Environmental Impact Assessment Report

for
Tekeze Humera Irrigation Project

FDRE Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Electricity

Consultant: Tigray Water Works Study Design & Supervision

Enterprise

Proponent: Tigray National Regional State Bureau of Water

Resources Development
Mekelle, July, 2015
Ethiopia

Reviewed 2021
Addis Ababa ,Ethiopia
 ESIA Report for Tekeze-Humera Irrigation Project

EXCUTIVE SUMMARY

I. Introduction and Background

The proposed Tekeze-Humera Irrigation Project (THIP) is located within the Tigray National Regional
State, Western zone, in Kafta Humera woreda encompassing six rural kebeles, at a locality known as
Heilegen. About 30,000 ha of low lying land would be irrigated from the reservoir behind and traditional
small-holder mixed farming system based on rain fed and livestock husbandry would be transformed into
a commercially-oriented agricultural system, based on re-organized small and large scale farms. The EIA
study aims to evaluate potential social and environmental impacts and to develop mitigation mechanisms.
It is conducted in accordance with the Ethiopian environmental policy and legal frame work as well as the
African Development Bank Integrated Safeguard Systems.

The methodology involved site visits and discussions with the residents of the project area, meetings with
affected stakeholders and questionnaires administered to households and key informants by following the
standard EIA steps and methods. Typical activities carried under the study include, collection of baseline
data on existing environmental settings of the project area, analyses of the project activities and their
respective impacts on the environment, identification of the environmental components that would be
most affected by the project, propose feasible measures that would help to avoid and/or minimize the
adverse impacts.

Economic, social and environmental change is inherent to development and an EIA provides a unique
opportunity to demonstrate ways in which the environment may be improved as part of the development
process. Besides, the EIA provides for predicting environmental consequences of the development
activities and plan appropriate measures to minimize the negative impacts and augment the positive
effects. Though agriculture is the dominant sector of economy in the region, it is rain fed agriculture. It is
well recognized that the western part of Tigray region specially that of Kafta Humera woreda is endowed
with high irrigation potential. But due to lack of reliable studies regarding the potential resources and
tangible implementation, it was not effectively utilized yet. About 30,000 ha of low-lying land would be
irrigated from the reservoir of this project.

Objectives of the EIA Study: The primary objective of irrigation by itself is a social enhancement
mechanism that enables the people to increase their food security. In this respect, it would be mandatory
for such a project to be implemented in a manner that satisfies the requirements of environmental
safeguard principles, policies and guidelines. The general objective of the EIA study is to conduct
investigations that enable to assess environmental impacts of the development project (Tekeze-Humera
Irrigation Scheme) and to recommend mitigation measures and highlight enhancement mechanisms by
preparing possible environmental management and monitoring plans during planning, construction as
well as operation phases of the project.

Methodology and Approach of the study: The EIA study is conducted in line with the EIA guidelines
provided by FEPA. The approach of the study applied consisted of site visits, analyzing environmental
issues that are identified from field observation of the irrigation site, literature review, conducting
stakeholder and public consultations, focus group discussions and administering a series of questionnaire
and checklists to identify likely impacts. During the site visits a detailed examination of the ecological

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settings and measurement of several parameters of the area were done to set the baseline information. The
environmental conditions existing in the proposed project area were documented to provide the baseline
data. The likely changes in different environmental parameters were analyzed against the established
baseline information and the impacts described in both quantitative and qualitative terms.

Scope of the Study: The EIA study of the irrigation scheme includes describing the baseline condition of
bio-physical and socio-economic conditions of the project area, describing the proposed project and
analyzing alternatives, identifying the major impacts of the project on the environment, proposing
mitigation measures for adverse impacts and enhancement mechanisms for positive impacts, conducting
public consultation process and finally preparing environmental management and monitoring plans.

II. Project Description

Throughout the Tigray region rainfall is marginal for agriculture production. In addition to the constraints
of this rainfall, lack of modern agriculture practice suffered the region for a long period of time. To
alleviate these problems and to achieve the food security of the region Tigray Water Resource Bureau has
planned a development strategy that focus on utilizing the land and water resource efficiently using
appropriate technologies. Among this Tekeze Humera Surface Pump Irrigation System is planned to
irrigate 30,000ha from Tekeze River using pumping to higher elevation and use its gravity system. The
development objective of this project is to increase irrigated area through investments that are cost
effective, environmentally and socially sound, and beneficial to the rural poor with the purpose of
sustainably increasing agricultural productivity.

Location and topography: The Tekeze Humera Surface Irrigation project is proposed on the north
western low lands of Ethiopia. The project area is located in North Ethiopia, Tigray Regional State
Western zone, in Kafta-Humera Woreda, on the left bank of Tekeze River. Kafta Humera Woreda borders
with Tahtay Adyabo Woreda in the east, Wolkayit Woreda in the south, Eretria in the north and with
Sudan to the waste. The approximate geographical coordinates of the project area lay between 36 0. 14‟ E,
360. 45‟ E and 140.06‟ N-140.20‟N with elevation between 600 and 750 masl. The project area border’s
with Humera town (the Woreda & Zone Administration Center) and Tekeze River to the north and
extends up to 40km to the south. It is situated about 20 km from Humera town. The reservoir and pump
station is located alongside the Shire-Humera main road towards northwest of Humera town at a locality
known as Heilegen. Topographically, the project area is dominantly plain except some rugged terrain and
shallow gorges in a few geologically unstable areas. Due to this the area is well endowed by both
irrigable land and potential water modern farming development.

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The irrigation system: The design study include Physical and hydraulic analyses and justifications for
the sizing of system components such as Pound reservoirs, intake structures, irrigation infrastructures and
main line. The design is structured into six pumping stations each having two main lines. Each main line
is designed to transport 13,167.00 m3/hr of discharge to irrigate 357ha of command area per one shift out
of the 5000ha unit command. Each main line will cover seven shifts. Each of the main lines will
transport water from the pump station structures situated at lower elevations to the pound reservoirs
situated in slightly higher elevations. The irrigation water will then flow to the lower elevation farm fields
by gravity. For example main line transports water from pump station one structure with elevation of
626.71 masl to pound reservoirs situated at 767.85 masl and from pound reservoir to the field at 736.42
masl. The material selected for these main line is GRP pipe because of the higher discharge and this type
of pipe is popular worldwide and also used in the sugar industry in Ethiopia nowadays. In addition to this
the friction factor is higher as compared to other materials. Therefore the pipe is sized DN 1800mm and
PN 16 to sufficiently transport the water from the pump station one to the pound reservoir one with a
velocity of 2 m/s with head of 115.42m. The total length of the pipe is 8475m.

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Intake Structure: The intake structure is found up Stream of Tekeze-River to supply water for the first
pump station. Intakes are provided whenever water is withdrawn from surface source such as lakes, canal,
rivers, or reservoirs. There will be an approach channel through which the water will flow towards pump
stations. At the entrance of the approach channel there are gates which are used during flood season to
avoid entrance of flood in to the pump station as it will destruct the pumping plant. The water to be
delivered to the pumping station must pass through trash rack which avoids entrance of sediment and
debris.

Pump station and power house at the water source: The irrigation project includes electromechanical
works of two pumping stations which will have the same property and objective. The pumps will also
have similar pumping capacity. In order to pump the required amount of water from the river, there
should be well designed pump with a properly coupled driver. The pumps shall fit with required discharge
and head.

Canal design and structures: The Tekeze irrigation system design constitutes primary, secondary and
tertiary canals that are necessary to convey the irrigation water from the pump stations to the farm fields.
The canal routes goes through steep grounds, crosses a numbers of drains and footpaths, which needs
different types of structures. The structures will include drainage culverts, reinforced concrete flumes
(aqueducts), foot paths, road crossing, and cattle troughs. Whenever the natural ground profile is steeper
than the design canal bed slope, drops have to be provided to avoid high filling.

III. National Policy, Legal and Institutional Frameworks

As part of the ESIA study a review of the policies, laws and institutional arrangements that govern
environmental protection and the ESIA system in Ethiopia has been carried. The ESIA study also
considered the African Development Bank Integrated Safeguard System and applicable Safeguard
Policies. Among the policies, proclamations, regulations and guidelines issued by the government of
Ethiopia and the ADB, the ones outlined below are relevant to the proposed project and were reviewed.
 Constitution of the FDRE
 Environmental Policy of Ethiopia (1997
 Water Resources Management Policy (2001
 Irrigation Policy
 Agricultural and Rural Development Policy and Strategy:
 Health Policy of Ethiopia: Environmental Impact Assessment (Proclamation No. 299/2002):
Environmental Pollution Control (proclamation No. 300/2002):
 Public Health (Proclamation No. 200/2000):.
 Water Resource Utilization and Management (Proclamation No. 197/2000):.
 Environmental Guidelines:
 Institutional and Administrative Framework:

Reviewed applicable International Conventions to which Ethiopia is a party includes;

 Convention on Biological Diversity:
 Framework Convention on Climate Change
 Vienna Convention on the Protection of the Ozone Layer:
 United Nations Conventions to Combat Desertification:
 Stockholm Convention

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 Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora

 Basel Convention:
 The Ramsar Convention

Institutional and Administrative Framework: An important aspect of the ESIA process is the
communication between different groups of participants. Because it reflects the various political and legal
systems to show hierarchical structure and procedures for EIA preparation that result in the sound
management and use of natural, human-made and cultural resources and the environment as a whole so as
to meet the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own
needs.

Hierarchically, the Federal Environmental Protection Authority (FEPA) is the Competent Agency at the
Federal level in Ethiopia (Now called Environment Forest Climate Change Commission). It is, therefore,
the responsibility of this authority in the EIA process to: ensure that the proponent complies with
requirements of the EIA process; maintain co-operation and consultation between the different sectoral
agencies throughout the EIA process; maintain a close relationship with the proponent and to provide
guidance on the process; and evaluate and take decisions on the documents that arise from the EIA
process.
Irrigation Development Commission: - as a proponent integrates an Environmental and Social
concerns into its Irrigation development projects as per the requirements of relevant environmental
laws and directives. The commission ensures that positive effects are optimized and strive to
promote conservation based development and work with objectives of continuous improvement. The
commission initiates the ESIA process and establishes the necessary ground for undertaking ESIA. It
appoints an eligible independent consulting firm who shall seek to undertake ESIA & it covers all
expense associated with the Environmental Impact Assessment.

III. African Development Bank Integrated Safeguard Systems

The AfDB adopted the Integrated Safeguard System (ISS) as a tool for identifying risks, reducing
development costs and improving project sustainability. The ISS promotes best practices in these areas
but also encourages greater transparency and accountability and protects the most vulnerable
communities. The bank has now adopted five Operating Safeguards (OSs) to achieve the goals and the
optimal functioning of the Integrated Safeguards System (ISS). These OSs are:

 Operation Safeguard 1: Environmental and Social Assessment: this is an overarching safeguard

of determining a projects environmental and social category and the resulting environmental and
social assessment requirements.
 Operational Safeguard 2: Resettlement land acquisition, population displacement and
compensation: this consolidates policy commitments and requirements contained in the Bank’s
policy on involuntary resettlement, and incorporates a number of refinements designed to
improve the operational effectiveness of those requirements.
 Operational Safeguard 3: Biodiversity and ecosystem services: this seeks to conserve biological
diversity and promote the sustainable use of natural resources with a focus on integrated water
resources management in operational requirements.

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 Operational Safeguard 4: Pollution prevention and control, hazardous materials and resource
efficiency: this covers the range of key impacts of pollution, waste, and hazardous materials for
which there are agreed international conventions, as well as comprehensive industry-specific and
regional, including greenhouse gas accounting. The Bank’s new screening tool for climate change
risk helps in screening and categorising a project in terms of its vulnerability to the risks of
climate change.
 Operational Safeguard 5: Labour conditions, health and safety: this relates to workers
conditions, rights and protection from abuse or exploitation.

