May Sho'ate Explained

May Sho’ate
Pushpin Map:Ethiopia
Pushpin Map Caption:May Sho’ate River in Dogu’a Tembien
Subdivision Type1:Country
Subdivision Type2:Region
Subdivision Name2:Tigray Region
Subdivision Type3:District (woreda)
Subdivision Name3:Dogu’a Tembien
Length:1.9km (01.2miles)
Width Avg:5m (16feet)
Source1:May Ntebteb
Source1 Location:Zenaqo in Ayninbirkekin municipality
Source1 Elevation:2500m (8,200feet)
Mouth:May Zegzeg River
Mouth Location:May Addi Abagie, at the border of Mika'el Abiy and Haddinnet municipalities
Mouth Coordinates:13.644°N 39.194°W
Mouth Elevation:2270m (7,450feet)
River System:Seasonal/permanent river
Basin Landmarks:Ilias’ Stone
Waterfalls:May Ntebteb
Custom Label:Topography
Custom Data:Mountains and deep gorges

The May Sho’ate (also called Argak'a) is a river of the Nile basin. Rising in the mountains of Dogu’a Tembien in northern Ethiopia, it flows southward to empty finally in Giba and Tekezé River.[1]

Characteristics

It is a confined ephemeral river with an average slope gradient of 121 metres per kilometre. With its tributaries, the river has cut a deep gorge.[2]

May Zegzeg Integrated Catchment Management Project

As part of outreach accompanying research in Dogu'a Tembien, the May Zegzeg Integrated Catchment Management Project was set up in 2004 in the catchment of the May Zegzeg River by researchers in cooperation with ADCS, a local NGO. There was a particular focus on the May Sho’ate subcatchment. The project included the implementation of conservation techniques to increase water infiltration and conserve the soil. The objective was to improve the livelihood of the communities of Harena, Hech'i and Addi Qolqwal as well as to demonstrate and promote global catchment management in the district.[3] The results of the implementation of site-specific conservation techniques aimed at increasing water infiltration and conserving soil were particularly monitored in the headwaters at May Sho'ate: dry masonry stone bunds,[4] check dams in gullies,[5] and the set-aside of degraded rangelands which resulted in exclosures.[6]

Flash floods and flood buffering

Runoff mostly happens in the form of high runoff discharge events that occur in a very short period (called flash floods). These are related to the steep topography, often little vegetation cover and intense convective rainfall. The peaks of such flash floods have often a 50 to 100 times larger discharge than the preceding baseflow.[2] The magnitude of floods in this river has however been decreased due to interventions in the catchment by the May Zegzeg project, and other community activities. On the steep slopes, exclosures have been established; the dense vegetation largely contributes to enhanced infiltration, less flooding and better baseflow.[7] Physical conservation structures such as stone bunds[8] [9] and check dams also intercept runoff.[5] [10]

Irrigated agriculture

Besides springs and reservoirs, irrigation is strongly dependent on the river's baseflow. Such irrigated agriculture is important in meeting the demands for food security and poverty reduction.[2] Irrigated lands near springs that became strong after conservation activities:[1]

Boulders and pebbles in the river bed

Boulders and pebbles encountered in the river bed can originate from any location higher up in the catchment. In the uppermost stretches of the river, only rock fragments of the upper lithological units will be present in the river bed, whereas more downstream one may find a more comprehensive mix of all lithologies crossed by the river. From upstream to downstream, the following lithological units occur in the catchment.[11]

Research catchment

Given its representativeness for the wider northern Ethiopian Highlands and the proximity to Hagere Selam town, various research undertakings took place along May Sho’ate and in its catchment. These studies were particularly related to:

Natural boundary

During its course, this river constitutes the borders between Ayninbirkekin and Mika'el Abiy municipalities|.[1]

