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Algeria

Algeria

Algeria

Algeria

ALGERIA

Methods of capture and use of flash floods in the M'Zab valley

 

Desert oases represent highly productive anthropic ecosystems built by communities. Thanks to participatory methods of natural resource management, they manage to thrive through intensive agriculture with high added value. In such arid environments, water conservation from irregular rainfall and flash floods is crucial to establishing human settlements.

The M'Zab valley lies in the heart of the Sahara and is home to five ksours (fortified villages), founded between 1012 and 1350 AD. Over centuries, local communities have ingeniously preserved groundwater through a combination of small dams and infiltrating trenches that collect the water from flash floods.

These ingenious geoengineering techniques not only allow water capture but also preserve fertile soil - unlike recently introduced intensive agriculture which makes unsustainable use of aquifers.

Gallery

Aerial view of the ancient oasis of Beni Isguen, created in the bed of Wadi Nissa in the 14th century (M. Khouadja, M. Amine Saidani and M. Farah Hamamouche)
The diverted flood water is channelled to the palm grove entrance, where the original inhabitants created a space to share and control the water flow (M. Khouadja, M. A. Saidani and M. F. Hamamouche)
The two main channels (seguia; pl. seguiat)- 'Tagherbit' and 'Agoulane or Rai' originate here. (authors: M. Khouadja, M. A. Saidani and M. Farah Hamamouche)
The surface and groundwater irrigation network. The traditional channel (seguiat) width is proportional to the water flow. Small seguiat have been replaced by PVC pipes (M. Khouadja, M. Amine Saidani and M. Farah Hamamouche)
The mint is cultivated in a greenhouse and is irrigated by means of a drip irrigation system (M. Khouadja, M. A.Saidani and M. F. Hamamouche)
The Charoun is the most important well recharge. It has the capacityt to absorb all the flood water it receives, thus supplying all the nearby irrigation wells. (M. Khouadja, M. A. Saidani and M. F. Hamamouche)
Cleaning a dried-up irrigation well after a long period of drought. (authors: M. Khouadja, M. A. Saidani and M. Farah Hamamouche)
Extraction of groundwater from an irrigation well by means of a submersible pump connected to the electricity grid (M. Khouadja, M. A. Saidani and M. F. Hamamouche)