Abstract: An important aspect of understanding discharge of a river is to examine the influences to which the river responds. Understanding the interaction between human activities and hydrologic processes is fundamental in addressing environmental degradation. This study examined streamflow in relation to land use changes. The study was based on Motoine/Ngong River sub-catchment, Nairobi River Basin, Kenya. Analysis of spatial and temporal land use change was done for the whole sub-catchment for five land use classes namely: bare ground, built up area and road, grassland, forest and other vegetation. Four representative sampling points along the course of the river: at the Motoine swamp outlet, Ngong Road Bridge, Nairobi dam inlet and at Kangundo Road Bridge were used to carry out flow measurements. The findings indicate spatial change in land use from 1976 to 2012, with built up area and road pattern of land use being the highest at 50.98% of the catchment, thereby forming a large area of impermeable surface cover. Flow of Motoine/Ngong River shows a marked variation between seasons and also from 1976 to 2012. This variability is attributed to increase in impermeable surface cover. Very high direct flow was noted from flood marks.
Keywords: Catchment, land use, streamflow, Motoine/Ngong River.
Title: Effects of Watershed Land Use Change on Streamflow of Motoine/Ngong River, Nairobi River Basin, Kenya
Author: Alice Kwamboka Monene
International Journal of Mathematics and Physical Sciences Research
ISSN 2348-5736 (Online)
Research Publish Journals