Trekking along the river

Trekking routes have been established across and along this river.[36] The tracks are not marked on the ground but can be followed using downloaded .GPX files.[37]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: Jacob . M. and colleagues . Geo-trekking map of Dogu'a Tembien (1:50,000). In: Geo-trekking in Ethiopia's Tropical Mountains - The Dogu'a Tembien District . 2019 . SpringerNature . 978-3-030-04954-6 .
  2. Book: Amanuel Zenebe . and colleagues . The Giba, Tanqwa and Tsaliet rivers in the headwaters of the Tekezze basin. In: Geo-trekking in Ethiopia's Tropical Mountains - The Dogu'a Tembien District . 2019 . SpringerNature . 978-3-030-04954-6 . 10.1007/978-3-030-04955-3_14 . 199099067 .
  3. Book: Reubens . B. and colleagues . Research-based development projects in Dogu'a Tembien. In: Geo-trekking in Ethiopia's Tropical Mountains - The Dogu'a Tembien District . 2019 . SpringerNature . 978-3-030-04954-6 .
  4. Nyssen. Jan. Poesen. Jean. Gebremichael. Desta. Vancampenhout. Karen. d'Aes. Margo. Yihdego. Gebremedhin. Govers. Gerard. Leirs. Herwig. Moeyersons. Jan. Naudts. Jozef. Haregeweyn. Nigussie. Haile. Mitiku. Deckers. Jozef. Interdisciplinary on-site evaluation of stone bunds to control soil erosion on cropland in Northern Ethiopia. . Soil and Tillage Research . 2007 . 94 . 1 . 151–163 . 10.1016/j.still.2006.07.011. 1854/LU-378900. free.
  5. Nyssen. J.. Veyret-Picot. M.. Poesen. J.. Moeyersons. J.. Haile. Mitiku. Deckers. J.. Govers. G.. The effectiveness of loose rock check dams for gully control in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. . Soil Use and Management . 2004 . 20 . 55–64 . 10.1111/j.1475-2743.2004.tb00337.x. 98547102.
  6. Descheemaeker . K. and colleagues . Sediment deposition and pedogenesis in exclosures in the Tigray Highlands, Ethiopia. . Geoderma . 2006 . 132 . 3–4. 291–314 . 10.1016/j.geoderma.2005.04.027 . 2006Geode.132..291D .
  7. Descheemaeker. K. and colleagues. Runoff on slopes with restoring vegetation: A case study from the Tigray highlands, Ethiopia. . Journal of Hydrology . 2006 . 331 . 1–2 . 219–241 . 10.1016/j.still.2006.07.011. 1854/LU-378900 . free .
  8. Nyssen. Jan. Poesen. Jean. Gebremichael. Desta. Vancampenhout. Karen. d'Aes. Margo. Yihdego. Gebremedhin. Govers. Gerard. Leirs. Herwig. Moeyersons. Jan. Naudts. Jozef. Haregeweyn. Nigussie. Haile. Mitiku. Deckers. Jozef. Interdisciplinary on-site evaluation of stone bunds to control soil erosion on cropland in Northern Ethiopia. . Soil and Tillage Research . 2007 . 94 . 1 . 151–163 . 10.1016/j.still.2006.07.011. 1854/LU-378900. free.
  9. Gebeyehu Taye and colleagues. Evolution of the effectiveness of stone bunds and trenches in reducing runoff and soil loss in the semi-arid Ethiopian highlands. . Zeitschrift für Geomorphologie. 2015 . 59 . 4 . 477–493 . 10.1127/zfg/2015/0166. 2015ZGm....59..477T .
  10. Etefa Guyassa and colleagues. Effects of check dams on runoff characteristics along gully reaches, the case of Northern Ethiopia. . Journal of Hydrology . 2017 . 545 . 1 . 299–309 . 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2016.12.019. 2017JHyd..545..299G . 1854/LU-8518957 . free .