Operational Safeguards (OS) 1 on Environmental Assessment have been triggered because the project
activities have the potential to generate significant environmental and social impacts to identified
receptors within its area of influence. Operational Safeguard (OS2) has also been triggered because it
could displace households and farmers from their settlements and farmlands. Operational Safeguard (OS
3) has not been triggered due to the fact that the Tekeze irrigation system main components do not
involve construction of large scale structures like irrigation Dam near or inside the Kafta Humera
National Park. There is excess cultivated land (155,000ha) outside the National Park and the 30,000ha
command area needed for irrigation can be easily met without encroaching the National Park. Thus the
Surface pump based irrigation system is less likely to significantly affect the biodiversity, natural or
critical habitats. Operational Safeguard (OS 4) on Pollution Prevention and Hazardous Substances is
triggered since construction and operation will involve use and disposal of different types of wastes.
Operational Safeguard (OS 5) on Labour, Working Conditions, Occupational Health and Safety is
applicable since the construction and operation phases will involve a significant number of construction
and operation workers.

V. Environmental and Social Baseline Description

Climate and agro-ecology: Based on the data from various sources reviewed, 78% of the Woreda lies
within the lowland, 18% mid highlands and 4% semi-desert agro climatic zones and the actual project
site is within the kola agro ecological zone. The distribution of the rain fall in the area is not uniform. The
rainfall pattern is mono-modal and more than 73% of the annual rainfall falls between June to September.
The highest rainfall is in August (194.8 mm) and July (180.6 mm) followed by September (124.7 mm)
and June (119.5 mm) and it is negligible in the rest of the months. The average rain fall within and the
study area is 838.5. Mm/annum.
The temperature data indicates that mean monthly maximum and minimum temperature ranges from 320C
to 42.40C and from 18.20C to 25.30C respectively. The average daily temperature is 29.8 0c. Maximum
temperature reaches highest in April (42.40C) & Dec (41.10C) while the minimum temperature drops to
the lowest in January (18.20C) which indicates its location within hot tropical climate zone. The relative
humidity percentage is low to medium during the growing season, the maximum relative humidity is
71.8% in August while it was minimum in March (20.8%). The consumptive use of water by the plants is
more when relative humidity is the minimum and vice-versa.

Geomorphology and Soils: Based on a survey and geological investigations majority of the project area
comprises a homogenous feature that cover the ancient era processes. The drainage density and pattern
are mainly controlled by the lithology, topography and geological structures and its pattern be described

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as dendritic type and flows from South-east to North-west direction. The site being far from the Ethiopian
Rift, it is not susceptible to seismic hazard. Based on field survey and soil laboratory investigations the
majority of the command area cover with a deep soil horizon which is greater than 150 cm. Soil texture is
found to be clay, silt clay loam and sandy loam and soil is black in color with major soil types of
Vertisols, Arnosols, Cambisols and Regosols. The command area is affected by erosion with varying
degrees and is not well terraced because of which erosion hazards is common, however the catchment is
affected only by sheet and rill erosion which is not a significant constraint for crop production.
Hydrology and Drainage: Kafta Humera Woreda is highly endowed of surface water sources, owing at
least 8 major rivers, namely Tekeze, Bahre-selam, Ruwassa, Gytse, Rawyan, Degagum, Mayamsalu,
Zerbabit and Aykdubish rivers, of which the first five are perennial rivers and the rest seasonal.
Flora and fauna: The western lowlands of Tigray and its surrounding escarpments account for a largest
natural vegetation cover. Kafta Sheraro National Park is among the vast areas with rich flora and fauna.
However recently significant areas of the western zone has been degraded due to growing human
pressure, wide spread deforestation and expansion of smallholder peasant cultivation, commercial
farming and settlements. The vegetation in the proposed irrigation areas is predominantly woodland,
which is characterized by trees with fairly large deciduous leaves mixed or interspersed with small leaved
trees. The dominant tree species are of Acacia species such as Acacia etbaica, Acacia tortorilis, Acacia
nilotica and Acacia seyal. In addition, there are strips or patches of riverine forest or trees along the rivers
and streams that traverse the proposed irrigation area. Due to the intensity of human pressure, wildlife
resources are limited to some areas in the south western zone and to a few remnant habitats like the
Kafta-Sheraro National Park. The Park is neighboring the project area to the North West direction.
According to the information obtained from the Kafta Humera Woreda Agricultural Office and local
residents interviewed during the field survey, the wildlife species found in the project area consists of
more than a dozen species (refer table 9, main report) including Leporidae, Sciuridae and Hystricidae and
Orycteropodidae.

Land use and land cover: According to the woreda environmental protection, land administration and
use and that of agriculture and rural development offices, the total area of Kafta Humera Woreda is
717,000 ha. The land use and cover of the woreda consists of 54.23% cultivated land, 33.47% forest land,
7.24% grazing area, 4.93% miscellaneous land use and the remain 0.21% settlement area. Though this
shows the typical land use and land cover of the Kafta Humera woreda, every year there is tremendous
land use change that tends to appear due to various economic and social phenomenons. Such event is
reported to happen because of settlement expansion, massive infrastructure and development projects
arrival, cultivated land demand, huge investment need, construction and energy demand. According to the
detail study held in the project area the status of cultivated land is highly suitable for the expected surface
irrigation project and there exists plenty of cultivated land with a net surface coverage of about 155,352
ha which is sufficient enough to feed the proposed project demand that is 30,000 ha.

Water quality measure: A field water quality measurement on Tekeze river surface water including at
Heligen kebele site where the selected pump stations is located and in the nearby command areas was
carried using EC meter. Accordingly, the EC value of Tekeze river water in the project area ranges
between 0.341-0.395dS/cm and the TDS value between 186.24 - 204.8 ppm/l indicating a none salinity

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and proper ratio of dissolved total substances. The salinity ratio also ranges between 0.7-0.8% which is
moderate and acceptable. The water quality samples taken from sub-surface and ground water sources
around the command area contains relatively higher salinity and TDS value that ranges from 0.51 to 1.21
dS/cm and a TDS value of 223.5 to 425.3 ppm/cm. According to the FAO guideline, the water is suitable
for irrigation and will pose slight to moderate salinity which can be managed by selecting crops favoring
this range salinity rate.

Environmental conservation: Environmental conservation is a recent phenomenon in the area even

comparing with the other part of the Tigray region. Since 2008/09 rehabilitation activities massively
started in major parts of the project Woreda including the specific project area. Data obtained shows that
only small part of the total area is being covered by the environmental conservation activities and 4928 ha
is made to rehabilitate physically and 2038 ha biologically making a total of 6966 ha. As summarized in
the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan of Ethiopia, the country has enormous habitat
diversity due to its highly variable topography, wide range of elevations and climate.

Socio-economic profile of the study area: The project command area (PCA) is within Kafta Humera
Woreda, which is moderately densely populated as compared to other zones of Tigray National Regional
State (TNRS), and includes four kebeles completely and two kebeles partially with a total cultivated land
of 155,352 out of which an estimated 30,000 ha will be irrigated. Official figures show that Kafta Humera
Woreda has a total population of 115,580 with a split of 60,226 male and 55,354 within 29,324
households. Based on information obtained from the Woreda; there are a total of 62,150 residents in the
project command area, out of which 54% are male and 46% are female. Moreover, there are 12,347
households of whom 3,158 are female headed households and 9,189 male headed households. The
population data shows the average family size is 4.1 in the project area.

Data of the regional and local government documents indicated that majority of the population in the
Woreda and that of the project area is mainly dependent on mixed agriculture comprising cropping and
animal husbandry for their livelihood. High value crops like sesame and food crops like maize, sorghum
and some supplementary fruits and vegetables like banana, tomato, potato and salad are typical income
and food sources of this area while all types of livestock that contribute most to crop production activities
and food sources of the community are reared in the project area. Irrigation is practiced within limited
areas like river belts of the Tekeze river course while settlement pattern of the project area is
characterized by well organized villages and semi township types.

Education and enrollment: According to the woreda education office there are about 42 elementary
schools, 5 first cycle secondary schools (9-10th grade), one preparatory senior high school (11 -12th
grade) and another one Technical and Vocational Junior College in Humera town. With regard to
school enrollment, in 2014/15 academic year, there were about 30,637 students attending their
education among which 50% were girl students. The average educational coverage of the woreda
reaches above 90%.

Health facilities: Almost all the six kebelles in the project area have health service delivering facilities
in side or their nearest district at 5-15 km far from their locality. Such health facilities include health post

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and health center within the specific project area kebelles. However, the health institutions are not well
staffed and equipped with appropriate facilities. Therefore, when severe cases are encountered patients
are referred to Humera and Shire hospitals. Tropical, waterborne and related diseases are affecting the
living standard, life expectancy and working capacity of the community in the Woreda. According to
data obtained from Humera Hospital major health problems affecting the people in the area in 2014/15
were: Malaria confirmed with P.falciperum, Acute upper respiratory infections, Acute febril illness
(AFI), Malaria other than falciparum, Diarrhea (non-bloody), Dyspepsia, and Pneumonia. The high
prevalence of malaria is mainly associated with environmental and climatic factors such as altitude and
availability of favorable vector breeding sites. The main transmission season is June to August, which
may extend into September to December.

Leshmenyasis (Kalazar) is also a localized disease found in Humera and its surroundings. It is caused by
tiny vector called sand fly dwelling in cracked vertisols. Tekeze and its tributary rivers is also the
breeding site for snails which harbor bilharzias causing schistomasis. At least half a million
temporary/seasonal workers are gathered every year in Humera woreda during sesame weeding and
harvesting seasons. The laborers usually come from across the country with little or no awareness about
vector born and STD diseases of the area.

Domestic Water supply and use status: In the project kebelles most water for domestic uses is
obtained from groundwater. Groundwater is obtained from wells around some seasonal rivers like
Rawiyan river and other ground water potential areas. Groundwater depths vary from 7m shallow
wells around Rawiyan and Adebay kebelles to 150m deep wells in Mai Kadra and Bereket
kebelles. As woreda data sources suggest that the coverage of the tap water supply in the woreda and
that of the project area is estimated to be 86.2%. A total of 194 tap water sources exist in the woreda as a
whole, out of which 41 are hand dug wells, 116 shallow wells, and 37 deep wells. Of these,
functioning water points/ sources account for 18 hand dug wells, 81 shallow wells and 25 deep wells.

Energy sources: Three types of main energy sources are utilized in the Kafta Humera Woreda. The
Woreda capital town, Humera, is connected to the national hydropower electricity grid since 2011/12.
The coverage of electricity to the towns outside the Humera is progressively expanding. Fuel for cooking
and heating is sourced mainly from biomass (fuel wood and dung) and electricity where available. In the
rural kebelles alternative energy sources such as Solar power is widely utilized for lighting purposes.
However, the energy source for majority of the population in the project area (more than 90%) remains to
be primary wood biomass energy sourced from forest and animal dung.

Historic and Cultural Heritage sites: A rapid environmental assessment (REA) have been carried out in
all interior part of the project command area and this screening result showed that no known preserved
prehistoric, historic or officially recognized cultural heritage site existed.

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VI. Public Consultation and Perception of the Project

Organized and structured public and stakeholder consultations has been held during the scoping phase of
the EIA study in three representative kebelles (namely Central, Hilet koka and Rawiyan) by carrying
interviews with residents, focus group discussions, formal consultative public and stakeholder meetings.
Though the resident communities are generally supportive of the Tekeze irrigation project which they
understand to lead to improved livelihood opportunities, they are overwhelmingly concerned about land
tenure and future use right among the project area settlers. Locally, farmers have three recognized land
use rights viz. private, house hold and investment holdings.

Farmers are concerned that the project could result in either an absolute loss of land or loss of access to
some plot of land due to the project infrastructure and re-distribution. Some of the important concerns
raised by the participants during the different consultation phases include the following points: possible
displacement to make way for commercial farms or "investors", having to change cropping patterns and
systems especially their local cash crop sesame, the changing and re-shaping of the usual grazing pattern,
the condition and fairness of future water fees, the size of future irrigable land, and price drops due to
over-production and inadequate markets. At the end, most of the participants have eagerly welcomed the
proposed irrigation project to their locality.

