CHAPTER FOUR

DRAINAGE SYSTEMS AND WATER RESOURCE OF ETHIOPIA AND THE

HORN

Elias Ibrahem
 Introduction

Water Bodies Landmass

71% 29%

Continents and
Marine Water 97.5% Islands
Fresh Water 2.5%
Glacier - 68.7%
Ground water 30.1%
Permafrost 0.8%
Surface waters 0.4%
 Con…

• Surface waters:

• lakes,

• rivers,

• In atmosphere,

• In soils and

• In wetlands
 Con…

 Surface and ground water - the most abundant and

easily available fresh waters.
 fresh water is distributed unevenly throughout
the world because of:

 latitudinal locations,

 climatic and

 Topographic setups
 Con…
The diverse topographical setup, relatively
higher rainfall and its nearness to equator made
the country to have larger volume of ground and
surface water.
Around 0.7 % of the total land mass of Ethiopia
is covered by water bodies
Larger volume of ground and surface water b/c
of: diverse topographical setup, relatively higher
rainfall and its nearness to equator.
• the country’s surface water potential estimated
to be 124.4 billion cubic meters (BCM).
• The water tower of “Eastern Africa”.
 Major Drainage System of Ethiopia

• Drainage:- the flow of water through well-

defined channel

• A drainage system is made up of a principal

river and its tributaries

 Con…
• A river system:
– begins at - source or headwater
– ends at - mouth
 Con…

• The drainage pattern of an area is the

outcome of:
– the geological processes,
– nature and structure of rocks,
– topography,
– slope,
– amount and the periodicity of the flow
 Con…

• A drainage basin is the topographic region

from which a river and its tributaries collect
both the surface runoff and subsurface flow.

• It is bounded by and separated from other

river basins by a water divide or topographic
divide.
 Con…

• The general patterns of major river basins in

Ethiopia are determined by topographical
structures which can be clarified as:
a. Outward sloping of the Western and South
eastern plateaus
b. The structural formation of the Rift Valley with its
in-ward-sloping escarpments
c. Faults and joints
 The Major Drainage Systems

• Ethiopia possesses three broadly classified

drainage systems:
– Western Drainage Systems,

– Southeastern Drainage Systems

– Rift Valley Drainage Systems

• Western and the Southeastern drainage

systems are separated by the Rift Valley system.
 The Western Drainage Systems

• the largest of all drainage systems

• draining 40% of the total area of the country

• carry 60% of the annual water flow

• Most of the catchment area coextends with

the westward sloping
 Con…
• This drainage system comprises four major
river basins:
– 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.
 Con…

• The largest river both in volumetric discharge and coverage

the western drainage systems is the Abay

– covers an area of 199,812 km2,

– covering parts of Amhara, Oromia and Benishangul-Gumuz

• Together with its tributaries, most of which are left-bank

tributaries; it carries 65% of the annual water flow of the

region.
 Con…

• Abay which rises from Lake Tana (some

sources indicate its origin from Sekela, Choke
mountain) flows about 1,450 km and joins the
White Nile in Khartoum, Sudan to form the
Nile River.
 Con…
• More than 60 streams drain the Abay within
elevation ranging between 500 - 4261 meters
above sea level.
• The largest of these is Ghilgel Abay
(LittleAbay).
• Abay flows eastward, turns 180 to make a
large bend and after cutting an impressive and
deep gorge emerges out in the west.
 Con…

• the Tekeze and its tributaries:

– carrying 12 % of the annual water flow of the
region
– drains 82,350 Km2 of land surface
– elevation ranging between 536-4517 m.a.s.l

• Erosion in the basin resulted in large

tablelands, plateau blocks and isolated
mountain groups.
 Con…
• 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
 Con…
• The Baro-Akobo and Ghibe / Omo rivers drain
the wettest highlands in the south and
southwestern Ethiopia
– They carry 17% and 6% of the annual water
flow respectively
– The Ghibe/ Omo river basin drains an area
of 79,000 km2
– Baro-Akobo river basin has an area of
75,912 km2, covering parts of the
Benishangul-Gumuz, Gambella, Oromia,
and SNNPR.
 Con…

• 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 in to
the Chew-Bahir at the mouth of Lake Turkana
(an elongated Rift Valley lake) thereby forming
an inland drainage.
 Southeastern Drainage Systems
• The basin which is mainly drained by Wabishebelle
and Ghenale, slopes southeastwards 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% of the annual water
flow of Ethiopia.
 Con…
• 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.
 Con…
• 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.
• 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
• an area of:
– small amount of rainfall,

– high evaporation

– 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.
 Con…

• 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.
 Con…

• 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.
 Con…

• 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.
 Con…

• 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.

 Con…
• There are small streams that drain down from
the nearby mountain slopes which supply
water to the lakes.
• For example, Meki and Katar Rivers flow into
Ziway; Bilate into Abaya; and Segen into Chew
Bahir.
• Likewise, some of these lakes are
interconnected.
• Lakes Ziway and Langano drain into Lake
Abijiata through the small streams of Bulbula
and Horocolo respectively.
 The Ethiopian 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.
 Con…
River Catchmen Annual Terminus/ Major tributaries
t Volume Mouth
Area(km2) BMC
Abay 199,812 54.5 Mediterranean Dabus, Dedessa, Fincha,
Guder, Muger, Jema,
Beshilo
Wabishebelle 202,697 3.4 Coast of Ramis Erer, Daketa
Indian Ocean Fafan

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

• 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.
 Con…

• 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,
• Some of the rivers serve as boundaries, both
international and domestic administrative
units.
Eritrea

Ethiopia
 Amhara Regional State

Oromia Regional State

 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.
 Con…

• 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.
 Con…

• 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.
 Con…

• 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.

• Shala and Ziway are the deepest and the

shallowest lakes in the central Ethiopian Rift
respectively.
Lake Area Max. Depth(m) Lake Area Max.
(km2) (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
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.
 Con…

• 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 -
6400 megawatts.
• Gilgel Gibe III hydropower project has gone
operational generating 1870 megawatts.
 Con…

• 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.
 Con…

• 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 sever 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.
 Con…

• 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.
 Con…

• 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.
 Con…

• 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.
 Con…

• 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.