Quantifying hydrologic impacts following dam construction along the Tana River, Kenya

John K. Maingi; Stuart E. Marsh

doi:10.1006/jare.2000.0860

Quantifying hydrologic impacts following dam construction along the Tana River, Kenya

John K. Maingi, Stuart E. Marsh

Natural Resources and the Environment, School of

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

139 Scopus citations

Abstract

Daily pre-dam and post-dam discharge data for Kenya's largest river, the Tana, were analysed using flood frequency analysis and computation of various indicators of hydrologic alteration (IHA). Results from these analyses indicated statistically significant (p < 0.01) augmentation of minimum river flows and reduction in peak flows. We also estimated the frequency of flooding of 71 vegetation sample plots located on various parts of the river floodplain by running a hydrologic water profile simulation program (HEC-RAS). Results from these analyses indicated that plots at elevations greater than 1.80 m above the dry season river level experienced statistically significant (p < 0.01) reduction in days flooded from the pre- to the post-dam period. This documented magnitude of change in the hydrologic regime will have a negative impact on the unique riverine forest occurring along the Tana River.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	53-79
Number of pages	27
Journal	Journal of Arid Environments
Volume	50
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1006/jare.2000.0860
State	Published - Jan 2002

Keywords

Flood frequency analysis
Forests
HEC-RAS
Indicators of hydrologic alteration (IHA)
Riverine
Tana River

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Ecology
Earth-Surface Processes

Access to Document

10.1006/jare.2000.0860

Cite this

@article{ed6485e145ee49fd9eb82636346dbc8d,

title = "Quantifying hydrologic impacts following dam construction along the Tana River, Kenya",

abstract = "Daily pre-dam and post-dam discharge data for Kenya's largest river, the Tana, were analysed using flood frequency analysis and computation of various indicators of hydrologic alteration (IHA). Results from these analyses indicated statistically significant (p < 0.01) augmentation of minimum river flows and reduction in peak flows. We also estimated the frequency of flooding of 71 vegetation sample plots located on various parts of the river floodplain by running a hydrologic water profile simulation program (HEC-RAS). Results from these analyses indicated that plots at elevations greater than 1.80 m above the dry season river level experienced statistically significant (p < 0.01) reduction in days flooded from the pre- to the post-dam period. This documented magnitude of change in the hydrologic regime will have a negative impact on the unique riverine forest occurring along the Tana River.",

keywords = "Flood frequency analysis, Forests, HEC-RAS, Indicators of hydrologic alteration (IHA), Riverine, Tana River",

author = "Maingi, {John K.} and Marsh, {Stuart E.}",

note = "Funding Information: This study was made possible through funding from the Rockefeller Foundation African Dissertation Internship award to the primary author. We also wish to thank Professor Raphael Munavu for facilitating the acquisition of Tana River discharge data from the Ministry of Water and Regional Development, Kenya.",

year = "2002",

month = jan,

doi = "10.1006/jare.2000.0860",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "50",

pages = "53--79",

journal = "Journal of Arid Environments",

issn = "0140-1963",

publisher = "Academic Press Inc.",

number = "1",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Quantifying hydrologic impacts following dam construction along the Tana River, Kenya

AU - Maingi, John K.

AU - Marsh, Stuart E.

N1 - Funding Information: This study was made possible through funding from the Rockefeller Foundation African Dissertation Internship award to the primary author. We also wish to thank Professor Raphael Munavu for facilitating the acquisition of Tana River discharge data from the Ministry of Water and Regional Development, Kenya.

PY - 2002/1

Y1 - 2002/1

N2 - Daily pre-dam and post-dam discharge data for Kenya's largest river, the Tana, were analysed using flood frequency analysis and computation of various indicators of hydrologic alteration (IHA). Results from these analyses indicated statistically significant (p < 0.01) augmentation of minimum river flows and reduction in peak flows. We also estimated the frequency of flooding of 71 vegetation sample plots located on various parts of the river floodplain by running a hydrologic water profile simulation program (HEC-RAS). Results from these analyses indicated that plots at elevations greater than 1.80 m above the dry season river level experienced statistically significant (p < 0.01) reduction in days flooded from the pre- to the post-dam period. This documented magnitude of change in the hydrologic regime will have a negative impact on the unique riverine forest occurring along the Tana River.

AB - Daily pre-dam and post-dam discharge data for Kenya's largest river, the Tana, were analysed using flood frequency analysis and computation of various indicators of hydrologic alteration (IHA). Results from these analyses indicated statistically significant (p < 0.01) augmentation of minimum river flows and reduction in peak flows. We also estimated the frequency of flooding of 71 vegetation sample plots located on various parts of the river floodplain by running a hydrologic water profile simulation program (HEC-RAS). Results from these analyses indicated that plots at elevations greater than 1.80 m above the dry season river level experienced statistically significant (p < 0.01) reduction in days flooded from the pre- to the post-dam period. This documented magnitude of change in the hydrologic regime will have a negative impact on the unique riverine forest occurring along the Tana River.

KW - Flood frequency analysis

KW - Forests

KW - HEC-RAS

KW - Indicators of hydrologic alteration (IHA)

KW - Riverine

KW - Tana River

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0036059933&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0036059933&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1006/jare.2000.0860

DO - 10.1006/jare.2000.0860

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:0036059933

SN - 0140-1963

VL - 50

SP - 53

EP - 79

JO - Journal of Arid Environments

JF - Journal of Arid Environments

IS - 1

ER -

Quantifying hydrologic impacts following dam construction along the Tana River, Kenya

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this