VII. Project Alternatives

The EIA study considered possible alternatives viz. no action alternative which has various negative and
possibly long term impacts to the area, some of which include increased water losses and wastage in the
existing irrigation schemes, loss in productivity of the land, increased socioeconomic activities
detrimental to environment such as charcoal burning, increase deforestation, unemployment to support
livelihood etc. Several irrigation systems including sprinkler irrigation, flood irrigation, drip and surface
irrigation methods were studied and considered and the latter i.e. surface irrigation has been rather found
to be convenient to the project area both interns of technical as well as economic feasibly and
environment friendliness. Design and location alternatives have also been considered.

VIII: Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures

The environmental impact prediction and analysis has been focused on both construction and operation
phases separately. Irrigation contributes to poverty alleviation, food security, and improving the quality
of life for rural populations. However, the sustainability of irrigated agriculture is being questioned, both
economically and environmentally. The increased dependence on irrigation has not been without its
negative environmental effects. Positive impacts include enhanced agricultural productivity, boosting of
employment both permanent and temporary, ensured food security and reduced poverty. Negative impacts
during the construction phase can be short lived but may pose a great danger to the environment, if not
well managed. These are increased clearing of vegetation leading to limited loss of biodiversity,
temporary disturbance to wildlife of the nearby National park, loss of land and potential displacement of
farmers. Increased soil erosion and siltation, increased traffic and soil compaction, pollution of rivers and
wetlands etc are also among the anticipated negative impacts.

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The contractor demands land for site offices, workshops, stores, vehicle parking, and staff
accommodation, temporarily for aggregate processing and concrete manufacture, metal fabrication, back-
up power generation, and access roads. The mitigation options include allocation of low value land,
compensation for lost income, and reinstatement to its original condition, maximum use of land planned
for permanent roads. The construction phase impacts which will require bulk mitigation measures are
borrow pits and quarries which need to maximize the re-use of excavated materials as fill in the works as
part of remediation. The construction process will involve the creation of various solid and liquid wastes
and the use of hazardous materials and its impact should be mitigated by effective waste management and
pollution control mechanisms. The pump station construction will involve working in and near water
which may temporarily degrade water quality and physically alter or block fish movement, and in order to
mitigate these impacts undertake all works during the dry season and adapt fish friendly construction
techniques. Land acquisition and consolidation will immediately disrupt household cropping practices
and need to be compensated with replacement land and other relevant entitlements.

Post construction or operation phase impacts may arise from inadequate labor skills and field equipment
and has to be managed by providing technical and logistical support. Soils in the command area are
almost vertisols which expand when wet and become impermeable. This may occur as a reason for
salinization of soil and water monitoring should be included in the full-scale trial. The project will alter
vegetation communities in the command area and its vicinity and both habitat diversity and other
ecological areas are likely to continue to decrease, thus should be managed to ensure that habitat diversity
is retained, specifically by redrawing the project boundary to exclude development of some habitat area
within the command as well as Kafta Sheraro National Park.

XI: Environmental Management and Monitoring Plan

This environmental impact report has identified a number of potential environmental and social impacts
associated with the project and have developed mitigation measures. The environmental management
plan aims at controlling adverse impacts at the source to the extent possible with the available and
affordable technology followed by treatment measures before they are discharged.

Environmental management plan (EMP): The basic concern of EIA is to identify, predict and evaluate
impacts of the project activities on the environment and to formulate mitigation strategies to minimize
adverse impacts that are likely to occur during project implementation and operation. A management plan
is the process of implementing mitigation measures in accordance with the schedule of actions contained
in the EMP, together with any necessary adjustments to respond to unforeseen impacts or other changes.
Accordingly the environmental management and monitoring plan of this irrigation project has been
formulated using five point approach viz. impact avoidance, impact minimization, compensation,
sustainability and enhancement of positive ones.

Environmental Monitoring: Monitoring allows the mitigation measures and conditions attached to
project approval to be fine-tuned in the light of new information. The primary aim of monitoring is to
provide information that will aid impact management and continually; to achieve a better understanding
of cause effect relationship and to improve environmental assessment prediction and mitigation methods.
When used systematically, it facilitates impact management, build continuity into the environmental and

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social impact assessment process and help to optimize environmental benefits at each stage of the project
development. Environmental monitoring program has been prepared for the proposed project for
assessing the efficiency of environmental management plan implementation and to take correction
measures in case of any degradation activity in the surrounding environment.

In order to have minimal and acceptable residual environmental and social impacts, and enhance the
potential, a total Environmental mitigation cost is estimated to be 4,053,500.00 and necessary follow up
of their effectiveness should be made through well planned monitoring programs with the cost of
300,000.00 Birr per the planned year and a total of Birr 4,353,500.00 for consecutive five years by
concerned stakeholders to have minimal and acceptable residual environmental and social impacts and
enhance the potential benefits.

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Table 1: Summary of environmental impacts, mitigation measures and management plan

S# Potential impact Mitigation measures Project phase Time frame Responsible Budget
Institute (Birr)
1 Biological Environment parameters

Impacts on the -Avoid cutting indigenous trees and vegetation within Construction Post operation Project owner 230,000
existing flora and the survey area/ path of the water conveyance and operation season and contractor
fauna phase
-Avoid excessive bush clearing; where possible adopt
re-vegetation around the water intakes
Loss of flora -Minimize number of indigenous trees cut -A
forestation and reforestation programs in certain parts
of farmlands
-Preserve certain sections for grazing purposes The
integrity of the forest resources should be well guarded
from the spillover effects of the project‟ activities so
as to maintain their functionalities

Loss of fauna - Construction within sensitive habitats should be Construction Preconstruction Project Nil
avoided at all costs season contractor

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S# Potential impact Mitigation measures Project phase Time frame Responsible Budget
Institute (Birr)
-Wetlands should be buffered by a minimum of 50
meters
-Construction zone should be clearly indicated
to prevent off site damage - Modifications of
canal routes should be preceded by an ecological
survey
- There should be intensive tree planting
- Setting aside woodlands

Destruction of -The habitats diversity should be retained and Construction During Contractor and Nil
Wildlife habitats protected by conserving them and operation construction project owner
-There should be no cultivation on riparian sections season
since they serve as habitats for several animal species
-Woodlands should be adequately established

Risk of Alien • Managing canals so as to minimize weed growth. Operation Post-operation Project owner 455,000
species, pests and season and local
aquatic weeds benefices

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S# Potential impact Mitigation measures Project phase Time frame Responsible Budget
Institute (Birr)
• Avoiding stagnant water points that suit for
aquatic weeds.
• Monitoring and removing weeds before they
spread and clog canals.
• Keeping dry canals, drains and fields when
crop watering is not required.
• Implementing improved drainage and efficient
water applications.
• Use of resistant crop varieties.
• Use of chemicals as the last option.

Pollution-concern

II Air and Dust -Provide dust masks to workers construction During Project 135,000
construction contractor
-Sprinkle water on the soil during excavation and land
season
filling;
-Control speed of working machinery

-Abate noise by sensitizing drivers in the project Construction During Project Nil if mitigated
-Use manual labour as much as possible. construction contractor as proposed
Noise
season
-Restriction of activities to daytime

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S# Potential impact Mitigation measures Project phase Time frame Responsible Budget
Institute (Birr)

- Workers within the vicinity of high level noise to

be provided with adequate PPE. -No idling of
vehicles and machinery if not in use, they should be
switched off. -Control speed and noise of
construction machinery;
-Insulate noisy machines and activities during
construction to minimize noise impact to neighboring
communities -Unnecessary hooting is to be avoided as
much as possible

Water -Keeping all equipment and machinery free from mud Construction Post construction Project owner Nil if it
-having workable standard operating procedures while and operation season ,contractor and mitigated as
working along water resources phase local proposed
-Apply appropriate irrigation procedures to prevent community
contamination
-Sensible use of agrochemicals to prevent deposition
into rivers
-Adhere to waste discharge regulations
-Compaction of loose material/soils -All repairs and
maintenance work should be done at the contractors

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S# Potential impact Mitigation measures Project phase Time frame Responsible Budget
Institute (Birr)
• Avoiding pollution of river water during concreting Construction At the time of Project Nil
Water borne work from cement slag and oil and fuel spills by construction contractor
diseases providing suitable diversion and/or other appropriate
measures.

• Use of environmentally friendly biocides. Operation During and post Project owner Nil
Water quality • Avoid releasing of drain or irrigation return operation
water into streams and rivers.
• Taking precaution in biocide spraying not to
pollute water in the canals.
• Conducting periodic water quality
monitoring.

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S# Potential impact Mitigation measures Project phase Time frame Responsible Budget
Institute (Birr)
Physical Environment
III Impacts on soils  Schedule construction for dry season. Construction During and post Contractor And 1,200,000
and and operation construction project owner
Siltation • Minimize compaction of soils and loosen
compacted soils by plowing after Completion of
works.
• Provide appropriate cross and longitudinal
drainage facilities including Lined side ditches for
construction of any roads.
• Refill the exposed or excavated soil soon
after completion of works.
• Keep land clearing and disturbance to
absolute minimum.
• Reduce the time surface remain bare
following completion of works and establish
vegetation cover on exposed areas/soils with
appropriate vegetation.
• Follow up and maintenance of erosion
protection measures on roads, canals and drains.

• Distilling program to clean silted up

structures.
• Efficient land and water management to
reduce erosion.

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S# Potential impact Mitigation measures Project phase Time frame Responsible Budget
Institute (Birr)
Impacts on • Minimize side-casting of excavation materials Construction During Contractor of 300,000
landscape and on down-slope. phase operation And the project
visual amenity, • Restore borrows sites, materials processing maintenance
and slope sites through back-filling, landscaping and re- season
stability establishing vegetation cover.
• Replant and maintain vegetation to restore the
natural appearance of construction areas.
• Preserve the vegetation cover of the areas
unsuitable for irrigation and implement enhancement
measures.
Sedimentation • Implementing soil conservation measures in the Operation post operation Contractor of Nil
catchments and command area to reduce soil erosion phase the project
and sediment loads of the canals.

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S# Potential impact Mitigation measures Project phase Time frame Responsible Budget
Institute (Birr)
Siltation and -Ensure proper design and layout of field to avoid Construction Post construction Contractor of Nil
farm flooding canal on the steep gradients the project and
-Ensure there is appropriate terracing where possible project
-Ensure water application does not exceed soil intake consultant
rate, over irrigation

Salinization/ -Avoid water logged conditions, where possible Operation Post operation Project Nil
Leaching -Add humus and organic manure to the soils regularly contractor and
benefices
Construction During Project Nil
Water • Avoiding pollution of river water during concreting construction contractor
Quality concern work from cement slag and oil and fuel spills by
providing suitable diversion and/or other appropriate
measures.

Socio-economic and institutional settings

 Stakeholder consultation and involvement in 1,000,000
Land decision making at all levels Construction Post construction Project owner
Repossessions and  Compensation of land to the farmers or the
Relocation contractor as
 Provision of alternative land of similar value per the
 Skip areas where the crops are maturing to cut on agreement
the losses
Measures to reduce loss of income to those affected by
the relocations

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S# Potential impact Mitigation measures Project phase Time frame Responsible Budget
Institute (Birr)
Labor migrants - Provision of alternative and additional social Construction Post Contractor, Nil
IV pressure on scarce welfare construction project owner
social service and - prioritizing both the skilled and semi- skilled And operation and local
employment local labor government
- a head population planning and its structures
consideration with the inhabitants
- Expansion of available social service -
Monitor the trend in migration to the area during the
project implementation and increase the requisite
facilities

- Implement awareness creation of eminent social evils Construction Since Project owner, Nil, Part of the
Health effect on the such as HIV/AIDS and other STDs construction and relevant woreda annual
nearby - Organizing community sensitization drives on post operation stakeholders health
society the prevention and management of the HIV/AIDS and contractor budget
- Liaising with the local organizations for the
training and education on the right prevention
mechanisms
- Contraceptives should be provided at
acceptable locations

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S# Potential impact Mitigation measures Project phase Time frame Responsible Budget
Institute (Birr)

- Exclude lands assumed by future urban land use Preconstruction During designing Project Nil if the
Impact on the plan time and consultant, proposed
existing urban land - Search alternative irrigable land outside the urban construction contractor action is
use fringes in the extensive cultivated land applied
pattern
- Relate the project land use plan with the existing
urban future plan and over to exclude some
affected area.

