Chapter 4: Drainage Systems and Water Resource of Ethiopia and the Horn

• Drainage Systems and Water Resource of

Ethiopia and the Horn
– Introduction
– Major Drainage System of Ethiopia
– Water Resources: Rivers, Lakes and Sub-Surface
Water
• The Ethiopian Rivers
• The Ethiopian Lakes
• Subsurface (Ground) Water Resource of Ethiopia
– Water Resources Potentials and Development in
Ethiopia
 Introduction

• Of the earth’s total water surface

– Nearly 97.5% is alkaline accumulated in seas and
oceans.
– The remaining 2.5% is fresh water, of which nearly
• 68.7% is deposited in glaciers
• 30.1% in ground water
• 0.8% in permafrost and
• 0.4% in surface waters.
– Water in lakes, rivers, atmosphere, soils and wetlands
are considered as surface waters.
– Surface and ground waters are by far the most
abundant and easily available fresh waters.
• The factors that made the country to have
larger volume of ground and surface water are:
– The diverse topographical setup
– relatively higher rainfall and
– its nearness to equator.
• Around 0.7% of the total landmass of Ethiopia is
covered by water bodies.
• The country’s surface water potential is
estimated to be 124.4 billion cubic meters
(BCM).
• Consequently, many call Ethiopia, the water
tower of “Eastern Africa”.
 Major Drainage System of Ethiopia
• The flow of water through well-defined channel is known as
drainage.
• A drainage system is made up of a principal river and its
tributaries (the rivers that flow into it).
• Therefore, a drainage system is branched network of stream
channels together with the adjacent land slopes they drain.
• The drainage pattern of an area is the outcome of the
geological processes, nature and structure of rocks,
topography, amount and the periodicity of the flow.
• A drainage basin is the topographic region from which a
river and its tributaries collect both the surface runoff and
subsurface flow.
• The general patterns of major river basins in Ethiopia are
determined by topographical structures which can be
clarified as:
– The topography of the outward sloping of the Western and South
eastern plateaus
– The structural formation of the Rift Valley with its in-ward-sloping
escarpments resulting mainly in an inland drainage system.
– Faults and joints that structurally influence part of the courses of
many rivers.
• Following the complex physiographic setup and geological
makeup, Ethiopia possesses three broadly classified
drainage systems namely
– Western Drainage Systems,
– Southeastern Drainage Systems and
– Rift Valley Drainage Systems.
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 The Western Drainage Systems

• The Western Drainage Systems are:

– the largest of all drainage systems
– drains 40 percent of the total area of the country
– carry 60 percent of the annual water flow
• Most of the catchment area coextends with the westward
sloping part of the western highlands and western lowlands.
• This drainage system comprises four major river basins
namely
– the Tekeze, Abay, Baro-Akobo, Ghibe (Omo).
• Unlike other river basins in the system, the Ghibe (Omo) flows
southward.
• The Abay, Tekeze and Baro flow westward ultimately joining
the Nile which finally ends at Mediterranean Sea.
 Abay river basin
• The largest river both in volumetric discharge and coverage in
the western drainage systems
• covers an area of 199,812 km2, covering parts of Amhara,
Oromia and Benishangul-Gumuz regional states.
• carries 65 percent of the annual water flow of the region.
• rises from Lake Tana (some sources indicate its origin from
Sekela, Choke mountain)
• flows about 1,450 kilometres and joins the White Nile in
Khartoum, Sudan to form the Nile River.
• More than 60 streams drain the Abay within elevation ranging
between 500 - 4261 meters above sea level.
• The largest of these is Ghilgel Abay (Little Abay).
• flows eastward, turns 180 to make a large bend and after
cutting an impressive and deep gorge emerges out in the west.
 Tekeze river
• Tekeze and its tributaries carry 12 percent of the annual
water flow of the region
• Drains 82,350 Km2 of land surface within elevation
ranging between 536-4517 meters above sea level.
• Erosion in the basin resulted in large tablelands, plateau
blocks and isolated mountain groups.
• The basin has two main tributaries (Angereb and Goang)
which rises in the central highlands of Ethiopia.
• Tekeze River is termed Atbara in Sudan, which is a
tributary of the Nile.
• The total mean annual flow from the basin is estimated to
be 8.2 billion metric cubes (BMC, here after).
 Baro-Akobo and Ghibe/Omo rivers
• The Baro-Akobo and Ghibe/Omo rivers drain the wettest highlands in the
south and southwestern Ethiopia.
• Baro-Akobo carry 17 percent and Ghibe/Omo 6 percent of the annual
water flow.
• The Ghibe/Omo river basin drains an area of 79,000 km2 with an
estimated mean annual flow of 16.6 BMC.
• In the lower course, the Baro River flows across an extensive marshy land.
• Baro Akobo river basin has an area of 75,912 km2, covering parts of the
Benishangul-Gumuz, Gambella, Oromia, and SNNPR.
• The total mean annual flow from the river basin is estimated to be 23.6
BMC.
• The Baro together with Akobo forms the Sobat River in South Sudan.
• The Ghibe/Omo River finally empties into the Chew-Bahir at the mouth of
Lake Turkana (an elongated Rift Valley lake) thereby forming an inland
drainage.
 The Southeastern Drainage Systems

