Abstract:
The increasing water demand of the growing population, inequitable allocation of water resources and UN even distribution of dry weather river discharges lead to tension and conflicts over the water resources in the basin. In the past the basin has been sub divided differently in different studies that have been undertaken in the area for different reasons. In 1963, the Ministry of Works subdivided it into upper, middle and lower catchments. The upper catchment area in the upstream of the confluence of Ewaso Narok River and Ewaso Ng’iro River. This is where Suguroi River falls. This area is endowed with a network of perennial rivers but currently turning into seasonal Rivers. Regulation of water within Suguroi river catchment has little potential to increases flows and thus extend to lower reaches in the Laikipia lowlands. High water abstractions are mainly attributed to low water use efficiency, high financial returns from irrigated agriculture during dry seasons, lack of water storage facilities and lack of an effective monitoring programme on water abstraction and human selfishness. Stabilizing flow in all seasons can be achieved through control of dry season irrigation within upper and middle zones so as to release some flow in the river .A stabilized river flow up to the confluence of Ewaso Ng’iro will also effectively mitigate the conflicts and animosity between diverse waters in the sub catchment including pastoralists, wildlife managers and tourist operators.
Description:
64 Pages A4 size report, Tables of water resources , frequency Graphs, A photo and 2 Maps.