Use of canal water - Sensitize the community on the dangers Operation Post construction Project owner, Nil part of the
for domestic of using canal water for domestic purpose the public and woreda’s
purposes - Consider the possibility of providing tap water relevant budget
- The local community should be encouraged to stakeholders
treat the tap water.
- Ensure there is adequate sanitation facilities to
be installed on sites
- Warning signs/bumps to be erected and/or
placed at risky points
- There should be insurance covers for the
workers under the work man’s
- Install at strategic points enough firefighting
equipment

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S# Potential impact Mitigation measures Project phase Time frame Responsible Budget
Institute (Birr)
Possibility of - Avail drinking points for the livestock along Operation Post construction Project owner, Part of the
Increased the canal or build the water pans along the canal use community integrated
Conflicts - Fencing off the farms to prevent animals entry and wereda project cost
into the farms concerned
- regular communal discussions and dialogue offices
should be facilitated between to bring about mutual
agreements between various land users
Other modes of grazing could be encouraged such as
zero grazing as it is less pasture demanding
- Fodder production can be done on irrigated
land to reduce the pressure of over grazing
- establish local bylaws and irrigation
management structures to handle the conflict

Institutional capacity - Along with the introduction of surface pump Operation Post construction Project owner, 500,000
building on irrigation, the capacity of the irrigation sector has season wereda relevant
irrigation/ water to be built on irrigation/ water management offices
management through HRD, Training, equipment, etc.

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S# Potential impact Mitigation measures Project phase Time frame Responsible Budget
Institute (Birr)
Water related - Avoid creating pools of water where insect vectors Construction From Contractor, Nil, part of the
Health hazards of diseases may breed. construction to project owner integrated
- Provision of adequate safe water supply, sanitary implementation and wereda wereda and
facilities, and health services for the project season relvant project running
workers and local population. stakeholders cost
- Provision of adequate impregnated bed nets for the
population in the project area.
- Spraying the houses in the project area with
insecticides.

Extended malaria - Malaria diagnosis, treatment and management Construction Construction and Contractor and Nil, part of
Season and skills upgrading for frontline health workers post operation wereda the wereda‟s
increase - Repeated mass treatment of local population season health office annual health
schistosomiasis - Benet programme including LLIN distribution, cost
education and training, and monitoring

Impacts of - Continue implementation of the livestock Operation Post operation Project owner, Nil
transformation of programme as a major project component season beneficares
livestock husbandry - Establish livestock corridors between and relevant
System. fields wereda
stakeholders

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S# Potential impact Mitigation measures Project phase Time frame Responsible Budget
Institute (Birr)
V Climate change - Plan irrigation systems to address ways and Preconstruction Throughout Contractor, Nil cost its
incident means of reducing GHG emissions without project cycle project owner, sharing of legal
jeopardizing the beneficial effects of irrigation EPA, local responsibility
project. community and
- Search research findings on devising ways and relevant
means to reduce GHG emissions, irrigation could stakeholders
become environmentally sustainable adaptation
measure under climate change.
- Encourage forestry Actions: encourage tree Operation Post construction project owner, Nil cost its
planting on the hills, community and private land EPA, local sharing of legal
and develop better management of forestry community and responsibility
operations as trees absorb and store atmospheric relevant
CO2 and avoid forest fires not to release CO2 stakeholders
- Minimize the off-take of woody biomass for
construction and fuel and use other alternatives
such as stoves, electricity, stones and cement
concrete breaks instead of wood for house

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S# Potential impact Mitigation measures Project phase Time frame Responsible Budget
Institute (Birr)
VI Cumulative Downstream Effects

Inadequate - Continue implementation of available information Design Preconstruction Project Nil, part of the
information for and prioritizing the establishment of hydrological season Consultant project detail
Planning monitoring and information systems. study

Low , Insufficient - Ensure the minimum release to the lower riparian Operation Since operation Project owner, Nil, it needs
water to down users as high priority and maintenance users effective
- Develop an integrated water resources association management
management (IWRM) plan based on actual
hydrology.
- Include a multi-stakeholder rule-making
mechanism in the IWRM plan.

No environmental - Determine environmental flows for the river basin Design Pre construction Consultant and 200,000
flow consideration using multi-stakeholder process. project owner

Reduced dry- - Regulate (augment) dry season flows at border Operation Post construction Contractor and Nil cost
using water regulating mechanism users
season flows
association

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S# Potential impact Mitigation measures Project phase Time frame Responsible Budget
Institute (Birr)

Affect - Consider the environmental flow and hydrological Design Preconstruction Consultant , Nil, utilization
downstream water balance of the river basin by which that tolerate contractor and management
transport and this effect. water users arrangement
economic tie of the - The water balance, crop water requirement and association need
riparian other utilization strategies under the Tekeze River
should consider and respect the use-right and
some domestic, navigation and existing
downstream irrigation practices of the riparian
countries.

Overall project mitigation cost Project major impact’s enhancing measure cost=3,685,000

Contingency (10%) =368500

Total project Environmental cost =4,053,500

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Chapter XII. Conclusion and Recommendation

Conclusion
This study has been carried out to equip the client with relevant and sufficient information about the proposed
irrigation project of THIP irrigation scheme on how the project could be environmentally safeguarded. It is
anticipated that the proposed development project would bring substantial economic benefits not only to the
local communities within the project area, but to the entire nation as a whole. The negative environmental impact
that may occur during the implementation of this project is minimal and could be addressed by implementing the
mitigation measures to ensure that they pose no threat to the environment and communities. The mitigation
measures are going to be carried as part of the project component activities and will bring in some fair cost in the
implementation process. The benefits of implementing the project are enormous and will address persistent
problems of irrigation water shortage in the project area that has affected the communities for a long time.
Typically, the Tekeze Humera Pump Surface Irrigation Project can bring about a number of short and long term
benefits like:
 Enhance agricultural productivity and food security and reduced poverty
 Create huge seasonal and permanent job opportunity
 Improved social and physical infrastructure
 Improve living standards of the people
 Efficient use of land and water resource
 Increase income
 Gender encouragement and benefits
To the contrary, this project could also bring about different adverse impacts both to the natural environment and
the community which tend to appear during the project construction and operation phase. Accordingly the major
adverse negative impact of the project can be summarized as:
• Bio-physical (impacts on water, air, land , forest, soil and wild life)
• Socio-economic and cultural
• Institutional and
• Downstream effects are the most common impact category of the THIP.
Among the adverse impacts the following found to be significant: loss of vegetation and land degradation, affect
the nearby urban land use pattern, health issue especially the spread of malaria, water quality concern that could
affect by agro-chemical misuses, impact on ecologically sensitive areas, water logging and poor drainage,
displacement and relocation of land and people, loss of grazing land and health and social safety issues, and the
downstream effect are among the significant.

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Despite of this, majority of the negative impacts can be reduced to acceptable levels, except some immeasurable
factors through integration of environmental mitigation measures in the design or planning and implementation of
the project. Therefore, it can be concluded that there will be no irreversible or unmitigable impacts that will
prevent the implementation of this irrigation project when the recommended mitigation plan is properly
implemented.

In relation to its social acceptability, stakeholder and public consultations concerning the THIP had been
conducted at different level including woreda and community levels. Due to this, the outcome revealed that there
is high acceptance for the proposed irrigation project. This is largely based on the expectations that there will be
opportunities for substantial increase in agricultural production and employment for local people, and thus,
increased income level and improved living standards. They believed that implementation of the proposed project
would bring significant improvement in the socioeconomic status of the community and such benefits will
significantly contribute to the overall economic development of the region and the country. Even to such extent,
the local people of the PCA showed their willingness to contribute any share which they could for the better
implementation of the project. In spite of this, they also insisted and demanded about the need for equivalent
substitution of their farm land and some infrastructure lost on time, the need for fair distribution of irrigation
water, eagerness to early implementation of the project and public health risks especially the aggravation of
domestic diseases like malaria.

Finally yet crucially, since the negative environmental impact on the implementation of this project is minimal
and could be addressed by implementing the mitigation measures proposed, the project is found to be socially
accepted economically feasible and environmental friendly. Thus it is rational that this project is better-off to
implement and the project proponent and relevant stakeholders and the local community should play their role for
the sustainability of the project.

Recommendations
In the previous topics the assessment indicates that different strategic actions should be taken to help ensure the
project's feasibility and enhance its sustainability by proposing various environmentally sound mitigation options
and enhancement measures and its implementation monitoring parameters. However, still there are sensitive and
prioritized crucial issues of the study that need special attention through the project cycle. Accordingly the
following issues demands great consideration.

It is important that during the implementation, the project proponent should be actively involved to address some
of the cross cutting issues such as, natural environment, air quality, biological environment, health, socio-

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economic and other relevant issues for their mitigation. Moreover the stakeholders also should take part to
ensure that emerging issues are tackled as they come.

▪ The project is a bold attempt to transform agricultural production methods and yields and at the same time
radically change living conditions in a poor and socially semi-rural society.

▪ The issue of riparian use right and the projects best and harmonizing approach should be adapted to avoid
future project jeopardizing factor and to settle conflict on water resource utilization of the Tekeze river
basin.

▪ Majority of the project command area lay under the existing and proposed towns of future urban plan
expansion area and investment sites (like in Humera town, Adebay, Rawiyan and May Kadra). This could
be controversial and clash with other development efforts. Thus the proposed urban expansion area
should be excluded and instead there is a plenty of cultivated land outside this impact zone that could be
included early before operation.
▪ There is no previous experience of successful implementation of such mega project in large scale, modern
and commercial based project in the area. Therefore the issue of institutional risks is significant and
capacity building should be done harmoniously.

▪ The project command area (i.e. western Tigray and that of Kafta Humera Woreda) is among the few areas
of the country by which ecologically sensitive and biologically endangered reserve areas and flora and
fauna diversities are found and because of this the recommended mitigations for such specific zone would
be expected to avoid the adverse impacts or reduce it to the minimum.
▪ The ecological balance of the Kafta Humera National Park could be disturbed. For the sake of this the
planting of pump station and main canal design should consider noise pollution, forest degradation and
the impact of altering of the usual wild life movement routes.
▪ The issue of water born and related diseases in the project area is serious, especially malaria is endemic.
Such surface irrigation project could aggravate the incident rate of Malaria and due to this the project
owner, contractor and other relevant stakeholders should be made aware early to mitigate it.

▪ Majority of the PCA inhabited by different member of community which were immigrated by integrated
resettlement programs in the previous years. Thus serious attention should be given not to re-displace and
relocate such unstablized community.

▪ There are minority groups of Kunamma community in the project area who had been leading their
livelihood as semi-pastoralist later changed to mixed agriculture. They have no irrigation practice and
experience and hence they should be treated in special capacity building program.

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▪ There exist similar projects in the study area mainly focusing on potable water supply but sitting of
similar projects at same geographic area of interest would probably affect each other so a harmonizing
mitigation approach to correlate both projects should early identified.
▪ Establishment of an efficient water application/management system to irrigation fields is important in
order to prevent adverse soil modification like water-logging, and creation of mosquito and snail breeding
sites.

▪ Such mega irrigation project is likely to utilize bulky agro-chemicals like pesticides and insect sides. Thus
a proper handling and use of agro-chemicals is recommended in accordance to environmentally friendly
approach and acceptable relevant guidelines.
▪ Enhancing market oriented production system using production enhanced technologies that lead to agro-
industrial development.

▪ Establishing a monitoring program for checking the critical parameters like environmental flow of the
river, trans boundary effect, water quality, relevant soil characteristics, groundwater level, water-logging,
and disease vector breeding places.

▪ The commitments of the key stakeholders including the Bureau of Agriculture, Tourism and Culture,
Water Resources Bureau, Woreda and Kebele Administrations, Agriculture Offices, and Health Offices to
implement the mitigation measures specified in the EMP and other necessary actions will be vital.
▪ For further project sustainability reasons this project needs additional future public disclosure and
stakeholder consultation phase in order to resolve arising problems timely.
▪ Finally, but importantly it is important to note that to secure the effective implementations of such bulky
measures allocating the necessary resources remain among the critical governing factors .

