Mitigating the Effects of Floods and Erosion In the Niger South Catchment Area through Integrated Flood Management (IFM)

Abstract

Natural disasters, such as the occurrence of floods, cause much misery, especially in developing countries where low-income earners undergo great stress. Losses due to floods reduce the asset base of households, communities and societies through the destruction of standing crops, dwellings, infrastructure, machinery and buildings, in addition to tragic loss of life.

The goal of IFM is to identify and maximize the net benefits from floodplains, reduce flood risks, and minimize loss of human life due to flooding in a sustainable manner, thereby shifting the emphasis from flood control to flood management. The method integrates land and water resources management in the river basin, through the adoption of a three-fold approach: i) avoiding; ii) reducing; and iii) mitigating adverse environmental impacts, without compromising flood management objectives. These approaches are put into perspective in the Niger South Catchment Area, which constitutes parts of the lower Niger River and where erosion and the associated flooding constitute serious environmental hazards. The dominant types of erosion, as well as the human activities and natural occurrences that constitute erosion menace in the catchment are identified and used as a guide to recommend erosion and flood management strategies. Use of flood control dams and reservoirs, as a means of attenuating flood peaks downstream, are recommended. Based on hydrological forecasts, the reservoirs can be regulated to minimize the chances of coincident peaks from floods in different tributaries and synchronize with the main stem of the river downstream. Public education and flood warnings, with clear and accurate messages, as well as timely emergency preparedness are recommended as complements to all forms of intervention.