HYDROLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF ANAMBRA RIVER BASIN FOR SUSTAINABLE SOCIOECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: A GIS APPROACH
ISBN 978-85-88783-11-9
Authors
1Onosemuode, C.
1FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE DEPT Email: krisonos@yahoo.com
Abstract
The hydrological analysis of Anambra River Basin using Geographical Information System (GIS) was carried out with the view of determining its sustainability of socioeconomic activities in and around the river basin. The main data source is the topographical map covering the river basin. The methodological approach adopted is the use of ArcGis 9.3 in the ordering of the stream, generation of flow direction, flow accumulation points, and stream dept map using the spatial analyst tools in Arctool box of ArcGis 9.3. Queries were also generated to determine; a. Settlements within 1500m buffer distance around flow accumulation points, b. Settlements that are crossed by the outline of 1500m buffer around flow accumulation points, c. Roads that are crossed by the outline of the 1500m buffer around flow accumulation points, d Settlements that intersect with road, d. Settlements that are crossed by the outline of buffered river, f. Roads that are crossed by the outline of buffered river, and 7 Streams that are within 500m of farmland. The results show that settlements within 1500m buffered distance around flow accumulation points are four (Isinyi-Nando, Nando, Achalla and Nsugbe) and would be vulnerable to flooding. Settlements that may also be affected by flood at a buffer distance of 1500m but not adversely affected would be Achalla, Umudora-Umuikwu, Nsugbe. Roads that would be affected by flood flow of about 1500m from the flow accumulation points are 4 out of the 12 roads that networked the study area. The minimum distance farmers need to get to the nearest streams is 500m and two streams are at the reach of the farmers in the farm settlement located in the study area. It also goes to reveal that the farm could not be easily flooded except in instances where the flood exceeds the banks of the rivers by 500m. Settlements that could be impacted positively by the basin include Nanda, Igbariam and Abube Nanado that are located close to first order streams and they depend on the stream for source of water supply for domestic and small scale industrial activities carried out by the inhabitants.
Keywords
GIS; Sustainability; River Basin