  11. Book: Sembroni . A. . Molin . P. . Dramis . F. . Regional geology of the Dogu'a Tembien massif. In: Geo-trekking in Ethiopia's Tropical Mountains — The Dogu'a Tembien District . 2019 . SpringerNature . 978-3-030-04954-6 .
  12. Tillage erosion on slopes with soil conservation structures in the Ethiopian highlands . 10.1016/S0167-1987(00)00138-0 . 2000 . Nyssen . Jan . Poesen . Jean . Haile . Mitiku . Moeyersons . Jan . Deckers . Jozef . Soil and Tillage Research . 57 . 3 . 115–127 .
  13. Removal of rock fragments and its effect on soil loss and crop yield, Tigray, Ethiopia . 10.1111/j.1475-2743.2001.tb00025.x . 2006 . Nyssen . J. . Haile . Mitiku . Poesen . J. . Deckers . J. . Moeyersons . J. . Soil Use and Management . 17 . 3 . 179–187 . 98532199 .
  14. The environmental significance of the remobilisation of ancient mass movements in the Atbara–Tekeze headwaters, Northern Ethiopia . 10.1016/S0169-555X(02)00192-7 . 2003 . Nyssen . Jan . Moeyersons . Jan . Poesen . Jean . Deckers . Jozef . Mitiku Haile . Geomorphology . 49 . 3–4 . 303–322 . 2003Geomo..49..303N .
  15. Impact of road building on gully erosion risk: A case study from the Northern Ethiopian Highlands . 10.1002/esp.404 . 2002 . Nyssen . Jan . Poesen . Jean . Moeyersons . Jan . Luyten . Edith . Veyret-Picot . Maude . Deckers . Jozef . Haile . Mitiku . Govers . Gerard . Earth Surface Processes and Landforms . 27 . 12 . 1267–1283 . 2002ESPL...27.1267N . 140691299 .
  16. Spatial distribution of rock fragments in cultivated soils in northern Ethiopia as affected by lateral and vertical displacement processes . 10.1016/S0169-555X(01)00096-4 . 2002 . Nyssen . Jan . Poesen . Jean . Moeyersons . Jan . Lavrysen . Els . Haile . Mitiku . Deckers . Jozef . Geomorphology . 43 . 1–2 . 1–16 . 2002Geomo..43....1N .
  17. Nyssen. Jan. Poesen. Jean. Gebremichael. Desta. Vancampenhout. Karen. d'Aes. Margo. Yihdego. Gebremedhin. Govers. Gerard. Leirs. Herwig. Moeyersons. Jan. Naudts. Jozef. Haregeweyn. Nigussie. Haile. Mitiku. Deckers. Jozef. Interdisciplinary on-site evaluation of stone bunds to control soil erosion on cropland in Northern Ethiopia. . Soil and Tillage Research . 2007 . 94 . 1 . 151–163 . 10.1016/j.still.2006.07.011. 1854/LU-378900. free.
  18. Effectiveness of stone bunds in controlling soil erosion on cropland in the Tigray Highlands, northern Ethiopia . 10.1111/j.1475-2743.2005.tb00401.x . 2005 . Gebrernichael . Desta . Nyssen . J. . Poesen . J. . Deckers . J. . Haile . Mitiku . Govers . G. . Moeyersons . J. . Soil Use and Management . 21 . 3 . 287–297 . 95931760 .
  19. Rainfall erosivity and variability in the Northern Ethiopian Highlands . 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2004.12.016 . 2005 . Nyssen . J. . Vandenreyken . H. . Poesen . J. . Moeyersons . J. . Deckers . J. . Haile . Mitiku . Salles . C. . Govers . G. . Journal of Hydrology . 311 . 1–4 . 172–187 . 2005JHyd..311..172N .