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Table of Contents
EXCUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................ i
1. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................13
1.1 General overview ...................................................................................................................... 13
1.2 Project background .................................................................................................................... 14
1.3 purpose of the study .................................................................................................................. 15
1.4 Objectives and status of the EIA ................................................................................................ 15
1.5 Study approach and Methodology............................................................................................. 16
1.6 Review of relevant documents and similar studies on the specific topic .................................. 17
1.7 scope and delimitation of the study ........................................................................................... 17
1.8 Study Limitations and constraints .............................................................................................. 18
1.9 The EIA study contributors ....................................................................................................... 18
CHAPTER II: PROJECT DESCRIPTION ................................................................................................19
2.1 General overview ............................................................................................................................ 19
2.2 Objective and the Need for the project...................................................................................... 19
2.3 project merit and beneficiaries .................................................................................................. 19
2.4 Geographical situation of the Project (Location) ....................................................................... 20
2.5 Project detail technical activities ................................................................................................ 21
2.5.1 Project operation, maintenance and management .................................................................... 21
2.5.2 Preliminary study and design of the irrigation system ............................................................. 23
2.5.3 Design Criteria for all Main Lines ...................................................................................... 23
2.5.4 Intake Structure ................................................................................................................... 23
2.5.5 Pound reservoirs.................................................................................................................. 24
2.5.6 Pump station and power house at the water source ........................................................... 24
2.5.7 Canal design and structures ............................................................................................... 25
CHAPTER III: ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING OF PROJECT AREA ..................................................25
3.1 Project Area description .................................................................................................................. 25
3.2 The physical environment .......................................................................................................... 25
3.2.1 Location and topography .................................................................................................... 25
3.2.2 Topography, Geomorphology, and Potential geo-hazards of the study area ........................... 25
3.2.3 Soil ........................................................................................................................................... 26
3.2.4. Climate and ago-ecology ........................................................................................................ 27
3.2.5 Drainage pattern and Hydrological setting of the area ....................................................... 29

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3.2.6 Land use, land cover and environmental conservation ............................................................ 29

3.2.7 Environmental conservation status ........................................................................................ 30
3.2.8 Water quality measure ............................................................................................................. 31
3.3. Biological Environment ................................................................................................................. 32
3.3.1 Overview .................................................................................................................................. 32
3.3.2 Wild Life profile ...................................................................................................................... 34
3.3.3 The Kafta-Sheraro National Park ............................................................................................. 35
3.4 Socio-Economic profile the study area ........................................................................................... 37
3.4.1 Administrative conditions ................................................................................................... 37
3.4.2 Population and Demographic dynamics .................................................................................. 37
3.4.3 Economic base of the project area and the Woreda ................................................................. 38
3.4.4 Market access ........................................................................................................................... 41
3.4.5 Education status and enrollment .............................................................................................. 41
3.4.6 Public health status and facilities ............................................................................................. 41
3.4.8 Domestic Water supply and use status ..................................................................................... 42
3.4.9 Road Access and transportation ............................................................................................... 43
3.4.10 Housing and settlement pattern .............................................................................................. 43
3.4.11 historic and Cultural heritage sites .................................................................................. 43
3.4.12 Energy base ..................................................................................................................... 43
3.5 Stakeholder and Community Consultations ....................................................................... 44
CHAPTER IV: POLICY, LEGAL AND INSTITUTINAL FRAMEWORK .........................................45
4.1. General Overview ...................................................................................................................... 45
4.2 Relevant national policies and strategies .................................................................................. 45
4.2.1 Constitutional base ................................................................................................................... 45
4.2.2 Environmental Policy of Ethiopia ............................................................................................ 46
4.2.3 Land Tenure, Expropriation and Compensation Policies ...................................................... 47
4.2.4 Water Resource Policy ............................................................................................................. 47
4.2.5 Wildlife Policy ......................................................................................................................... 47
4.2.6 National Population Policy ...................................................................................................... 47
4.2.7 Policy on Public Health............................................................................................................ 48
4.2.8 Ethiopia water Policies and Proclamations .............................................................................. 48
4.2.9 National and Regional Conservation Strategies....................................................................... 49
4.2.10ETHIOPIA 'S National Biodiversyty Starategy And Action Plan…………..……………50
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4.3 Environmental laws and legislations .......................................................................................... 51

4.3.1 Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (1995) ..................................... 51
4.3.2 Environmental Impact Assessment (Proclamation No. 299/2002) .......................................... 52
4.3.3 Environmental Pollution Control Proclamation (Proc. No. 300/2002).............................. 52
4.3.4 Ethiopian Water Resources Management Proclamation (No. 197/2000). ............................... 52
4.3.5 Wildlife Conservation and Development Proclamation (No. 541/2007)............................ 52
4.3.6 Forests Conservation, Development and Utilization (Proclamation No. 542/2007) ......... 53
4.3.7 Proclamation on Rural Land Administration and Use (Proc. No. 456/2005) ..................... 53
4.3.8 Proclamation on Expropriation of Land Holdings and Payment of Compensation
(Proclamation No.1161/2019)…………………………………………………………………...52
4.3.8 Research and Conservation of Cultural Heritage (Proclamation No. 209/2000) ..................... 53
4.3.9 Water Users Associations ........................................................................................................ 54
4.3.10 Environmental Guidelines ................................................................................................. 54
4.3.10.1Environmental Impact Assessment Guidelines on Irrigation (EPA, 2004…………54
4.3.10.2 Guidelines for Dams and Reservoirs (EPA, 2004)……………………………………54
4.4 Institutional Framework .................................................................................................................. 55
4.4.1 Government administrative structure ....................................................................................... 55
4.4.2 Institutional framework (The federal EPA) ........................................................................ 55
4.5 African Development Bank Integrated Safeguard System ............................................................. 56
4.6 International Environmental Agreements ....................................................................................... 59
CHAPTER V: PROJECT ALTERNATIVES .........................................................................................60
5.1 Background ..................................................................................................................................... 60
5.2 No Action scenarios ........................................................................................................................ 60
5.3 Alternative Irrigation Methods........................................................................................................ 60
5.4 Alternative Design and layout ......................................................................................................... 61
5.4.1 Irrigation technology ................................................................................................................ 61
5.4.2 Flood management alternatives: .............................................................................................. 61
5.4.3 Command area layout .............................................................................................................. 62
5.4.4 Road layout .............................................................................................................................. 62
5.4.5 Pump station establishment ...................................................................................................... 62
5.5 The Alternative operating system ................................................................................................... 62
5.6 Alternative management systems .................................................................................................... 63

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CHAPTER VI: IMPACT ANALYSIS AND MITIGATION MEASURES .............................................63

6.1 Background ..................................................................................................................................... 63
6.2 Identification of Impacts ................................................................................................................. 64
6.2.1 Positive Impacts ....................................................................................................................... 64
6.2.2 Negative impacts of the project........................................................................................... 67
6.3. Downstream Effects ....................................................................................................................... 72
6.3.1 Environmental Flows............................................................................................................ 72
6.3.2 Water balance scenarios of Tekeze River........................................................................... 72
6.3.3 Impacts on downstream users ............................................................................................ 73
6.3.4 Water Regulating and Monitoring System ........................................................................ 73
CHAPTER VII. PROPOSED MITIGATION MEASURES .....................................................................74
7.1 Construction phase .......................................................................................................................... 74
7.1.1 Land required temporary for contractors camps ............................................................... 74
7.1.2 Impacts of Construction Access & Traffic ......................................................................... 74
7.1.3 Impacts related to construction materials extraction .......................................................... 75
7.1.4 Impacts of Spoil Disposal ........................................................................................................ 76
7.1.5 Pollution control and Waste Management ............................................................................. 76
7.1.6 Worker’s Hazards ............................................................................................................... 76
7.1.7 The hazard of Flooding ....................................................................................................... 77
7.1.8 Direct Loss of Habitats ....................................................................................................... 77
7.1.9 Impact and disruption on wildlife ....................................................................................... 77
7.1.10 Permanent loss of land and buildings .................................................................................... 78
7.1.11 Redistribution and Consolidation of Agricultural Land ..................................................... 78
7.1.12 Interruption of Access ......................................................................................................... 79
7.1.13 Impacts on endangered species and vegetation loss ........................................................... 79
7.2 Operation Phase Impacts ................................................................................................................. 79
7.2.1 Inadequate Skills, Labor and Equipment at Field ............................................................... 79
7.2.2 Inefficient Water Use .......................................................................................................... 80
7.2.3 Poor and Inadequate Drainage ............................................................................................ 81
7.2.4 Groundwater Rise and Secondary Salinization................................................................... 81
7.2.5 Decline in Soil Fertility....................................................................................................... 81
7.2.6 Effect of Vertisols on Structures ......................................................................................... 82
7.2.7 Erosion in Command Area & Sedimentation ..................................................................... 82

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7.2.8 Potential Delay in Irrigated Agriculture Development ....................................................... 83

7.2.9 Impacts continuing and over Flooding on canals ............................................................... 83
7.2.10 Impacts of Inappropriate Reservoir Management............................................................... 84
7.2.11 Climate Change concern ..................................................................................................... 84
7.2.12 Reduced Water Quality due to Pollution ............................................................................ 85
7.2.13 Changes in Pests and Diseases ............................................................................................ 85
7.2.14 Habitat Degradation ............................................................................................................ 86
7.2.15 Continuing Impacts on Birds .............................................................................................. 86
7.2.16 Impact on the Kafta-sheraro national park.......................................................................... 86
7.2.17 Prolonged Exposure to Malaria .......................................................................................... 87
7.2.18 Mitigation for downstream and river function effects ........................................................... 87
CHAPTER VIII: ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND MONITRING PLAN ..................88
8.1 Background ..................................................................................................................................... 88
8.2 Environmental management plan (EMP) ........................................................................................ 88
8.3 Auditing for EIA implementation and feedback mechanism ........................................................ 104
8.4 Capacity Building………………………………………………………………………………..
CHAPTER IX: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION .............................................................109
9.1 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................... 109
9.2 Recommendations ......................................................................................................................... 111
Annexes ....................................................................................................................................................116
Annex Impact screening checklist ………………………………………………………………….121

Annex: EMP monitoring and Monthly Reporting template …………………………………121

Annex: Gap Analysis of Environmental Impact Assessment Studies – Main Report………169

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LIST OF TABLES

Table 1: Average monthly rainfall of the study area (1980-2011).

Table 2. Summary of Irrigation water quality investigation for project area
Table 3. Biological diversity in Ethiopia
Table 4. Some of the wild life within the park area
Table 5. Population size of THIP Tabiyas
Table 6: Animal population of project area
Table 7: Major insect pests
Table 8: Existing Top Ten Diseases in Kafta Humera Woreda
Table 9: Africa Development Bank Applicable Operational Safeguard Policies
Table 10: Summary of Positive Impacts of the proposed irrigation project during Operation phase
Table 11: Summary of Environmental management plan
Table12: Summary Environmental Monitoring plan

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1: Map of the project Woreda

Figure 2: Monthly maximum, minimum and mean. Temperature of the study area
Figure 3: Endemic birds around the proposed Tekeze-river pump station area
Figure 4: Kafta-Sheraro National park
Figure 5: Animal population pressure within the command area
Figure 6. Showing environmental impact of construction material extraction

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ACRONYMES
ABA Abay Basin Authorities
ADLI Agricultural Development Led Industrialization
a.s.l above sea level
BBM Broad Bed Maker
BoEPLUA Bureau of Environmental Protection Land Utilization and Administration
CBD Convention on Bio-Diversity
CSA Central Statistics Authority
DSS Decision Support System
EC Electro Conductivity
EEPC Ethiopia Electric Power Corporation
EIA Environmental Impact Assessment
EMP Environmental Management Plan
EMMP Environmental Management and Monitoring Plan
EIS Environmental Impact Statement
EPA Environmental Protection Authority
EPC Environmental Pollution Control
ESMF Environmental and Social Management Framework
EWLCA Ethiopian Wild Life Conservation Agency
FAO Food and Agriculture Organization
FGD Focus Group Discussion
FDRE Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
GCP Ground Control Point (GPS)
GDP Gross Domestic Product
GHG Green House Gasses
HQ Head Quarter
IBA Important Birds Area
IEE Initial Environmental Evaluation
ILO International Labor Organization
KHWWMEO Kafta Humera Woreda Water Mining and Energy Office
KSNP Kafta Sheraro National Park
MoARD Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
MoWE Ministry of Water and Energy
PCA Project Command Area
PIT Project Implementing Team
PKWSO Project kebelle Water Supply Office
POPs Persistent Organic Pesticides
REA Rapid Environmental Assessment
SDPRP Sustainable Development and Poverty Reduction Programme
STDs Sexually Transmitted Diseases
SWC Soil Water Conservation
TDS Totally Dissolved Solids
THIP Tekeze Humera Irrigation Project
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TOR Term of Reference

TWEO Tabia Water and Energy Office
TWRB Tigray Water Resource Bureau
TWWDSSE Tigray Water Works Design Study and Supervision Enterprise
UNCCD Unite Nations Convention on Combating Desertification
UNFCC Unite Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
WB World Bank
WHO World Health Organization
WRMA Water Resource Management Authority
WRM Water Resource Management

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1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 General overview

Economic, social and environmental change is inherent to development. Whilst development aims to
bring about positive change it can lead to conflicts. In the past, the promotion of economic growth as the
motor for increased well-being was the main development thrust with little sensitivity to social or
environmental impacts. The need to avoid adverse impacts and to ensure long term benefits led to the
concept of sustainability. This has become accepted as an essential feature of development if the aim of
increased well-being and greater equity in fulfilling basic needs is to be met for this and future
generations.

