Water Dynamics of the Sefrou Watershed, Northern Tabular Middle Atlas, Morocco

Abstract

The Sefrou watershed, located in the northern part of the Tabular Middle Atlas, is the primary watershed in the Sebou region. Due to increasing socio-economic development, the need for a stable water supply is critical. Therefore, this watershed’s physiography and morphology are studied to aim and facilitate further research in the Sebou region. We rely on the hydrological regime, frequency analysis of extreme flows, rainfall volume, and flood periods forecast to enable that characterization. Our findings determined that the Sebou region is of pluvial type with abundant rainfall, especially in winters due to floods. Moreover, substratum parameters induce a large volume of water resources from upstream to downstream. However, the weak structure of the hydrographic network and the water balance has highlighted a considerable loss of these resources, which handicaps the irrigation system and the supply of drinking water to the region’s cities. Finally, the annual modulus and the different coefficients show hydroclimatic fluctuations of semi-arid climatic conditions, with a temperate winter. Our results suggest a need to monitor water runoff and protect surface soils from flooding and rapid erosion (by planting trees). We also propose installing barriers and a small dam to recharge groundwater and artificially store surface water in this watershed.