins in Morocco. When the Wadi Sebou enters the Gharb Plain, it encounters difficulties in evacuating its waters during wet years due to its flattening, resulting in risks of floods. Its flow decreases during drought years and in August and September. For the purpose of this research, we were granted authorization to utilize the hydrometric station located in Bel-Ksiri. This station is most suitable for the study as it was designated as a reference point for the Wadi Sebou's flooding in the lower basin. This study is based on detecting floods in the Wadi Sebou from 1976 to 2020, dividing this period on pre and post 1997, corresponding to periods before and after the construction of the Al Wahda dam, examining the mean daily flow rates. Identifying discontinuities within the maximum daily flow series from 1967 to 2020 was achieved in Microsoft Excel. Additionally, determining flood return periods and examining low water flows are integral aspects of the study. The findings indicate a relative decrease in the frequency and intensity of floods within the Wadi Sebou's basin, coupled with effective control of low water levels. These changes are attributed to the construction of the Al Wahda dam, which guarantees a stable water supply for irrigation purposes in the plain. To ensure the long-term sustainability of water management practices, the adoption of innovative irrigation technologies is deemed necessary.

Article metrics

References

Abi-Zeid, I., & Bobée, B. (1999). La modélisation stochastique des étiages: une revue bibliographique [The stochastic modeling of low-flows: a literature review]. Revue des sciences de l'eau / Journal of Water Science, 12(3), 459–484. https://doi.org/10.7202/705360ar

Banque Africaine de Développement. (2009). Proposition visant l’octroi d’un don de 1.000.000,00 USD au titre de l’aide d’urgence au programme d’actions pour atténuer les effets des inondations dans la région du Gharb [Proposal for granting a grant of USD 1,000,000.00 as emergency aid for the action program aimed at mitigating the effects of flooding in the Gharb region]. https://mapafrica.afdb.org/fr/projects/46002-P-MA-AAZ-003

Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters. (2024). Statistics for Morocco. Public EM-DAT. Retrieved March 13, 2024 from https://public.emdat.be/data

Combe, M. (1975). Le bassin Gharb-Maamora et les petits basins septentrionaux des Wadis Dradère et Souieire [The Gharb-Maamora basin and the small northern basins of Wadis Dradère and Souieire]. In Ressources en eau du Maroc, tome 2: Plaines et bassin du Maroc Atlantique (pp. 93–145). Editions du Service Geologique du Maroc.

Driouech, F. (2010). Distribution des précipitations hivernales sur le Maroc dans le cadre d’un changement climatique: descente d’échelle et incertitudes [Distribution of Winter Precipitation in Morocco in the Context of Climate Change: Downscaling and Uncertainties] (Doctoral dissertation). https://theses.hal.science/tel-04274713/document

El Karfa, D., Karkouri, J. A., Batchi, M., & Boudine, H. (2023a). Impacts of rainfall variability in Gharb plain: Morocco. Bulletin of the Serbian Geographical Society, 103(2), 293–308. https://doi.org/10.2298/gsgd2302293e

El Karfa, D., Karkouri, J. A., Batchi, M., & Boudine, H. (2023b). Assessing the Influence of Flow Variability on Irrigated Agriculture in the Central Gharb Plain, Morocco. Journal of Global Innovations in Agricultural Sciences, 11(4), 507–513. https://doi.org/10.22194/JGIAS/23.1210

Fejjal, A. (1982). Le Binome Sidi Kacem – Sidi Slimane: Fonction Et Place Dans Le Reseaux Du Rharb [The Sidi Kacem – Sidi Slimane Binome: Function and Place in the Rharb Network; Doctoral dissertation, Universite François Rabelais de Tours].

George, P., & Verger, F. (2000). Dictionnaire de la géographie [Dictionary of Geography]. Presses Universitaires de France - PUF.

Gumbel, E. (1958). Statistics of Extremes. Columbia University Press.