An EIA may be defined as formal process to predict environmental consequences of human

development activities and to plan measures to eliminate or reduce adverse effects. EIA provides a
unique opportunity to demonstrate ways in which the environment may be improved as part of the
development process. It provides an opportunity for mitigation measures to be incorporated to minimize
problems. EIA is a management tool for planners and decision makers and complements other project
studies on engineering and economics.

It is important that an EIA is not just considered as part of the approval process. A key output of the EIA
should be an action plan to be followed during implementation and after implementation during the
monitoring phase. To enable the action plan to be effective the EIA may also recommend changes to
laws and institutional structures. Initially EIA was seen by some project promoters as a constraint to
development but this view is gradually disappearing. It can, however, be a useful constraint to
unsustainable development. It is now well understood that environment and development are
complementary and interdependent and EIA is a technique for ensuring that the two are mutually
reinforcing.

Water resource development project (i.e. Irrigated agriculture) is crucial to the economy, health and
welfare of a very large part of the developing world. Water resources development projects thus have
major impacts on the environment. It is necessary to determine the acceptable level and to compensate
for the environmental impact. The impacts may be both to the natural, physical environment and to the
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human environment. All major donors consider water resources development projects to be
environmentally sensitive.

Irrigation and drainage projects invariably result in many far-reaching ecological changes. Some of these
benefit human population, while others threaten the long term productivity of the irrigation and drainage
projects themselves as well as the natural resource base owing to the potential for conflicts arising from
the local communities affected. The undesirable changes are not solely restricted to increasing pollution
or loss of habitat for native plants and animals; they cover the entire range of environmental
components, such as soil, water, air, energy, and the socio-economic system.

The principle of environmental screening of development projects at the planning stage especially
through conducting EIA has been stipulated under EIA proclamation No. 299/2002 which helped to
conserve resources wisely for sustainability. Multi- and bilateral funding agencies also demand EIA as
prerequisite for lending, technical assistance and development support. This EIA study for the Tekeze
Humera irrigation project has been prepared in compliance with policy and legal procedures of the
country, internationally approved laws and the African development bank safeguard system
requirements to ensure environmental impacts are managed and sustainable use of the resources is
secured.

1.2 Project background

Though agriculture remained as the dominant sector of the economy it is being practiced mainly as rain
fed agriculture, due to lack of water irrigation and large spatial and temporal variations in rainfall
farmers could not produce more than one crop per year and there is frequent crop failures resulting in
chronic food shortage. It is stated that the western part of the Tigray region specially that of Kafta
humera Woreda is highly endowed for irrigation potential but due to lack of reliable study and tangible
implementation this was not effectively utilized yet. The proposed project is meant to provide reliable
alternatives sources of water so as to promote the development of irrigation agricultural crop production.
This is meant to promote the streamlining of the already strained resources as a matter of planning and
utilization of water. There are usually several overhead losses as a result of poorly developed irrigation
channels and the proposed project is meant to improve water delivery patterns.

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The proposed Tekeze-humera Irrigation Project (THIP) is located in Tigray Regional State, Western
zone, Kafta humera Woreda encompassing six rural kebeles. The specific site is located in the lower
limit of Tekeze river basin at a locality known by Heilegen and expected to irrigate about 30,000 ha of
land using water from Tekeze River to main canals and subsequently distributed by sub-canals by
gravity.

1.3 purpose of the study

The main purpose of this report is to evaluate the potential adverse effects either social, health,
environmental or safety concerns that are likely to emerge from the proposed development irrigation and
related activities to ensure sustainable development. An EIA for this matter therefore shall help in
identifying, evaluating and predicting possible impacts of various development activities and thereby
providing an opportunity to remedy against the identified negative impacts whilst ensuring the positive
ones are enhanced.

1.4 Objectives and status of the EIA

This study is aiming at preparing a complete EIA report for Tekeze-Humera irrigation project (THIP) in
accordance with the Ethiopian environmental policy and legal frame work as well as the African
development bank safeguards Systems requirements and the following specific objectives have been
examined in carrying this EIA report:
 Identify the type, nature and scale of the project;
 Identification and description of the baseline conditions including physical, biological and
Social conditions;
 Determine whether the proposed project may bring about environmental impacts;
 Verify compliance with the environmental regulations and project's standards;
 Propose mitigation and monitoring measures in the form of applicable safeguard
documentation to address potential impacts;
 Evaluate the existing institutional capacity of the project that can help to manage the
recommendations for implementing the measures outlined in the Environment Management
and Monitoring Plan [EMMP]

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 Provide recommendations to build capacity and strengthen environmental management and

awareness;
 Verify the adherence and compliance of the international laws, policies and regulations

1.5 Study approach and Methodology

There was an initial site visit to identify the scope to be addressed in the study. Various aspects that are
relevant to the project were identified so as to be addressed in the study. The likely changes in different
environmental parameters were analyzed against the established baseline information and the impacts
described in both quantitative and qualitative terms. Based on the initial environmental evaluation (IEE)
that was prepared prior the original full EIA study

Approach to Assessment: The methodology involved site visit and discussions with the residents of the
project area, meetings with the affected stakeholders and questionnaires administered to households and
key informants were conducted. During these visits a detailed examination of the ecological settings and
measurement of several parameters of the area were done to set the baseline information. Initial site
visits involved acquainting the team with the projects‟ background information including the site
coverage, topography, soils, existing developments, concerns likely to be raised from the residents and a
familiarization meetings with the provincial administration. In undertaking the EIA, a systematic
approach comprising the following steps was adopted.

Screening of the project: a process that identified the project as being among those requiring a full EIA
study under schedule 2 of the EIA proclamation No. 299/2002 and Scoping which identified the
projects‟ key issues of concern to be addressed in the EIA.

Data source: the study team has exploited adequate data from different area of concern and project site
and affected community have participated and consulted, the key approach were

(i) use of a multidisciplinary team ,

(ii) preparing clearly stated term of reference (TOR)
(iii) application of rapid environmental assessment (REA) on site,
(iv) impact screening , using matrix approach

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(v) review of relevant secondary data /base line data/ of study area
(vi) focus group discussion with project affected community and local leaders
(vii) stakeholder consultations and participation
(viii) Reviewing of relevant environmental laws and standards
(ix) Reviewing previous similar projects experience in Ethiopia, and elsewhere

In formulating this report, the team has been guided by the criteria on 'Presentation of Information' in the
Environmental Protection Authority's Review Criteria (EPA 2002), the African Development Bank
Safeguard Systems as that of regional EPA.

Public participation and consultations, Extensive consultations with various stakeholders that are
directly and indirectly affected by the project were conducted. Public consultations were conducted
using structured questionnaires administered to households and public meetings to determine the
acceptance levels of potential impacts and the opinions held by the affected and interested parties which
latter was considered in the formulation of mitigation measures and formulate EMP.

1.6 Review of relevant documents and similar studies on the specific topic

To comprehensively organized and interpret this projects outcome different relevant international and
national documents, relevant Policies, legislation and guidelines pertinent to environmental protection
were gathered and reviewed. Previous EIS report on similar projects by Tigray Water Resources
Bureau and other relevant studies were obtained and reviewed in order to adapt crucial relevant data.

1.7 Scope and delimitation of the study

The typical activities under the study include, collection of baseline data on existing environmental
settings of the project area, analyses of the project activities and their respective impacts on the
environment, identification of the environmental components that would be most affected by the
project, propose feasible measures that would help to avoid and/or minimize the adverse impacts.

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1.8 Study Limitations and constraints

The study has faced a number of challenges and constraints. Those which have had a significant effect
on smooth implementation of the assessment process and on the quality of the analysis and outputs are.
Among the major issues the following are the critical ones:
 Originally the project area has little similar earlier studies and therefore little documentation
making it rather challenging.
 The weakness of base line data
 Busy and un committed local officials delayed meetings
 Un organized and un updated sector data which brought challenges to reorganize
 Lack of adequate time for more detail and complex study
 local government officials and experts unacquainted to the study
 Public and stakeholder consulting was not also an easy task because of initially fixed and
congested schedules.

1.9 The EIA study contributors

The study was carried out by a multi-disciplinary team that comprises professionals in hydrology,
geologist, soil expert, engineers, agronomist, geologist, surveyor, socio-economist parallel to the detail
study of EIA and other similar important professional experts were consulted throughout the project's
development phases.

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CHAPTER II: PROJECT DESCRIPTION

2.1 General overview

The Tekeze Humera surface pump irrigation system is planned to irrigate 30,000ha from Tekeze River
using pumping to higher elevation using gravity system. Tekeze Humera surface pump irrigation system
is a project initiated by Tigray Water Resource Bureau and studied by Tigray Water Works Study,
Design and Supervision Enterprise with great efforts for achievement of the plan to irrigate 30,000ha of
land, which increase irrigated area through investments cost effective, environmentally and socially
sound, and beneficial to the rural poor.

2.2 Objective and the Need for the project

The Feasibility Study's rationale for the project is that a transformation from subsistence, rain-fed
traditional farming to an intensified, diversified and modernized agricultural system essential to improve
the country's food security situation and create the conditions for sustainable development. Based on this
rationality the project has its own major general and specific objectives.
The main objectives of the project are
• To assure the food security of the area as well as the region.
• To introduce manageable and efficient irrigation System.
• To produce cash crops this can contribute to the GDP growth significantly.
• To utilize the water sources efficiently for the development of the nation.

2.3 project merit and beneficiaries

It is expected to benefit the local community in transforming the sector in to sustainable and feasible
economical rate of return and unlimited social benefits. Directly or indirectly the newly introducing
about 30,000 ha irrigation project will be expected to benefit the project area community and the nearby
society both in surplus production, income generation, job creation, ,economic diversification and
formulating new market chain.

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2.4 Geographical situation of the Project (Location)

The THIP will develop up to 30,000 ha on the southern part of Tekeze River, the potential site for pump
stations is located north east of the humera town at about 30 km. Water would be released into the
extensive plain farm land diverted from the river using canals downstream of the reservoir ponds, and
then distributed by a primary, secondary and tertiary canals. Seven rural and semi-urban administrative
kebeles currently utilized as cultivated land but nearly situated around urban-periphery of the humera
town fall under the project mandate area.

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Figure 1: Map of the project Woreda

2.5 Project detail technical activities

In this sub-chapter of the project the major detail and technical activities of the project like operation,
management, maintenance, selection of pump station , design and its criteria, intake structure, reservoir
and canal layout , pound reservoir and canal design and structure also technical specification and the
project over all engineering cost estimation will explained and manipulated accordingly.