• Nearly the entire physiographic region of southeastern part

of Ethiopia is drained by the southeastern drainage systems.
• The basin which is mainly drained by Wabishebelle and
Ghenale, slopes south-eastwards across large water
deficient plains.
• Major highlands of this basin include plateaus of Arsi, Bale,
Sidama and Harerghe.
• Wabshebelle and Ghenale rivers cross the border into
Somalia, carrying 25 percent of the annual water flow of
Ethiopia.
• Ghenale River basin has an area of 171,042 km2, covering
parts of Oromia, SNNPR, and Somali regions.
• Ghenale, which has fewer tributaries but carries more water
than Wabishebelle, reaches the Indian Ocean.
• The basin flows estimated to be 5.8 BMC within elevation
ranging between 171- 4385 meters above sea level.
• In Somalia it is named the Juba River.
• Wabishebelle with a total catchment area of 202,697 km2, is
the largest river in terms catchment area.
• It drains parts of Oromia, Harari and the Somali regions.
• It is the longest river in Ethiopia.
• Its tributaries are mainly left bank and, most of them, are
intermittent.
• Despite its size, the Wabishebelle fails to reach the Indian
Ocean where at the end of its journey it flows parallel to the
coast before its water disappears in the sands, just near the
Juba River.
 The Rift Valley Drainage System
• The Rift Valley drainage system is an area of small amount of rainfall,
high evaporation and small catchment area.
• The size of the drainage area is restricted by the outward sloping
highlands, which starts right from the edge of the escarpment.
• The Rift Valley drainage system is therefore left with the slopes of the
escarpment and the Rift Valley floor itself as the catchment area.
• The only major river basin is that of the Awash.
• Awash river basin has a catchment area of 114,123 km2 and has an
average annual discharge of 4.9 billion cubic meters.
• The Awash River originates from Shewan plateau in central highlands
of Ethiopia, and flows 1250 kms.
• It covers parts of the Amhara, Oromia, Afar, Somali, Dire Dawa, and
Addis Ababa City Administration.
• Awash is the most utilized river in the country.
• In the Rift Valley drainage systems, there is no one general flow
direction, as the streams flow in all directions.
• Following the Rift Valley orientation, the Awash flows in a
northeast direction.
• It finally ends in a maze of small lakes and marshy area; the largest
of which is Lake Abe on the Ethio-Djibouti border.
• The Afar drainage sub-basin has practically no stream flow.
• It is an area of little rain, very high temperature and very high
evaporation.
• Lake Afrera and Asale are the only main surface waters in the
basin which are not the result of any meaningful surface flow.
• Their formation is related to tectonic activities.
• The Southern part of the Rift Valley sub-basin is characterized by a
number of lakes and small streams.
• It is also described as lakes region. The lakes occupy fault
depression.
 Water Resources: Rivers, Lakes and
Sub-Surface Water
The Ethiopian Rivers
• Unlike many other African countries, Ethiopia is
endowed with many rivers.
• Majority of the rivers originate from highland areas
and cross the Ethiopian boundary.
• Altogether, Ethiopian rivers form 12 major
watersheds separating the Mediterranean Sea from
the Indian Ocean drainage systems.
• The following table shows data on major Ethiopian
rivers
River Catchment Annual Terminus/ Major tributaries
Area(km2) Volume Mouth
BMC

