Sub-Watershed Prioritization Using Morphometric Analysis and Geographical Information System, Case Study of Lakhdar Watershed, Morocco

This research investigates the prioritization of sub-basins within the Lakhdar watershed, located in the upper section of the Oum Er Rbia basin. Historically, sub-basins' prioritization relied on manual measurements and calculations, which rendered such methodologies impractical and imprecise for larger basins. In our case study, we employed numerical tools to rank 38 sub-watersheds through morphometric analysis. Utilizing GIS technology, we generated sub-watersheds based on a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) with a 20-meter resolution and applied various mathematical equations to calculate morphometric parameters. The results indicate that SW 29, SW 30, SW 21, SW 23, SW 25, SW 32, and SW 33 were classified as high to very high priorities. In contrast, moderate priority was assigned to SW 5, SW 6, SW 8, SW 10, SW 13, SW 14, SW 20, SW 22, SW 24, SW 26, SW 27, SW 37, and SW 38. The remaining sub-watersheds (SW 1, SW 2, SW 3, SW 4, SW 7, SW 9, SW 11, SW 12, SW 17, SW 18, SW 19, SW 28, SW 31, SW 34, and SW 36) were categorized as very low and low priority. These findings give vital guidance to decision-makers, facilitating informed actions toward sustainable development. This study raises the importance of employing advanced technologies for the prioritization of sub-watersheds, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of environmental management strategies. Further investigations could explore the challenges encountered during the analysis and identify opportunities for refinement in future research endeavors.