2.5.1 Project operation, maintenance and management

This involves the conveyance and water distribution to farmers in the project area so as to meet the
water need for the farmers in the area so as to provide adequate water to individual farmers. The main
objective of the conceptualization of the project is to streamline water supply to the farmers so as to

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prevent water wastage and thereby managing the little water available to both the upstream and
downstream farmers alike. The objectives of the project operation include:-
i. To ensure there is equitable water distribution among the various water users, both upstream and
downstream and thereby preventing the occurrence of conflicts,
ii. Ensure the adequacy of the available water so as to prevent possible depletion of the same,
iii. Ensure there is a reliable water supply of water as per the distribution plans and
iv. To ensure there is efficient use of water so as to optimize the abstracted water.

There is an apparent need to ensure there is sustenance of the project for future usability. The quality of
the construction and how the infrastructure is maintained is paramount to the project's continuity. There
is therefore the need for regular maintenance and periodic rehabilitation to sustain its functionality and
to prolong the lifecycle of the project. Maintenance includes routine, emergency and modernization
depending on the scope and frequency of the maintenance. Routine and regular maintenance consists
majorly of activities that need to be carried out throughout the project's lifecycle to maintain the
infrastructure, structures and the irrigation equipment in a state that is operational and efficient.

Project improvement and maintenance will involve planned long term maintenance so as to improve
water delivery to individual farmers and thereby improving water conveyance systems and water
irrigation technologies that enhance water saving. In future, these activities may involve system
redesign, canal lining and expansion of the infrastructure and the use of water efficient methods such as
drip irrigation in place of furrow irrigation that has the potential for water wastage.

The agricultural office in the area has intensified training on on-farm water management trainings where
farmers are trained on various water management patterns. There has been irrigation scheduling so that
all farmers are well served by the water. This has promoted coexistence since various water users are
efficiently served both upstream and downstream. There is training on crop husbandry that order to
have a good return in terms of quantity and quality to the farmers. In addition, the area agricultural
officer in consultation with the WRMA has promoted the implementation of the various by-laws so as to
optimize water abstraction and further avoid water wastage. The management of the project involves
decision making for irrigation water allocation among the various water users especially the upstream
versus the downstream users. Waters sources may also have to be managed through the conveyance of

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water to the farmers, water distribution to farmers, water allocation and application and the removal of
the surplus when it is necessary. There has been intensive information passing on the need to follow the
by-laws put in place so as to ensure there is an effective water use and management.

2.5.2 Preliminary study and design of the irrigation system

The following consecutive sub sections present the preliminary design results of irrigation system. The
major purposes of this section are thus to describe how the design of the project complies with the
prescribed design criteria to present the results of physical and hydraulic analyses and justifications for
the sizing of system components such as Pound reservoirs, intake structures, irrigation infrastructures
and main line. Physical and hydraulic analyses and justifications for the sizing of system components
such as Pound reservoirs, intake structures, irrigation infrastructures and main line.

2.5.3 Design Criteria for all Main Lines

All main lines running from water source to reservoirs need to full fill the following points:

 All water to be lifted through the pipes must flow according to the design factors
 The pipes should accommodate the design discharge and head
 The flow velocity in the pipes up to 2 m/s
 The pipes need to be available in market
 The pipes should resist all live load and dead load during services
 All pipes are not empty when the pump stops i.e. the water in the pipes must start to flow
immediately to the reservoirs as the pump lifts water. This will reduce or avoids the time
gap for flow of water from pumps to pumps etc.

2.5.4 Intake Structure

The intake structure is found up Stream of Tekeze-River to supply water for the first pump station.
Intakes are provided whenever water is withdrawn from surface source such as lakes, canal, rivers, or
reservoirs. There will be an approach channel through which the water will flow towards pump stations.

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At the entrance of the approach channel there are gates which are used during flood season to avoid
entrance of flood in to the pump station as it will destruct the pumping plant. The water to be delivered
to the pumping station must pass through trash rack which avoids entrance of sediment and debris.

2.5.5 Pound reservoirs

The ponds are required to store partially and to regulate the water from intake to the field (command
area) to pump from Tekeze River to the command area of 30,000 ha. The water ponds will be
constructed both in cut and fill areas and water pressure will be balanced by a compacted soil. The
volume of the pond has been decided by taking 30 minutes of water to be reserved in it. This is because
adding additional time to the pond will increase the volume and the amount of water reserved in the
pond will not satisfy all command areas for longer time. The position of the pond was decided to
incorporate more irrigable land as compared to the other position of the pond. The shape of the pond
intended to be constructed is trapezoidal and the inlet and out let position of the pipes are in the direction
of the farm and in the direction of the pump site. The location of the ponds is along the main pipe line
route at peak positions.

The main objective of the pond is not to store irrigation water but to keep the system safe during
blockage of the system i.e. if there is sudden blockage of the system while in operation, the water that
comes out from the pond remains in the pond rather than pushing the water in to the system like on line
system with pump.

2.5.6 Pump station and power house at the water source

The report includes electromechanical works of two pumping stations since their property and objective
is the same. The pumps also have similar pumping capacity. In order to pump the required amount of
water from the river, there should be well designed pump with a properly coupled driver. The pumps
shall fit with required discharge and head. Therefore, the pump used for irrigation purpose shall be
selected carefully to fulfill the necessary specification.

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2.5.7 Canal design and structures

The farmers adopt total project efficiency of 47.2% for design of canals considering lack of irrigation
experience. However, this irrigation efficiency is expected to increase with time as they get well
acquainted with the irrigation operation. Considering the above efficiency, the crop water requirement
(duty) calculated is 1.9 liters per second per hectare. Canal capacity is fixed based on the command area
that is delivered by the canal.

CHAPTER III: ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING OF PROJECT AREA

3.1 Project Area description

In this part the different environmental factors and settings like physical, biological and socio-economic
parameters variables like, location, topography, geology, climate, soil, ecological balance, hydrological
setting, demographic dynamics, economic trend, health and water supply, education and health status,
energy use and infrastructure enrollment are among the basic issues to get emphasis.

3.2 The physical environment

3.2.1 Location and topography

Geographically, the project area Kafta Humera Woreda is located in the western zone of Tigray regional
state. Which lays in western most limit of the region and it borders with Eretria in the north, welkayit in
the south, Tahtay Adyabo woredas in the east and with Sudan republic in the western. In a relative
location the project area is situated about 20 km from humera town. Topographically it is dominantly
plain area except some rugged terrain and shallow gorges in a few geologically unstable sites.

3.2.2 Topography, Geomorphology, and Potential geo-hazards of the study area

Like most civil engineering structures pumped irrigation systems require detailed knowledge of
geological and engineering geological background of the foundation and construction materials.
Geotechnical and engineering geological investigation and mapping mainly focus towards
understanding the interrelationships between the geological environment and the engineering situation;
the nature and relationships between the geological components, the active geodynamic processes and

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the prognosis of processes likely to result from the changes being made (UNESCO, 1976). Geological
and structural investigations were held in the field paying particular interest to the physical properties of
the soils, discontinuity and weathering conditions of rocks. These studies were conducted using spot
image, existing geological maps and check traverses along selected routes to ascertain the existence of
certain lithology, and discontinuity structures in the field.

Tekeze - humera surface irrigation project is to be laid on the north western low lands of Ethiopia.
Generally, the drainage density and pattern are mainly controlled by the lithology, topography and
geological structures of the area. The drainage pattern of Tekeze – Humera area can generally be
described as dendritic type and flows from South-east to North-west direction. Like most of the rivers in
the region, their discharge usually consists of short lived flash floods during rainy season. Since the site
is found farther from the Ethiopian Rift the site is not susceptible to considerable seismic activity for
structural design and material selection. According to the seismic hazard evaluation carried out by
Geophysical Observatory of Addis Ababa University (2004), the area found apart of rift valley and is
not substantial for its seismic and volcanic activities.

3.2.3 Soil

Based on the field survey held and soil investigation done in the study area majority of the command
area cover with a deep soil horizon which is greater than 150 cm .soil families of clay, silt clay loam and
sandy loam are of the dominant share soil types in the command area this is also expected to result from
ancient erosion system (by water and wind) and exfoliation and weathering of sediment rocks and some
washed away top layers of highly eroded terrains. As a result through the transportation process of such
degraded raw soil materials a deposit of matured soil layer tend to be formed in the majority of low land
area.

As results had shown from field assessment the soil is black in color mainly with platy structure and
some cracking soil behavior. The texture of the soils varied between loam, silty clay and clayey classes.
The major soil types of the study area are: Vertisols, Arnosols, Cambisols and Regosols by studying and
observing soil profile on pits and already existing gullies. The potential of command area with
recommendable soil type and river water flow potential is about 30,000 ha.

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In general the vertisols of Humera area contain 45% clay but near the valleys have sandy clay loam to
sandy clay in texture. The clay nature of soil helps in retaining considerable amount of moisture and can
give good crop yield with appropriate management. It has further been done by the soil and water
conservation discipline increasing the observation densities in the already surveyed area with a view to
increase accuracy.

All the land affected by erosion what is the difference is the degree of erosion. Similarly the catchments
of the command area are not well terraced because of which the erosion hazards on the command area
immense. So the runoff from the upper catchment has to be redirected to the natural drain.

Other than the sheet and rill erosion mention in the above from physiographic nature of the project area
there is no major significant constraints of crop production activity in the project area, but soil fertility,
and soil and water conservation measures are two basic factors that need due attention. Except the upper
part and the left side of the command area is not significantly affected by out cropped rocks and shallow
soil and has moderately deep to very deep soil thickness with a permissible slope for irrigation activities.
Based on the assessment of topsoil texture, effective soil depth, topography, leveling requirement,
drainage conditions, and slope majority of the command area is appropriate for irrigation purpose with
some limitation on soil fertility, sheet erosion and drainage requirements of the soil.

Hence, soil management practices that improve soil fertility like addition of manure and artificial
fertilizer, drainage systems with soil and water conservation measures are highly recommendable for the
area to improve the existing productivity and sustainability of the land.

3.2.4. Climate and ago-ecology

Based on the data reviewed from the study Woreda agricultural and rural development office and other
official documents of finance and economic development office of the Woreda at the year 2007 E.C,
78% of the Woreda lies within the Lowland 18% Mid highlands and 4% Desert agro climatic zones
respectively. Western Tigray is characterized by the mono-modal type of rainfall which has a single
maxima rainfall pattern. Humera Woreda and the project area receive the mono-modal type of rainfall
and warmer climate.

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Rainfall: Using the rain fall data is obtained from Humera metrological station, annual and monthly
rainfall of the command area is estimated from 32 years records.
Table 1: Average monthly rainfall of the study area (1980-2011).

S# month Rain fall S# Month Rain fall Remarks

1 Jan 0.00 7 July 180 The peak rain
2 Feb 0.00 8 August 200 fall pattern is
recorded from
3 March 20 9 Sept 140 June to
4 April 40 10 Oct 40 September.
5 May 60 11 Nov 20
6 Jun 140 12 Dec 0.00
Total Total
Source: Humera Metrological Station, 2015

Temperature: From the data, it is observed that mean monthly maximum and minimum
temperature ranges from 32 degree centigrade to 42.4 degree centigrade and from 18.2 degree
centigrade to 25.3 degree centigrade respectively. The average daily temperature is 29.8 0c. The
maximum temperature reaches highest in April (42.40c) & Dec (41.1 0c) while the minimum
temperature drops to the lowest in January (18.2 0c) which indicates that the area lies in tropical
climate zone and hence the proposed crops are grown in this area.
Figure 2: Monthly maximum, minimum and mean. Temperature of the study area

Source: Humera Metrological Station, 2015

Furthermore, information from WOA, 2007 E.C., indicated that the distribution of rainfall is not
uniform throughout the season. The rainfall pattern shows that supplementary irrigation is required
during the months of June, September and October in the wet season while the dry season crops (Dec. -
May) should only be raised with full irrigation.

