Evaluation of the Impacts of Land Use and Land Cover Changes on Groundwater Recharge in the Gidabo Watershed, Ethiopia

ABSTRACT Changes in land use and land cover (LULC) are among the most prominent anthropogenic activities influencing groundwater recharge (GWR), as they directly affect the rate at which aquifers refill. Thus, evaluating the impacts of these changes on GWR becomes essential to ensure groundwater sustainability. However, research on this aspect in the Gidabo watershed is limited. This study aims to evaluate the impacts of LULC changes on GWR in the Gidabo watershed from 2013 to 2022. LULC maps were generated with ArcGIS 10.8, and GWR was predicted with the WetSpass‐M model. The main findings of this study reveal considerable changes between 2013 and 2022. Farmland increased by 39.25%, settlement areas grew by 11.4%, and forest cover decreased by 16.17%. Additionally, shrubland and grassland areas showed a 41.14% reduction. These land use changes reduced GWR from 179.12 to 158.48 mm. Over the same time, annual runoff and evapotranspiration (ET) increased. This study highlights how LULC changes, such as increasing agricultural and settlement areas and reduced forest and grassland cover, have considerably reduced GWR. These findings highlight the urgent need for integrated water resource management policies that consider the impacts of human activities. To ensure the long‐term sustainability of water resources in the Gidabo watershed and similar regions, conservation strategies that promote adaptive land management practices must be implemented. Water policy should encourage sustainable LULC practices, reinforce regulatory frameworks, and support community‐based watershed management to improve GWR and maintain long‐term water resource management.