Environmental Impact Assessment of The Proposed Earth Dam at Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) Permanent Site on the Environment

S. Ahmed, R. L. Batagarawa, I. I. Hassan, C. Etim

Abstract


Dams and reservoirs provide regular water source supply for human activities. It is a structure built across a river channel that drains a larger system of the river basin and has positive and negative effects. Environmental Impact Assessment evaluates the possible positive or negative impacts that a proposed project may have on the environment; consisting of the environmental, social and economic aspects. The rapid impact assessment matrix (RIAM) method was adopted to evaluate the environmental impacts of the proposed dam. RIAM uses a structured matrix to allow for judgments to be made on a like-by-like basis, with specific assessment components to be defined through a process of scoping. The environmental components fall into Physical/Chemical (PC), Biological/Ecological (BE), Sociological/Cultural (SC) and Economic/Operational components. The results of the assessment process for the proposed Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA) Earth Dam project revealed that 58.824% of the impacts are positive against 41.176% that are negative. Most of the positive impacts are of class (+D) type, and most of the negative impacts are of class (-D) type. Thus; the assessment indicates the implementation of the dam construction will significantly improve water supply in the Nigerian Defence Academy and its immediate surrounding environs. However, mitigation methods must be proposed as class D type indicates significant negative or positive impact.

Full Text:

PDF

References


Abaje, I. B., Sawa, B. A., Igusi, E. O. and Ibrahim, A.A. (2015b). A Quantitative approach to vulnerability assessment of rural communities to climate change in Kaduna State, Nigeria. Nigeria Geographical Journal, New Series, 10(2), 180-195.

Abaje, I. B., Sawa, B. A., Igusi, E. O and Ibrahim, A.A. (2016). Impact of climate change and adaptation strategies in rural communities of Kaduna State, Nigeria. Ethiopian Journal of Environmental Studies and management, 9(1), 97-108.

Biogeochem Associates Limited (2004). Impact Assessment of Proposed Obajana Earth Dam Project. 1, Omoku Street (By Ndashi Street). D-Line. Port Harcourt, River State, Nigeria.www.infobiogeochem.com

Caleb W. Christopher “Success by a thousand Cuts: the use of Environmental Impact Assessment in Addining Climate Change” 9 Vt. Entl. L. 549 (2007-2008)

Daryush Mahjoob Farshchi, Alireza Sadatifard, Hooushang Hassani, and Alireza Zia “Upper Gotvand Am and Hydro Power Plant Dealing with Salinity in Reservoir Challenges, Remedies and Evaluations” Conference: Proceedings of ICOLD Symposium, Bali, Indonesia. At: Indonesia, June 2014.

Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, ESCAP Virtual Conference (2012). Environmental Impact Assessment Principles and Process. Integrating Environmental Considerations into Economic Policy Making Processes. http://www.Unescap.org/drpad/vc/orientation/m8_1.html

Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nation, FAO (2011). Environmental Impact Assessment Guidelines for FAO field projects. Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nation, Rome, Italy Government of Saskatchewan (2000). Assessment Process. Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization.www.agr.gov.sk.ca/.../Environmental Impact

Hussein, A., Ron, B., and Barry, S. (2004). EIA and Strategic Environmental: Towards an Integrated Approach. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Geneva.

Mahmood Mansournejad, (2015). The Investigation of Negative Effects of Salt Dome on the Quality of Water in Gotvand Olya Dam and the Use of Cut-off Wall as Treatment.

McKenny, B. (2001). Economic Valuation of Livelihood Income Losses and other Tangible Downstream Impacts from the Yali Falls Dam to the Se San River Basin in National Irrigation Board (NIB) (2013). Mwea Irrigation development project. Retrieved at: http//www.nib.or.ke/mweairrigationboard on 09 March 2014.

S. L. Yang, J. Smith, J. Zhu, J. P. Li, S. B. Dai, A. Gao, and P. Li “Impact of dams on Yangtz River sediment supply to the sea and delta intertidal wetland response” Journal of Geographical Research, Vol. 110, F03006, doi: 10.1029/2004JF000271, 2005

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, World Water Assessment Programme (UNESCO-WWAP) >> Natural Science >> Environment >> Water >> WWAP >> World Water Development Report >> WWDR1 (2003)


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.