  20. Stone bunds for soil conservation in the northern Ethiopian highlands: Impacts on soil fertility and crop yield . 10.1016/j.still.2005.08.004 . 2006 . Vancampenhout . Karen . Nyssen . Jan . Gebremichael . Desta . Deckers . Jozef . Poesen . Jean . Haile . Mitiku . Moeyersons . Jan . Soil and Tillage Research . 90 . 1–2 . 1–15 .
  21. Processes and rates of rock fragment displacement on cliffs and scree slopes in an amba landscape, Ethiopia . 10.1016/j.geomorph.2006.04.021 . 2006 . Nyssen . J. . Poesen . J. . Moeyersons . J. . Deckers . J. . Haile . Mitiku . Geomorphology . 81 . 3–4 . 265–275 . 2006Geomo..81..265N .
  22. Nyssen. J.. Naudts. J.. De Geyndt. K.. Haile. Mitiku. Poesen. J.. Moeyersons. J.. Deckers. J.. Soils and land use in the Tigray highlands (Northern Ethiopia). . Land Degradation and Development . 2008 . 19 . 3 . 257–274 . 10.1002/ldr.840. 128492271.
  23. Dynamics of soil erosion rates and controlling factors in the Northern Ethiopian Highlands – towards a sediment budget . 10.1002/esp.1569 . 2008 . Nyssen . Jan . Poesen . Jean . Moeyersons . Jan . Haile . Mitiku . Deckers . Jozef . Earth Surface Processes and Landforms . 33 . 5 . 695–711 . 2008ESPL...33..695N . 1854/LU-416185 . 53650704 . free .
  24. How soil conservation affects the catchment sediment budget - a comprehensive study in the north Ethiopian highlands . 10.1002/esp.1805 . 2009 . Nyssen . Jan . Clymans . Wim . Poesen . Jean . Vandecasteele . Ine . De Baets . Sarah . Haregeweyn . Nigussie . Naudts . Jozef . Hadera . Amanuel . Moeyersons . Jan . Haile . Mitiku . Deckers . Jozef . Earth Surface Processes and Landforms . 34 . 9 . 1216–1233 . 2009ESPL...34.1216N . 129123841 .
  25. Hydrogeology and groundwater flow in a basalt-capped Mesozoic sedimentary series of the Ethiopian highlands . 10.1007/s10040-010-0667-0 . 2011 . Vandecasteele . Ine . Nyssen . Jan . Clymans . Wim . Moeyersons . Jan . Martens . Kristine . Van Camp . Marc . Gebreyohannes . Tesfamichael . Desmedt . Florimond . Deckers . Jozef . Walraevens . Kristine . Hydrogeology Journal . 19 . 3 . 641–650 . 2011HydJ...19..641V . 129417175 .
  26. Groundwater recharge and flow in a small mountain catchment in northern Ethiopia . 10.1623/hysj.54.4.739 . 2009 . Walraevens . Kristine . Vandecasteele . INE . Martens . Kristine . Nyssen . JAN . Moeyersons . JAN . Gebreyohannes . Tesfamichael . De Smedt . Florimond . Poesen . Jean . Deckers . Jozef . Van Camp . Marc . Hydrological Sciences Journal . 54 . 4 . 739–753 . 129902936 .
  27. The use of the marasha ard plough for conservation agriculture in Northern Ethiopia . 10.1051/agro/2010014 . 2011 . Nyssen . Jan . Govaerts . Bram . Araya . Tesfay . Cornelis . Wim M. . Bauer . Hans . Haile . Mitiku . Sayre . Ken . Deckers . Jozef . Agronomy for Sustainable Development . 31 . 2 . 287–297 . 9697107 .
  28. Restoring Cropland Productivity and Profitability in Northern Ethiopian Drylands After Nine Years of Resource-Conserving Agriculture . 10.1017/S001447971400060X . 2016 . Araya . Tesfay . Nyssen . JAN . Govaerts . Bram . Baudron . Frédéric . Carpentier . Louise . Bauer . Hans . Lanckriet . SIL . Deckers . Jozef . Cornelis . WIM M. . Experimental Agriculture . 52 . 2 . 165–187 . 85663297 .
