Geospatial Mapping and Analysis of Water Availability, Demand, and Use Within the Mara River Basin

Abstract

The Mara River Basin (MRB) is an international river basin between the bordering countries of Kenya and Tanzania in Eastern Africa. This study looks at several consumptive water-use factors that exist within the basin, as well as established environmental flow requirements, and quantifies the amount of water demanded. Subsequently, this quantity is compared to existing records of water availability for the dry season months of December through March. Hydrologic records, site interviews, population census data, and spatial datasets were used in combination with a geographic information system to determine water demand. Results show that the total current water demand within the basin does not appear to exceed water supply during periods of maintenance or average flow. However, current water requirements do exceed supply during periods of low flow for each of the dry season months, posing a serious threat to water resources within theMRB.