Hydromorphological assessment in North Morocco: The case of Martil River

Under the current perturbations of climate change in the Mediterranean regions, this article emphasizes the need of implementing environmental flow in urban rivers. 

Abstract The present study is about an assessment of the Martil River restoration, which crosses Tetouan and Martil city in Northern Morocco. The evaluation compromises rainfall occurrence of 30 years, riparian habitats, and the river flow of 12 years. The rainfall analysis was carried out by the Standard Precipitation Index (SPI). Only three stations that contain continuous monthly precipitation data were considered. The river health and water quality were determined by the QBR (Riparian Habitat Quality), while the environmental flow was estimated by Tennant method. SPI results show a rainfall increment pattern with regular, extreme, and plentiful downpours causing rough deluges and floods. The ultimate flow result to support the river habitats was found 60% of the natural flow in the main channel. This study highlights the stream’s unhealthy water, which falls within the low-quality water category downstream the river under anthropogenic pressure, while good to excellent quality was scored upstream the watershed. Tennant outcomes were discovered 2.40 m³/

SEE FULL ARTICLE ATTACHED

Attached link

Media

Taxonomy

• Integrated Urban Water Management
• Hydrological Modelling
• Urban Water
• Urban Water Supply
• Hydraulic Engineering
• Geo-hydrology
• Hydraulic Modelling
• Urban Engineering
• Hydrological modelling of climate change
• Urban Planner