Haida, S., Ait Fora, A., Probst, J.-L., & Snoussi, M. (1999). Hydrologie et fluctuations hydroclimatiques dans le bassin versant du Sebou entre 1940 et 1994 [Hydrology and hydroclimatic fluctuations in the Sebou watershed between 1940 and 1994]. Sécheresse, 10(3), 211–226. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/44387796_Hydrologie_et_fluctuations_hydroclimatiques_dans_le_bassin_versant_du_Sebou_entre_1940_et_1994

Hakam, O., Baali, A., Ait Brahim, Y., El Kamel, T., & Azennoud, K. (2022). Regional and global teleconnections patterns governing rainfall in the Western Mediterranean: Case of the Lower Sebou Basin, North-West Morocco. Modeling Earth Systems and Environment, 8(4), 5107–5128. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40808-022-01425-3

Hakam, O., Baali, A., Azennoud, K., El Kamel, T., Ait Brahim, Y., & Ahouach, Y. (2022). Spatiotemporal evolution of droughts and their teleconnections with large-scale climatic indices in the Lower Sebou Basin in northwestern Morocco. Acta Geographica Slovenica, 62(2), 23–47. https://doi.org/10.3986/AGS.10508

Igouzal, M., & Maslouhi, A. (2003). Contribution à la gestion de la retenue d'un barrage réservoir sur la rivière Sebou (Maroc) à l'aide d'un modèle hydraulique [Contribution to the management of a reservoir dam on the Sebou River (Morocco) using a hydraulic model]. Revue des sciences de l'eau / Journal of Water Science, 16(4), 443–458. https://doi.org/10.7202/705517ar

IPCC. (2001a). Summary for Policymakers. Climate Change 2001: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability. A Report of Working Group II of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2018/07/wg2TARsummaries.pdf

IPCC. (2001b). Technical Summary. Climate Change 2001: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability. A Report of Working Group II of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2018/03/wg2ts-1.pdf?

Jasman, Syarif, M., Juharsah, Sukri, A. S., Ngii, E., & Hasddin (2023). Model of the linkage between land cover changes to water discharge and food productivity: The case of the Konaweha watershed in Indonesia. Journal of the Geographical Institute “Jovan Cvijić” SASA, 73(2), 169–185. https://doi.org/10.2298/IJGI2302169M

Le Coz, J. (1964). Le Gharb, Fellahs et Colons [The Gharb, Farmers, and Settlers]. Centre universitaire de la recherche scientifique.

Réméniéras, G. (1976). L’hydrologie de l’ingénieur [Engineering hydrology] (2nd ed). Eyrolles.

Sebbar, A., Badri, W., Fougrach, H., Hsaine, M., & Saloui, A. (2011). Etude de la variabilité du régime pluviométrique au Maroc septentrional (1935–2004) [Study of the variability of the rainfall regime in northern Morocco (1935–2004)]. Sécheresse, 22, 139–148. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/251559546_Etude_de_la_variabilite_du_regime_pluviometrique_au_Maroc_septentrional_1935-2004

Sebou Hydraulic Basin Agency. (2021). Barrage AL WAHDA. https://www.abhsebou.ma/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Fiche-synoptique-Barrage-AL-WAHDA.pdf

Sebou Hydraulic Basin Agency. (2023). Sebou Hydraulic Basin Agency. Retrieved from https://www.abhsebou.ma/

Simona, N., & Cedric, L. (2007, November 6–9). Gestion durable des zones inondables dans le Delta du Danube (Roumanie) [Sustainable management of flood-prone areas in the Danube Delta (Romania)]. 1res Journées Scientifiques Inter-Réseaux de l’AUF, Gestion Intégrée des Eaux et des Sols. Ressources, Aménagements et Risques en Milieux Ruraux et Urbains, Hanoi, Viet Nam.

Troin, J. F. (1996). Le Maghreb Hommes et espaces [The Maghreb, People, and Spaces]. Armand Colin.

United Nations. (n.d.). The 17 Goals. United Nationals. Retrieved from https://sdgs.un.org/goals

Valjarević, A., Milanović, M., Gultepe, I., Filipović, D., & Lukić, T. (2022). Updated Trewartha climate classification with four climate change scenarios. The Geographical Journal, 188(4), 506–517. https://doi.org/10.1111/geoj.12458

Wilhelm, B., Rapuc, W., Amann, B., Anselmetti, F. S., Arnaud, F., Blanchet, J., Brauer, A., Czymzik, M., Giguet-Covex, C., Gilli, A., Glur, L., Grosjean, M., Irmler, R., Nicolle, M., Sabatier, P., Swierczynski, T., & Wirth, S. B. (2022). Impact of warmer climate periods on flood hazard in the European Alps. Nature Geoscience, 15, 118–123. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-021-00878-y