Impacts of Sedimentation on Water Resources in Small Earth Dams

Sedimentation is a common problem in small earth dams in Malawi that has led to failure of a good number of small dams over the past years. Much of the problem is due to severe catchment degradation and loss of land cover.It is a real threat if left unchecked timely. Deliberate efforts should be put in place to adopt the integrated approach to natural resources management such as Water Resources. The small earth dams which are negatively impacted by sedimentation are a reliable source for improved livelihoods in rural areas and play a very crucial role collectively for a large population.In order to complement government efforts towards sustainable water resources management, it is necessary to seriously look into sedimentation and silt load.