Abay 199,812 54.5 Mediterranean Dabus, Dedessa, Fincha,

Guder, Muger, Jema, Beshilo

Wabishebelle 202,697 3.4 Coast of Indian Ramis Erer, Daketa Fafan

Ocean

Genale Dawa 171,042 6 Indian-Ocean Dawa, Weyb, Welmel, Mena

Awash 114,123 4.9 Inland (within Akaki, Kesem, Borkena,

Ethiopia) Mile

Tekeze 87,733 8.2 Mediterranean Goang, Angereb

Gibe (Omo) 79,000 16.6 Lake Turkana Gojeb

Baro Akobo 75,912 23.23 Mediterranean Akobo

 General Characteristics of Ethiopian Rivers
• Owing to the highland nature of the Ethiopian landmass, surface
ruggedness, the outward inclination of the highlands, and the climatic
conditions, Ethiopian rivers have the following characteristics.
– Almost all major rivers originate from the highlands
elevating more than 1500 meters above sea level,
– Majority of Ethiopian rivers are trans-boundary,
– Due to the marked seasonality of rainfall, Ethiopian
rivers are characterized by extreme seasonal
fluctuation.
– In the wet season, runoff is higher and rivers are full
bursting their banks, destroying small bridges, damage
roads and flooding low lands; during the dry seasons
they became mere trickles of water/even dry up
– Due to surface ruggedness they have rapids and
waterfalls along their course,
– They have cuts, steep-sided river valleys and deep
gorges along their courses,
– Rivers in Ethiopia flow on steep slopes having steep
profiles.
– Some of the rivers serve as boundaries, both
international and domestic administrative units.
 The Ethiopian Lakes
• Relatively Ethiopia is rich in lakes.
• Almost all Ethiopian lakes are result of tectonic process that took
place during Quaternary period of Cenozoic era.
• Except few Ethiopian lakes, majority of lakes are located within
the Rift Valley System.
• The lakes in the drainage are mainly formed on faulted
depressions and are clustered along the system forming linear
pattern.
• Lake Tana, the largest lake in Ethiopia occupies a shallow
depression in the highlands.
• The Tana depression is believed to be formed following slower
sinking and reservoir by lava flow between Gojjam and Gonder
massifs.
• Ethiopia is also gifted with crater lakes.
• These include the lakes at and around Bishoftu, Wonchi (near
Ambo), Hayk (near Dessie) and the Crater Lake on top of
Mount Zikwala.
• Lake Ashenge (Tigray) is formed on a tectonic basin.
• Other types of lakes in Ethiopia are man-made such as Lakes
Koka, Fincha and Melka Wakena, and many other lakes
dammed following hydroelectric power generation projects.
• Cluster of lakes are lined up within main Ethiopian rift.
• Lake Abaya is the largest of all the lakes in the system.
• The southern tip of the Rift Valley forms the marshy land
called the Chew Bahir which is drained by Segan and Woito.
• Ziway and Shala are the shallowest and the deepest lakes in
the central Ethiopian Rift
Lake Area Max. Lake Area Max.
(km2) Depth (m) (km2) Depth (m)

