ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Mapping Analysis for Vulnerable Areas
and Erosion Rate of Laut Tawar Lake,
Peusangan Watershed
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1
Environmental and Natural Resources Management Master Program, Al Muslim University, Bireuen, Aceh, Indonesia
2
Civil Engineering Study Program, Al Muslim University, Bireuen, Aceh, 24211, Indonesia
3
Agriculture Industrial and Technology Study Program, Faculty of Agriculture, Almuslim University,
Bireuen, Aceh, Indonesia
4
Soil Science Study Program, Khairun University, Ternate, Indonesia
5
Research Center for Climate and Atmosphere, National Research and Innovation Agency, Indonesia
Submission date: 2022-12-13
Final revision date: 2023-03-31
Acceptance date: 2023-04-21
Online publication date: 2023-06-09
Publication date: 2023-07-21
Corresponding author
Cut Azizah
Environmental and Natural Resources Management Master Program, Al Muslim University, Kampus Ampon Chiek Peusangan, 24267, Bireuen, Aceh, Indonesia
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2023;32(4):3617-3626
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ABSTRACT
Having an area of approximately 57,8 km2, a perimeter of 46,12 km, and a water catchment area of
about 246,5 km2, Laut Tawar Lake has undergone siltation which was allegedly caused by soil erosion
from the water catchment area, leading to sedimentation of water bodies. This study aims to map
vulnerable areas and calculate the erosion rate of the Laut Tawar Lake for the purpose of providing
information on the spatial layout and development design of the lake water catchment area. We use
remote sensing and geographical information system to map areas vulnerable to erosion. For analyzing
the potential erosion rate, we adopt the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) approach. Our result
showed erosion rate occurred in the Laut Tawar Lake ranged from very low to very high. In addition,
erosion is also sparsely distributed in Laut Tawar Lake. The high erosivity index, domination of area
more than 45% slope, and land use change from forest to the agricultural area in the study area become
the main driver of the erosion. Analysis of the potential erosion rate of Lake Laut Tawar shows an
increase from 1990 to 2019. Erosion was 12.4 tonnes/ha/year in 1990, 11.0 tonnes/ha/year in 2000,
14.6 tonnes/ha/year in 2009, and 27.4 tonnes/ha/year in 2019. The spatial distribution of erosion shows
an increasing trend from year to year. The results of the overlay with villages in lake catchments
show that 66 percent of villages are in the high and very high categories in the last year. The study
suggested conservation through revegetation using local species as the best solution for the erosion issue in the lake cliff area. The vegetation also plays a crucial role as a soil cover that protects the soil from
rainfall kinetic energy that led to erosion.