The group has prepared for the first phase a Nile FRIEND Technical Report. Based on the recommen-dation of the fifth Project Management Meeting, UNESCO Cairo Office (UCO) supported the preparation and production of the final report of the Nile FRIEND first phase including all implemented activities of the first phase of the project and compiling summaries of the research activities and technical papers outputs in addition to all completion reports of the research components as prepared and submitted by the Nile FRIEND coordinators and the overall
coordinator. The report has been produced and disseminated to all implementing institutions and related water universities, research centers and ministries in the Nile basin countries.
10.8.1 Hydrologic Modelling Component Within the framework of the Flanders/ UNESCO Science Funds-In-Trust (FUST) Cooperation through small-scale quick disbursing activities, UNESCO succeeded to secure funds through the Flemish govern-ment of Belgium to support the small scale activity entitled: Secondment of Dr. ir. Ann van Griensven to the Nile FRIEND FUST Project. The Flemish expert has succeeded to:
Develop on-line training material for SWAT application in a number of case study areas within the Nile basin;
Provide technical advices to enhance the SWAT application within the Nile FRIEND: Hydrologic Modelling component research activities; and
Prepare global data sets to model the different hydrologic cases within the Nile basin to be available for the research activities of the Nile FRIEND components.
All these training material, global data, publications, and links to projects were made available online through the following website: http://biomath.ugent.be/~ann/
swat_nile.mht.
Dr. Ann has actively participated in the Hydrologic Modelling (HM) Workshop, Nairobi, Kenya; 26 – 30 Figure 10.3 Monitoring in Yala glacier
January 2009. She conducted a hands-on training on SWAT application and she led the working group sessions using real data of the Nile basin for SWAT application. Dr. Ann is also leading the preparation of technical papers in joint cooperation with the HM researchers. Future activities have been defined comprising the preparation of technical papers based on the enhanced SWAT capacity building of the HM research team.
The following hands-on training activities have been organized for the Hydrologic Modelling component during the period 2006 – 2010:
Hydrologic Modelling Component Training Workshop, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania; 6 – 10 August 2007. A lecture on the SWAT model capabilities was conducted focusing on the model structure/components, hydrological processes: Upland Processes in SWAT and River Routing and Sediment Processes and applications. Global data (including land use, soil type, land cover) of 1 km × 1 km resolution was distributed to all the HM researchers. Hydrological data of the equatorial lake of the HYDROMET project was distributed to all participants. Hands-on training on SWAT application was conducted using real data of Katonga catchment (in Uganda) within the Lake Victoria basin. A number of subroutines and assisting models were distributed to the participants for the preparation of the SWAT data inputs files. SWAT application problems were identified and discussed.
Knowledge transfer and experience exchange among the participants were undertaken to solve these problems based on SWAT application in the Nile countries. Case study areas in the different countries were identified as follows: Atbara River, Blue Nile, Lake Tana Basin and Lake Victoria Basin). Additionally, working groups were defined for each case study area clarifying the duties, responsibilities and time schedule of each task. It was agreed that the HM theme
researchers will continue working on the collection of the required data for SWAT application in their case study areas.
Hydrologic Modelling (HM) Advanced Training Workshop, Nairobi, Kenya; 26 – 30 January 2009.
The workshop objective was to conduct advanced SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) model hands-on training using the real Nile acquired data with special focus on uncertainty analysis and to define the future research deliverables/country. The implemented HM research activities were outlined
and discussed with special focus on the HM acquired hydrologic data/country (rainfall, flow, temperature max. and min., relative humidity, wind speed, evaporation data) and spatial data/case study (Digital elevation model – DEM – of 1 km × 1 km resolution, land use shape files, soil data shape files). The HM researchers presented SWAT applications on the case study areas/country. The encountered problems were presented and discussed. Knowledge transfer and experience exchange among the participants were undertaken to solve these problems based on SWAT application in the Nile countries. A lecture on the SWAT model capabilities was conducted focusing on parameter optimization, sensitivity and uncertainty and modelling results. A series of working group sessions were conducted for SWAT application for hydrological modelling using the real Nile data. The SWAT model was setup and calibrated for the following rivers, namely:
Nzoia River in Kenya using daily data;
Katonga River in Uganda using daily data;
Kagera River in Tanzania and Rwanda using monthly data;
Atbara River in Sudan (by the Egyptian researchers) using monthly data; and
Blue Nile River in Sudan using monthly data.
A list of papers will be prepared for journal publication by the HM research team in joint co-operation with the Flemish counterpart. Per the approved FN-II work plan and according to the achieved progress in each paper, technical exchange visits to Belgium will be conducted to finalize the papers to be submitted to international journals. The project will be fully acknowledged in all these publications. It was suggested to incorporate the outputs of the Stochastic Modelling (SM) component in terms of climate change scenarios in the HM research activities especially in SWAT application. Also, the calibrated models can be applied to study the impacts of different land use, crop pattern and deforestation scenarios.