  29. Toward Practical Implementation of Conservation Agriculture: A Case Study in the May Zeg-zeg Catchment (Ethiopia) . 10.1080/21683565.2014.917143 . 2014 . Lanckriet . Sil . Araya . Tesfay . Derudder . Ben . Cornelis . Wim . Bauer . Hans . Govaerts . Bram . Deckers . Jozef . Haile . Mitiku . Naudts . Jozef . Nyssen . Jan . Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems . 38 . 8 . 913–935 . 1854/LU-5718183 . 53556757 . free .
  30. Impact of conservation agriculture on catchment runoff and soil loss under changing climate conditions in May Zeg-zeg (Ethiopia) . 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2012.10.011 . 2012 . Lanckriet . Sil . Araya . Tesfay . Cornelis . Wim . Verfaillie . Els . Poesen . Jean . Govaerts . Bram . Bauer . Hans . Deckers . Jozef . Haile . Mitiku . Nyssen . Jan . Journal of Hydrology . 475 . 336–349 . 2012JHyd..475..336L . 1854/LU-3080411 . free .
  31. Effects of conservation agriculture on runoff, soil loss and crop yield under rainfed conditions in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia . 10.1111/j.1475-2743.2011.00347.x . 2011 . Araya . Tesfay . Cornelis . W. M. . Nyssen . J. . Govaerts . B. . Bauer . H. . Gebreegziabher . Tewodros . Oicha . Tigist . Raes . D. . Sayre . K. D. . Haile . Mitiku . Deckers . J. . Soil Use and Management . 27 . 3 . 404–414 . 98508952 .
  32. Contour furrows for in situ soil and water conservation, Tigray, Northern Ethiopia . 10.1016/j.still.2008.05.021 . 2009 . Gebreegziabher . Tewodros . Nyssen . Jan . Govaerts . Bram . Getnet . Fekadu . Behailu . Mintesinot . Haile . Mitiku . Deckers . Jozef . Soil and Tillage Research . 103 . 2 . 257–264 .
  33. https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/schweiz/zfg/2009/00000053/00000002/art00002 Effects of land use and land cover on sheet and rill erosion rates in the Tigray highlands, Ethiopia
  34. Impact of soil and water conservation measures on catchment hydrological response-a case in north Ethiopia . 10.1002/hyp.7628 . 2010 . Nyssen . Jan . Clymans . Wim . Descheemaeker . Katrien . Poesen . Jean . Vandecasteele . Ine . Vanmaercke . Matthias . Zenebe . Amanuel . Van Camp . Marc . Haile . Mitiku . Haregeweyn . Nigussie . Moeyersons . Jan . Martens . Kristine . Gebreyohannes . Tesfamichael . Deckers . Jozef . Walraevens . Kristine . Hydrological Processes . 24 . 13 . 1880–1895 . 2010HyPr...24.1880N . 53414457 . 1854/LU-854283 . free .
  35. Rodent abundance, stone bund density and its effects on crop damage in the Tigray highlands, Ethiopia . 10.1016/j.cropro.2013.10.016 . 2014 . Meheretu . Yonas . Sluydts . Vincent . Welegerima . Kiros . Bauer . Hans . Teferi . Mekonen . Yirga . Gidey . Mulungu . Loth . Haile . Mitiku . Nyssen . Jan . Deckers . Jozef . Makundi . Rhodes . Leirs . Herwig . Crop Protection . 55 . 61–67 .
  36. Book: Description of trekking routes in Dogu'a Tembien. In: Geo-trekking in Ethiopia's Tropical Mountains - The Dogu'a Tembien District . 2019 . SpringerNature . 978-3-030-04954-6 .
  37. https://www.openstreetmap.org/traces/tag/nyssen-jacob-frankl Public GPS traces tagged with nyssen-jacob-frankl | OpenStreetMap

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