achrafsamyhouari75-dev/Soil-Erosion-Assessment-Its-Implications-for-Siltation-Control-in-Northern-Morocco

# Soil Erosion Risk Assessment & Dam Siltation Decision Support — Upper Lebene Wadi Watershed, Northern Morocco **A GIS-based multisource geospatial framework for erosion hazard mapping and siltation risk management in support of the Sidi Abou Dam (Morocco's National Water Resources Plan)** --- ## Overview This project delivers a **spatial decision-support tool** for identifying, mapping, and prioritizing soil erosion risk in the upper **Lebene Wadi Watershed (L2W)**, Northern Morocco — a critical catchment feeding the strategic **Sidi Abou Dam**, currently under construction as part of Morocco's National Water Resources Plan (PNRE). By integrating multisource geospatial data (satellite imagery, DEM, geological and land cover mapping) within the **PAP/RAC (Priority Actions Program / Regional Activity Center)** framework — a methodology developed under the UNEP Mediterranean Action Plan — this project produces actionable erosion risk maps to guide watershed management, soil conservation planning, and reservoir siltation mitigation. The dam is expected to secure drinking water supply, irrigate ~5,000 hectares of farmland, and reduce downstream flood risk. Protecting its long-term storage capacity from sediment accumulation depends directly on identifying and managing upstream erosion sources — which is the core objective of this work. --- ## Objectives - spatially map **soil erosion vulnerability** across the upper L2W - Identify and classify **erosion landforms** (sheet, rill, gully erosion) - Detect **priority intervention zones** for soil conservation and watershed management - Provide **spatial decision-support outputs** to reduce sediment yield and limit Sidi Abou Dam siltation - Demonstrate a **replicable geospatial workflow** applicable to other Mediterranean watersheds --- ## Study Area The upper L2W is located in the Central Rif Mountains, Fez-Meknes region, spanning the provinces of Taza and Taounate, Northern Morocco. Ouerrha Wadi delimits …