10.8.2 Erosion and Sediment Transport Modelling The following hands-on training activities have been organized for the Erosion and Sediment Transport Modelling component during the period 2006 – 2010.
Erosion and Sediment Transport Modelling (ESTM) Training Workshop, 6 – 10 November 2007.
Efforts for updating the GLASOD map (map of erosion processes) for the Nile basin based on
case-studies were reviewed and discussed based on the work plan of the first year. The Flemish counterpart conducted training on catchment erosion modelling.
Hands-on training to edit and upgrade the GLASOD map parameters namely: erosion cause, type, extent, severity, etc. was provided by the Flemish counterpart.
Hands-on training on SWAT application was conducted by Dr. Joel Nobert from Tanzania using real data of Semyui catchment (in Tanzania) within the Lake Victoria basin. The SWAT application problems were identified and discussed. The required data for the preparation of GLASOD map and application of the SWAT was identified. Case study areas were defined in each country for both GLASOD map preparation and SWAT application.
Erosion and Sediment Transport Modelling (ESTM) Training Workshop, Nairobi, Kenya;
26 – 30 January 2009. The objectives of the workshop were to finalize the GLASOD map for the Nile Basin countries, review the collected data in each country and to introduce SWAT application on Erosion modelling in the Nile basin. The implemented ESTM research activities were presented and discussed focusing on the collected data (flow and sediment discharges, satellite images, etc.) for ESTM research implementation and the encountered problems.
Progress in updating the GLASOD map (map of erosion processes) for the Nile basin based on case-studies was reviewed and discussed. Series of working group sessions were undertaken to finalize updating the GLASOD map/country. A number of maps were prepared describing the erosion processes within Nile basin with the identification of erosion types, degree and extent. Based on the results of the GLASOD map, it was decided that the SWAT may be applied in Uganda, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Kenya and Sudan. Accordingly, Dr. P. Ndomba, the ESTM researcher of Tanzania, introduced the SWAT application: input data preparation and calibration to the ESTM group. Major problems of SWAT model applications in NILOTIC Catchments was reviewed and discussed. It was agreed to establish sediment rating curve using data from gauging stations for case-studies by utmost end of June 2009. A list of papers to be prepared by the ESTM research team was identified with a detailed work plan and time table.
Finalization of the GLASOD map of the Nile basin.
The research team of the Erosion and Sediment Transport Modelling (ESTM) component elaborated an actual erosion map of the Nile Basin focusing on specific ‘erosion risk’ zones based on a previous global
assessment of soil erosion by ISRIC: the Global Assessment of Soil Erosion (GLASOD) map. UCO supported the preparation of a technical report including (i) homogenize and standardize all erosion risk information that was compiled for the erosion risk zones, and (ii) compare these results from the research activity from the Nile FRIEND project with existing soil erosion information from literature. Three erosion risk zones were identified, namely, the lower Nile catchment (Egypt), the Blue Nile catchment (Sudan and Ethiopia) and the Lake Victoria region (Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania). Three maps, representing the erosion type, extent and degree, were compiled based on the imple-mented research activities of the ESTM research team in updating the GLASOD map/country (Figure 10.4).
Figure 10.4 GLASOD map of the Nile basin
10.8.3 Stochastic Modelling
The following hands-on training activities have been organized for the Stochastic Modelling component during the period 2006 – 2010.
Stochastic Modelling (SM) Component Workshop, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania; 6 – 10 August 2007.
A lecture on stationarity and trend testing methods were conducted. Extensive working group sessions
10.8.4 Eco-Hydrology
The following hands-on training activities have been organized for the eco-hydrology component during the period 2006 – 2010.
Eco-hydrology Training component workshop, Entebbe, Uganda; 2 – 6 July 2007. The country papers on Eco-hydrology as an important tool for Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in the Nile Basin were presented and discussed. The country papers reviewed the existing and ongoing ecological and hydrological research identifying the relevant research categories and key strategic research areas in each country. Furthermore, the gaps on eco-hydrological issues was reviewed and identified. The eco-hydrological problems in each country were presented and discussed. A general framework of the Eco-hydrology component research activities during the second phase of the project was thoroughly discussed and approved. A number of proposed case study areas in the participating countries were presented and discussed with a special focus on the ecological relevance, scale and data availability. A general discussion was undertaken on the applied and existing eco-hydrological models such as DrainMud, SWAT, Mike II, MIKE SHE, etc.
in the participating countries. A list of relevant hydrological, ecological and wetlands parameters and indicators were prepared by the whole group. There is a discrepancy in the monitored parameters by each country. The available data type and length of each monitored parameter in each country was identified.
