Flash Flood Risk Management – A Training of Trainers ... - ReliefWeb

Day 3
Activity 12.2: Concept and components of watershed management
Time: 15 minutes
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Define what a watershed is. Show the map of a water basin and point out the major rivers, the
minor rivers, and the contour lines. Alternatively, clarify the concept of a watershed by drawing a
map on the board. Remember to include major rivers, minor rivers, and contour lines. On either
map, draw a line around the basin boundary and indicate the different watersheds and sub
watersheds. Explain that a major water basin can have several watersheds.
Present the major components of a watershed.
Present the benefits of watershed management:
• Improved water availability
• Improved water quality
• Reduced risks of natural disasters
• Higher crop yields
• Increased biomass cover
• Improved soil quality
• Increased possibilities for income generating activities
• Improved habitats for flora and fauna and, therefore, improved biodiversity
Activity 12.3: Watershed management measures
Time: 30 minutes
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Present the major watershed management measures, such as land-use management, agricultural
remodelling, watercourse maintenance, and bioengineering.
Discuss the major activities of land-use management and how they apply in different land types
(e.g., agricultural land, forests, pastureland, and settlements).
Discuss the various methods of agricultural remodelling such as multiple cropping and modified
cropping patterns. Inform participants that information on the extent and timing of floods in a given
area can be collected using various participatory rural appraisal (PRA) tools. The information
gathered can be used to generate an agricultural ‘calendar’. With this information in hand, farmers
can be advised on how to time their cultivation calendar so as to avoid the major flood periods.
They can also be advised on what other suitable crops can be planted in the flood-free period.
Discuss watercourse maintenance and floodplain management that includes flood hazard mapping
with zoning areas on both sides of rivers. Mention that it shows the different zones with various
levels of flood hazard to support management intervention: watercourse maintenance can also be
done using social hazard mapping technique with the support of GIS.
Explain the role of bioengineering in helping to stabilise and protect slopes and minimise runoff.
Discuss how trees, grass, shrubs, and other vegetation can be used alone or in combination with
small-scale structural measures.
Note to the
trainer
Local people usually know most of the watershed management
measures since these are based on local knowledge and common
practices. Some of this knowledge and these practices can be
shared with and replicated in other places if they are sustainable.
In addition to local knowledge, simple scientific techniques such
as bioengineering, techniques of jute netting, and small structural
measures can be implemented. Watershed management should
consist of both structural and non-structural measures.
session 12
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