Dynamics of Groundwater Resources of Upper Benue River Basin, Nigeria

Abstract

This study has examined the dynamics of groundwater resources of Upper Benue River Basin in Nigeria. The study adopted field survey design using both primary and secondary data. Data on groundwater such as geo-location, depth of water table and season of the year) was acquired from Upper Benue River Basin Development Authority (UBRBA) office in Yola, Adamawa State, and State Water Agencies of Plateau, Taraba, Bauchi and Borno States. Geospatial techniques were used to delineate the groundwater potential zones of the basin area. The findings of the study reveals that a larger portion of the basin area has low Ground Water Potential (GWP) (44,488.4 Km2) while the poor GWP covered (42,926.5Km2), moderate GWP was 25,732.6 Km2 and high (GWP) potential covered 11,417.3Km2. The result of the findings shows that areas of high GW potential have the least coverage while areas of low and poor GW potential had the highest areal coverage. The findings of the study reveal that the predicted groundwater depth has minimum range of 42.3m - 52.7m while the maximum range is 75.8m - 83.3m. The result shows that the water table depth is lowest at the southern part of the basin, while the northern area has high depth or lower water table heights. This reveals that access to ground water resources is relatively better in the southern part of the catchment as it coincides with the pattern of climatic variables spread across the area. Climate variability will affect the status of ground water significantly in the next 50 years and negatively impact availability and access in the basin. Based on the findings, the study recommended deliberate policy to protect the land and conserve vegetation in the basin and establishment of groundwater gauging station to help in monitoring the ground water level.