GIS applications in the field of Eco-hydrology within the IWRM framework was presented by the Flemish counterpart. A GIS hands-on training was conducted and leaded by the Flemish counterpart. The expected deliverables and tasks of each research team/country were identified by the whole group.
Eco-Hydrology (EH) Training Workshop, Nairobi, Kenya; 26 – 30 January 2009. The workshop objective was to establish baseline information on eco-hydrology issues in the different countries of the Nile Basin and to enhance eco-hydrological monitoring in the field (selection of study area, selection of plots, monitoring design, choice of parameters, etc.).
The acquired available data were presented and discussed. A final draft of the metadata and structure for the common database (integrating all data in the countries) for the FN-Eco-hydrological indicators were identified.
using real data of more than 10 stations within the Nile basin were undertaken. Different methodologies for flood and low-flows regionalization were
introduced and discussed. Working sessions on application of catchment characteristics in flood and low-flow regionalization were conducted. Extensive hands-on GIS training sessions were conducted to delineate and extract the basin characteristics (areas, slopes, land cover, soil type, land use) of three regions, namely: White Nile up to Malakal, Blue Nile up to Khartoum, and the Whole Nile up to Aswan. Working group sessions on hydrologic applications of GIS for the preparation of the Hydrologic Information System (HIS) of the Nile basin based on the outputs of the single site frequency curves obtained during the first phase of the project.
The SM members will finalize technical paper based on the outputs of the workshop trend analysis with special focus on tracing climate variability in the whole Nile basin. The SM theme researchers continue working on the development of the HIS for the stations in their countries.
Stochastic Modelling (SM) Component Work-shop, Cairo, Egypt; from 31 May to 4 June 2009.
The workshop covered mainly three areas, namely:
Tests for Trends and cycles, Regionalization by cluster analyses and Development of climate scenarios for the Nile basin. A number of working group sessions were organized to complete the QMPro analyses for all stations with data (>30 years) at daily, monthly, seasonal and annual scales and to explain the trends and cycles to the tele- connections (ENSO, SO, IOD, SSTs, etc).
Moreover, working group sessions were conducted focusing on regionalization by cluster analyses and led by Mr. P. Nyeko, the SM researcher of Uganda.
For ease of data management, it was agreed to do the analyses on the Blue Nile, White Nile and Main Nile. A comprehensive background lecture was given by the Flemish counterpart on climate change models and scenarios development.
Executive procedures for the development of climate scenarios for the Nile basin were agreed upon among the SM researchers with a definite time frame enabling the feed of such scenarios to the other components of the project. A list of papers to be prepared by the SM research team was identified with a detailed work plan and time table.
All partners agreed to contribute to the establishment of the common database. Eco-hydrological and water quality modelling using SWAT was outlined by Dr.
Ann Van Griensven (HM Flemish counterpart). It was noted that the scarcity of water quality data in the Nile Basin may limit the application of SWAT.
So, it was decided to focus the activities at this stage mostly on observations and monitoring. A field trip was conducted to the Nairobi river near UNEP/
ICRAF headquarters at coordinates 257183N 986987E and elevation 1 688 m above sea level.
Demonstration on use of relevant instruments for surface and ground water quality and quantity monitoring in wetland was given by the Flemish counterpart. A list of papers to be prepared by the EH research team was identified with a detailed work plan and time table.
10.8.5 Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM)
Educational and training programmes conducted on IWRM theme include:
Preparation of a study on the identification of hydrological unites in the Nile Basin. Based on the recommendation of the Sixth Project Management Meeting. UCO supported the preparation of a study on the identifications of hydrological units in the Nile Basin with special focus on the data availability, types and records pertaining to the research components of the Nile FRIEND Second Phase. The study was prepared by Mr. Ahmed Fahmi, who is a renowned water expert in the Nile basin. The study reviewed the available potential data sources within the Nile basin which can contribute to the successful implementation of the research activities of the Nile FRIEND Second phase component. Moreover, the study comprised the identification of the potential pilot areas within the various hydrological homogeneous units of the Nile basin based on data availability.
The Second Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) Meeting, 1 – 2 February 2007. The Flemish experience in IWRM focusing on tools for the development of river basin management plans were presented by The Flemish IWRM counterpart. A DSS-Nile basin management GIS framework was prepared and approved by the participants of the IWRM research team. A GIS tool will be used to link the different layers of the drivers as defined and prepared by the different components.
A framework to link the IWRM with the other research components were defined and approved.
All components specified their activities and the drivers contributing to the proposed DSS-Nile basin management system for Lake Victoria.
Figure 10.5 Field trip in the eco-hydrology (EH) raining Workshop, Nairobi, Kenya
11.1 Key achievements 2006 – 2010