ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Prioritizing Watershed Restoration, Management,
and Development Based on Geo-Morphometric
Analysis in Asir Region of Saudi Arabia Using
Geospatial Technology
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1
Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, King Khalid University, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
2
Department of Data Science and Engineering, Quantela Inc. Bengaluru, Indi
3
Department of Energy and Environment, TERI School of Advanced Studies, New Delhi, India
Submission date: 2021-06-03
Final revision date: 2021-09-06
Acceptance date: 2021-09-11
Online publication date: 2022-01-11
Publication date: 2022-02-16
Corresponding author
Javed Mallick
Department of Civil Engineering, King Khalid University, College of Engineering, Post box 394, Qreqar, 61411, Abha, Saudi Arabia
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2022;31(2):1201-1222
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ABSTRACT
The groundwater resource in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a non-renewable resource.
Geographical information system and remote sensing are proven to be an efficient tool for locating water
harvesting and recharge structures by prioritization of sub-watersheds through morphometric analysis.
In this study, the watershed prioritization in Asir Province has been assessed by linear, aerial, and relief
morphometric parameters. Morphometric analysis has been attempted to prioritize a total of eleven subwatersheds,
of which six sub-watersheds in Tathlith Wadi and five sub-watersheds in Bisha Wadi were
delineated using digital elevation model (DEM). Advanced space-borne thermal emission and reflection
radiometer of 30m resolution DEM has used to generate drainage networks and delineation of subwatersheds
using ArcGIS software. The important derived morphometric parameters have computed
on the base of already developed mathematical formulae and methods. A novel and quantitative
approach based on the compound parameter by using linear and shape parameters of the respective
sub-watershed was attempted for its prioritization. The total area of sub-watershed in Wadi Bisha,
which lies under high, medium, and low priority is approximately 40%, 20% and 40% respectively.
whereas in Wadi Tathlith, the area under high and medium priority is 67% and 33%. The watersheds
BSW2 and BSW4 in Wadi Bisha and TSW1, TSW2, TSW3, and TSW5 in Wadi Tathlith would require
immediate intervention and efficient action plan for water and soil conservation. The interrelationship
between the various morphometric factors of the basin has been studied using a correlation matrix.
Further, morphometric factors have been studied in relation to the sub-basins to understand the existing
relation between the factors and the sub-basins. The prioritized watersheds were validated using the water yield data from borewells in the respective watersheds. All high prioritized watersheds but one
in Wadi Tathlith (TSW3) showed poor water yield. Prioritized sub-watersheds require immediate soil
& water conservation initiative according to the given rank to ensure efficient watershed planning and
management and improving the potential of water resources under sustainable watershed management
and development in the Asir province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.