Understanding Hydrological Processes under Land Use Land Cover Change in the Upper Genale River Basin, Ethiopia

The expansion of cultivated land in place natural vegetation has a substantial influence on hydrologic characteristics watershed. However, due to basin and the nature intensity landscape modification, response varies across basins. This study aims evaluate performance soil water assessment tool (SWAT) model its applicability assessing effects use cover (LULC) changes hydrological processes upper Genale River basin. results satellite change detection over past 30 years (between 1986 2016) revealed that changed considerably. They showed settlement, cultivated, bare areas had increased from 0.16% 0.28%, 24.4% 47.1%, 0.62%, respectively. On contrary, units such as forest, shrubland, grassland reduced 29.6% 13.5%, 23.9% 19.5%, 21.8% 18.9%, Based monthly measured flow data, was calibrated validated SWAT-CUP using sequential uncertainty fitting (SUFI-2) algorithm. result performed well with coefficient determination (R2) ≥ 0.74, Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) 0.72, percent bias (PBIAS) between −5% 5% for calibration validation periods. responses LULC 1986, 2001, 2016 models average annual runoff by 13.7% 7.9% groundwater decreased 2.85% 2.1% 2001 2016, Similarly, total yields 324.42 mm 339.63 347.32 processes, mainly rise yield reduction lateral watershed, resulted changes. broader implications planning management resource development.