siakhar togai iwrm case study

1 CRS-Afghanistan Case Study for CRS IWRM-LA

Case Study: Integrated Water Resource Management at Siakhar Togai

David Gandhi, Technical Adviser – Agriculture and Watershed, CRS Afghanistan.

Objectives:

Integrated water resource management in catchment and command area of a spring-fed system

Mapping of water resources for IWRM using GPS / Google Earth

1. Background: Siakhar Togai hamlet (20 households) is located in the middle catchment of the

Sare Ahangaran watershed, which has been taken up by CRS for implementing a Community Based

Natural Resource Management programme. This case-study describes the efforts initiated by the

community with CRS support, to implement an integrated water resource development project in a

micro-watershed near Siakhar Togai.

The project centers around renovation of an existing indigenous earthen and boulder check-dam which

is used by the community for meeting it’s various needs viz. water for drinking for humans and livestock;

domestic use and irrigation. The check dam harvests water from 4 small springs which are located at

the outlet of the micro-watershed. The catchment area is around 45 ha. (estimated using GPS, Google

Earth and Easy Acreage software) The water for irrigation is carried from the check dam via a 1 km long

earthen canal to irrigate a number of a number of small fields scattered along it’s length (see map).

During the participatory resource mapping exercise carried out with all the villages / hamlets of Sare

Ahangaran during June’09, the representatives from Siakhar Togai identified renovation of the check-

dam as a priority for CRS support. The main problem reported was insufficient water storage capacity

and heavy seepage losses from the structure, as a result of which they were unable to effectively irrigate

their fields. After site-transect and many discussions with the community, the following problems were

identified with the system

15-20 years ago the total area irrigated by the canal was around 18-20 jerib (approx. 4 ha.).

However, at present the area under irrigation is around 10 jerib (2.4 ha.). The reduction in area

is due to reduced discharge from the springs and seepage losses from the check-dam and canal.

A few decades ago, there was good vegetative cover in the catchment area of the check dam /

springs. Since then the area has been heavily used for grazing and uprooting of bushes and is

presently eroded and largely devoid of vegetation. While some of the elders from the

community could not relate to loss of vegetative cover to the decrease in spring yield (instead

attributing this to climatic and other factors), the leaders who have participated in the NRM

awareness programs organized by CRS were able to do so.


The canal runs along the slope and is breached at many places due to run-off from the upper

part of the hill, resulting in loss of irrigation water.

2. Interventions: After repeated site-visits and discussions with the community, it was decided to

address the problem using the IWRM approach. GPS coordinates were taken of the spring,

catchment, canal and fields and a detailed map prepared using Google Earth. Areas were estimated

using Easy Acreage software.

The following activities have been initiated

Renovation of Check Dam: In October’09, CRS supported the community in construction of a

masonry check-dam at the site of the earthen dam with a view to increase storage of water and

reduce seepage losses. CRS has provided construction material, technical support and paid for

skilled and unskilled labor through Cash-for-Work, while the community contributed the stones

and also transported the construction material uphill from the road to the site.

Bio-Diversity Conservation: The community has agreed to implement a Bio-Diversity

conservation program in the catchment area of the Check-Dam. The entire catchment area will

be protected from grazing and uprooting of bushes for a period of 4 years (Fall 2009 – 2012).

The community owns approx. 120 sheep and goats, 10 cattle and 10 donkeys, which will now be

grazed on alternate sites in the proximity of the village (the community has access to around

100 ha. of grazing land on either side of the Sare Ahangaran river). In addition soil and water

conservation measures including contour stone bunds, trenches, gully plugs have been initiated

during Nov’09, with a view to conserve soil and facilitate infiltration of rain water and snow

melt. Seeding of grasses and shrubs will be carried out in the area. CRS will support the labor

component through Cash-for-Work. These measures are expected to result in increase in

vegetative cover and eventually contribute to increased water yield from the springs feeding the

check-dam.

Protection for Canal: The hill slopes above the canal will be surveyed and the critical sections

will be treated with stone walls, gully plugs and vegetative measures to prevent run-off from

damaging the canal. This will reduce water-loss due to canal breaches and erosion of the slopes

below the canal.

Protection of Water Source (spring): The women collect drinking water from the spring, while

livestock drink either directly from the spring or from the pool below it. As a result, it is difficult

to maintain hygiene around the spring site. CRS plans to initiate discussion with the women and

men of Siakhar Togai for protecting the spring and surrounding area while meeting the drinking

water needs of humans and livestock.


3. Benefits from IWRM at Siakhar Togai:

Renovation of the check dam and measures to protect the canal from damage are expected to

enable the community to increase the frequency of irrigation, as also meet other needs such as

water for domestic use and livestock more effectively.

The bio-physical measures in the catchment area are expected to be completed by mid-2010,

while the bio-diversity conservation will be an ongoing effort on the part of the community.

The total protection (ban of grazing and extraction of bushes) will be replaced by a sustainable

system of harvesting the vegetation to meet the fodder and fuel needs to the community.

Over the next two to three years, the yield from the springs is expected to increase significantly,

enabling the farmers to utilize the irrigation system to it’s previous coverage of 18-20 ha.

Spring protection measures will enable the community to meet drinking water needs for

humans and livestock while maintaining a hygienic environment at the site.

4. Note on Mapping of Water Resources:

Physical maps of required scale are not easily available for most areas in Afghanistan. Maps can be

generated by recording coordinates using hand-help GPS units and plotting these on Google Earth free

software. Areas can also be estimated using Easy Acreage software along with Google Earth. In

mountainous areas such as Sare Ahangaran, where it is not practical to physically visit high locations for

recording GPS coordinates, it is possible to visually locate catchment boundaries, drainage lines and

other physical features on Google Earth. Hence, this is a handy tool for NRM planners to prepare maps

and work with communities.

While planning IWRM at Siakhar Togai, in the absence of physical maps we were able to prepare

accurate maps using GPS and Google Earth. The spring, catchment area, canal and fields were located

and areas estimated. Though we were not able to reach the high ridge points for recording GPS

readings, we were able to visually demarcate the catchment area on Google Earth. The maps were

shared with the community and were a basis for active discussions and decision making.


1. Base Map of Sare Ahangaran Watershed (Siakhar Togai hamlet at extreme left)

2. Siakhar Toghai Hamlets and surrounding area


3. Siakhar Togai spring and catchment area

4. Siakhar Togai canal and irrigated area


5. Indigenous Check-Dam to harvest spring water for irrigation (June 2009)

6. Renovation of Check-Dam (October 2009)


7. Use of spring and check-dam for drinking purposes

8. Springs and Catchment area (October 2009)


9. Soil and Water Conservation in Catchment Area (November 2009)

10. Gully Plug in Catchment Area (November 2009)

ENDS

siakhar togai iwrm case study

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