Tana 3600 9 Abijata 205 14

Abaya 1162 13.1 Awassa 129 10

Chamo 551 13 Ashenge 20 25

Ziway 442 8.95 Hayk 5 23

Shala 409 266 Beseka 48.5 11

Koka 205 9
 Subsurface (Ground) Water Resource
of Ethiopia
• As compared to surface water resources, Ethiopia has
lower ground water potential.
• However, there exists higher total exploitable
groundwater potential.
• Climatic and geophysical conditions determine the
availability of groundwater resource.
• Based on existing scanty knowledge, the groundwater
potential of Ethiopia is estimated to be 2.6 - 6.5 BMC.
• However, this estimate is now considered
underestimated.
• Considering various separate studies, Ethiopian potential
of groundwater is believed to range between 12-30 BMC.
 Water Resources Potentials and
Development in Ethiopia
• The enormous water resource potential of Ethiopia is
underutilized due to so many factors.
• However, there are plenteous of opportunities that
can transform the resource into our collective social
and economic needs.
• The followings are some of potential development
uses of water resource of Ethiopia.
a) Hydro-electric Potential
• Ethiopian rivers have a very high potential for
generating electricity.
• The exploitable potential of hydroelectric power is
estimated at about 45000 megawatts.
• The first hydroelectric power generation plant was
installed on Akaki River (Aba Samuel) in 1932.
• Currently many hydroelectric power dams are operating
and many others are under construction to realize
Ethiopia's ambitious energy goals.
• Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is the country's
largest dam under construction aiming to generate 6400
megawatts.
• Gilgel Gibe III hydropower project has gone operational
generating 1870 megawatts.
• Currently Ethiopia is administering 14 hydroelectric power
plants constructed on Lake Aba Samuel, Koka, Tis Abay,
Awash, Melka Wakena, Sor, Fincha, Gibe/Omo, Tana Beles
and Tekeze, generating close to 4000 megawatts of energy.
• Besides the domestic use of generated electricity, the
country is exporting electricity to the neighboring
countries.
• The major problem related to the use of Ethiopian rivers for
the generation of hydroelectric power is the seasonal flow
fluctuations and impact of climate change and variability.
• The severe erosion from the highlands and sedimentation in
the reservoirs is also a critical problem for hydroelectric
power generation.
b) Irrigation and Transportation
• The terrain in Ethiopia is so rugged that it limits the uses of
Ethiopian rivers both for irrigation and transportation.
• In the highlands, steep slopes, rapids, waterfalls, narrow
and deep valleys and gorges are important obstacles.
• But on the lowlands, their demand for irrigation is high.
• Regardless of existing physiographic setups, Ethiopia's
potential of irrigation is estimated to be 5.3 million
hectares.
• The Baro-Akobo and Genale Dawa river systems have large
irrigation potential compared to other basins.
• Despite the untapped irrigation practice, more than 60% of the area
under irrigation so far is located in Rift Valley Drainage System.
• Except few, majority of hydro-electric reservoirs are multi-purpose
and are expected to contribute for irrigation.
• Majority of Ethiopian rivers are not suitable for transportation.
• The Baro at its lower course is the only navigable river.
• Comparatively, Ethiopian lakes are much suitable for transportation than rivers.
• Lake Tana and Abaya are relatively the most used for transportation
c) Fishing and Recreation
• The majority of Ethiopian lakes are rich in fish.
• Currently the annual production of fish is estimated to be 31.5
thousand tons.
• The exploitable potential is however, by far greater than the current
production.
• Exploitable fish potential in lakes varies.
• Currently Lake Tana leads the potential by estimated 8,000-10,000
tons per year.
• Fish production from Lake Chamo is estimated at 4,500 tons per year.
• However, more than 60% of fish supplies are coming from Ethiopian
main Rift Valley lakes.
• However, some of the lakes are currently threatened by
sedimentation, invasive species (water hyacinth), over exploitation
and expansion of investments around lakes.
• There are a variety of fish, birds and other aquatic life forms in the
lakes.
• This and the scenic beauty of the lakes, the hot springs around them,
the spectacular river gorges and the most impressive waterfalls make
Ethiopian rivers and lakes important recreational and tourist
attractions.
• As they are the natural habitat of a variety of wild life, some of which
are only endemic to Ethiopia, their value for scientific purposes is
immense.
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