The assessment of low flow at El Abid river basin for a good management of water resource (High Atlas/Morocco)

Abstract

Abstract In a scenario where pressures on aquatic ecosystems and the water demands of communities are on the rise, coupled with the impacts of global changes, understanding low water flows becomes a critical concern. Low flow is characterized as a natural and seasonal phenomenon, typically stemming from varying degrees of prolonged and severe rainfall deficits. This phenomenon is prone to temporal and spatial fluctuations, ultimately causing a reduction in streamflow. The El Abid River Basin is located within the big Oum Er Rbia watershed, covering an area of 30.600 km 2 . El Abid river stands out as the principal tributary of the Oum Er Rbia, boasting an average annual flow of 32 m 3 /s −1 , with a maximum average flow reaching 77 m 3 /s −1 and a minimum average flow of 10 m 3 /s −1 . The hydrological regime of this river exhibits a pattern of intermittent and extreme floods, as well as periods of low flow sustained by water from the karst hydrosystems of the central High Atlas. The aim of this study is to characterize the low flow rates within the upstream part of El Abid river basin, intending to enhance the management of water resources in this basin. The methodology employed involves extracting the minimum flows, calculating the severity thresholds for low flow, determining the lowest average monthly flow of the year, computing low flow rates based on monthly flow averages, and calculating low flow values for specific return periods. Monthly discharge data from two hydrometric stations within our study area, namely Ait Ouchéne and Tizi Nisly, were utilized. The dataset spans the period from 1976 to 2018.