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Relative Humidity: The rate of evaporation and transpiration are accelerated on days of low humidity
and slowed down during the period of high relative humidity. However, the relative humidity percentage
is low to medium during the growing season; a greater use of water by plants may be expected.
The document reviewed by the federal water works indicated that the maximum relative humidity near
of 25 years remained 71.8% in August while it was minimum in March (20.8%). the consumptive use
of water by the plants is more when relative humidity is the minimum and the vice-versa. The agronomy
study showed that the temperature is suitable for growing variety of crops including cereals, vegetables,
and fruit crops using irrigation system. However, as PET (Potential Evapo-Transpiration) is always
higher than the precipitation in this agro climatic zone, economic water management is vital.

3.2.5 Drainage pattern and Hydrological setting of the area

The study area, Kafta humera Woreda is highly endowed to its surface water sources. There are at least
8 major rivers, namely Tekeze, Bahre-selam, Ruwassa, Gytse, Rawyan, Degagum, Mayamsalu, Zerbabit
and Aykdubish rivers, of which the first 5 are perennial rivers while the rest are seasonal rivers.
Numerous streams are also drain from kafta highlands to the tekeze and other seasonal rivers of the
study area. According to the geological and soil survey of the project, the majority of the command area
is laid on plain to moderately sloping terrain. However, since the majority of the soil is clay soil there
will be problem of water logging during rainy season. Therefore, it needs close supervision in managing
excess water and to construct drainage structures by simple agricultural implements like Broad Bed
Maker (BBM).

Hydrology is the study the occurrence, distribution, and circulation of Earth's waters as well as their
chemical and physical properties and their interaction with the environment and living things. It is
important in developing, managing, and controlling water resources. It deals with the following
hydrological cycles and these are described in their respective units in this study.

3.2.6 Land use, land cover and environmental conservation

According the Woreda environmental protection, Land administration and use and that of agriculture
and rural development offices official reports and reviewed documents shown, the total area of the
Woreda is 717,000 hr, among this about 388,888.8hr ( 54.23%) is enclosed by cultivated land, 240,000
hr (33.47%) forest land , 51,972 hr(7.24%) grazing area, 35,344(4.93%) hr miscellaneous land use and

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the remain 1456 hr (0.21%)settlement area though this the typical land use and land cover of the Woreda
, every year there is tremendous land use change that tend to appear because of various economic and
social phenomenon. Such event is reported to happen because of urban and settlement expansion,
massive infrastructure and development projects arrival, cultivated land demand, huge investment need,
construction and energy demand. In relation to the project kebeles land use and land cover profile it is
not found so far differ from the Woreda existing setting. Due to this, the total area of the six project
kebeles‟ is summed to be 319456.5hr. out of 155352 hr (48.63%) is cover by cultivated land another
87,000hr( 27.23%) park area, 50,750 hr ( 15.89%) forest land, 25,153 hr ( 2.46%) grazing land the rest
share 1201.5hr ( 0.38%) covered by settlement area .

3.2.7 Environmental conservation status

As far as the environmental conservation status of the area concerned it is a recent phenomenon in the
area even when we comparing with the other part of the Tigray region it is recently before five years
around 2001 E.C such rehabilitation activities massively started in the majority part of the Woreda
including the specific project area. Due to this available data have given witness that, only few part of
the total area is being in rehabilitation that is, 4928 hr physically and 2038 hr biologically a total of 6966
hr already conserved biologically and physically.

The ecological condition of the watershed has been disturbed due to inadequate management of the
natural resources mainly the vegetation, soil and water. Even if significant portion of the main
catchment area is registered as part of the Kafta- Sheraro National Park bordering the command area to
the North west bordering Eritrea, still it is partially exposed to free grazing and encroachments but the
condition of the park is improving. Many of the indigenous trees and shrubs species have existed
adjacent to the National Park. However, much of fertile soil is washed away from the steep sloped
hillsides of the catchment area closing to Qafta area. Such problem finally will lead to sever land
degradation and hence reduction in productivity of land resources, thereby affecting the socio economic
and environmental well-being of the community and aggravated flood sedimentation.

The watershed of the irrigation site that is outside the park boundary (i.e., the South Eastern direction of
Kafta mountains/hills and farm lands, etc.), is in unprotected condition with pre dominantly frees

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gazing; deforestation accompanied with very less/no conservation efforts. Grazing and sparsely
distributed forests dominated by thorny acacia bushes has greatly influenced the command area.
Sheet, rill and gully erosion are observed in the command area. Therefore, construction of site specific
soil and water conservation structures are essential to conserve and stabilize the command area.
Sediments transported from hilly and unprotected lands have to be minimized. Otherwise, this will silt up the
structure area and reduces the life span of the irrigation dam gradually. There are some soil and water
conservation measures mainly stone bunds, check dams and enclosures but they are very minimal compared
to the size and exposure of the of the catchment to land degradation.

Therefore an efficient and effective utilization of the existing land resources mainly of soil, water and
forest resource is very important by proposing soil and water conservation measures that improve the
irrigational status of the site. Hence, area closures of degraded forest/bush lands accompanied with
physical conservation measures such as stone bunds, check dams and forest fire protection, thereby
reducing transportation of sediments.

3.2.8 Water quality measure

The face of irrigated agriculture is changing with respect to water quantity and quality. In the not-to-
distant past, neither irrigators nor agricultural crop advisors had to give much consideration to either the
supply or the quality of irrigation water. Supplies of good-quality water, well-matched to crop irrigation,
were plentiful, generally uncontested, and not necessarily closely monitored or regulated. However,
growing competition for and accountability of the use of water have contributed to increasing scrutiny
about just how water is used, how much water is available to the public for non-agricultural uses, and
what practices impact the quality of our nation's water resources. Correspondingly, irrigators in many
watersheds and irrigation districts have had to face and respond with changing practices to increasing
scrutiny about how to best manage available water resources. Along with that has come growing
attention to the quality of water available for irrigation.

Typically, qualities of irrigation water which deserve consideration include the salt content, the sodium
concentration, the presence and abundance of macro- and micronutrients and trace elements, the
alkalinity, acidity, and hardness of the water. Under some circumstances, the suspended sediment
concentration, bacterial content, and temperature of irrigation water may also deserve attention.

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Table 2. Summary of Irrigation water quality investigation for project area

S# components Measured Water quality Potential adverse impact

1 Resistivity 2.8-3.0kΩ None
2 TDS 186.24-204.8ppm None
3 EC 0.291-0.32dS/m None
4 Salinity 0.7% None
Source: field measure for EIA

Accordingly, the EC value of Tekeze river course water sources in the project area is range between
0.341-0.395dS/cm and the TDS value of 186.24 – 204.8 ppm/l indicate a none salinity and proper ratio of
dissolved total substances. The salinity ratio also range b/n 0.7-0.8% which is moderate and acceptable.
Where as in comparison, the water quality around the command area by which the sample water is taken
from sub-surface and ground water source contains relatively higher salinity nature and TDS value that
ranges from 0.51to 1.21 dS/cm and a TDS value of 223.5 to 425.3 ppm/cm. however this does not mean
it has a severe impact on the existing irrigation practices rather it can bring a moderate (medium) impact
that can be mitigate in smart handling and selecting of preferable crop. To sum up, according to the
FAO guideline, the water is suitable for irrigation and will pose slight to moderate salinity which can be
managed by selecting crops favoring this range of the already measured salinity rate.

3.3. Biological Environment

3.3.1 Overview

Ethiopia's biodiversity is summarized in the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (IBC
2005).The country has enormous habitat diversity due to its highly variable topography, wide range of
elevations and climatic diversity. This, together with its location in the Horn of Africa near the junction
of the Afro- tropical and Palearctic bio geographical realms, has resulted in an exceptional range of plant
and animal species, many of which are endemic (not found elsewhere) (Table 4-4).
Table 3. Biological diversity in Ethiopia

category Number of known Species endemic to Ethiopia

species in Ethiopia
Higher plants 6,500-7,000 10-12 %
Mammals 277 31
Birds 925 29 (19 globally threatened)
Reptiles 210 9

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Amphibians 71 24
Fish *162 39
* Includes 10 exotic species
Note: different sources give different numbers of species and endemics;
Sources: adapted from EWNHS (1996), IBC (2005)

3.3.2 Flora and fauna

The western lowlands of Tigray and their surrounding escarpments account for large natural vegetation
cover. Kafta -Sheraro National Park is among the vast areas with rich flora and fauna. However, since
recently, the significant parts of the zone and the Woreda are appreciably degraded due to the growing
intensity of human pressure. A wide spread deforestation is taking place in the area due to expansion of
smallholder peasant cultivation, commercial farming and settlements. The natural vegetation types of
the project area correspond mainly to altitude, topography, soil type and climate. The vegetation in the
proposed irrigation areas is predominantly wood land, which is characterized by trees with fairly large
deciduous leaves mixed or interspersed with small leaved trees. The dominant tree species are of Acacia
species such as Acacia abyssinica, Acacia tortorilis, Acacaia nilotica and Acacia seyal.

The major tree species in the riverine habitat include Tamarindus indica, Diospyros mespiliformis,
Ficus sycomorus, Syzigium guineense. In the wood land, the under-storey is mostly grasses. The main
grass species found in the area belong to the genera: Hyparrhenia, Echinocloa, Cymbopogon, Sorghum,
Eragrostis, Cenchrus, Chloris, Eleusine and Pennisetum. In most places the ground layer/grassland is
grazed by large livestock population. In addition to the animals permanently found in the area, there is a
seasonal movement of animals from the nearby tabyas during the wet season in search of grazing
pasture.

In addition, the natural vegetation provides timber for agricultural tools, furniture and utensils, wild
fruits and pollen grain for honey production. Boswellia papyrifera and Acacia senegal are among the
economically important tree species found on uncultivable areas. In particular, these have commercial
values as they are sources of aromatic resins. B. papyrifera is a source of frankincense/gum olibanum
while A. senegal is a source of gum arabic. Presently they are widely collected in the western zone by
many licensed associations. Accordingly, there are about six associations collecting incense to the
central markets in the project area.

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Figure 3: Endemic birds around the proposed Tekeze-river pump station area

Source: survey for EIA, 2015

3.3.2 Wild Life profile

The Subproject area does fall under some protected area or within the buffer zones. Many common
flora and fauna are observed in the subproject area. Clearing of trees and some intervention to the
common wild life reserve sites is seen for subproject works.

A detail site observation and assessment has been done, accordingly due to the intensity of human
pressure, the wildlife resources of region are limited to some areas in the South Western Zone and to a
few remnant habitats like the Kafta-Sheraro National Park. The park is neighboring the project area to
the North West direction even part of the pump station/reservoir is crossing with in the park boundary.
Though the kafta-sheraro national park is the most concentrated place for most of wild life in the study
area and the region too there exist some fragmented sensitive ecological zones which serve as
reservation of variety of wild life. Such places for the remaining wild life are protected forest, bush land,
wet land (The Tekeze River), grass lands around the river and some other natural caves.

Many of these wild animal species are believed to have declined drastically over the past years due to
civil unrest, drought, illegal hunting, expansion of cultivation and settlements. Due to intensive land
uses for agricultural activities (cultivation and grazing) and settlements, only some pocket areas like that
of National Park are left less disturbed around the proposed irrigation project area. These less degraded

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habitats are found along the Rivers especially in the park area and in the steep sloping escarpments and
hills. These areas support several species of mammals, variety of bird species and other fauna.

However, for wild animals in the project area that is apart from the park, the general trend for several
species is a lowering of population size because of hunting pressure and habitat degradation due to
expansion of cultivation and intensive livestock grazing. On the other hand, the number of some species
particularly the primates like Anubis baboon and Vervet monkeys is abundant.

3.3.3 The Kafta-Sheraro National Park

The kafta-sheraro park is among the nationally recognized parks which had been established since 2007
GC found in Tigray region western zone lay between kafta humera and laelay Adyabo (Sheraro) which
is 1015 km away from Addis Ababa on the main asphalt road NW from Shire to Humera which possess
a unique physical feature of arid low land. The Kafta-Sheraro National Park Humera wing shares parts
of the Adebay and Hiletkoka project Tabyas bordering the project sites. Hence it is important to assess
the park in terms of wild life potential and conservation effects.

Geographical Location: The Kafta-Sheraro National Park is one of the most important ecologically
conserved area, situated between 13°50'and 14°23' north and 36° 31'and 37°29'east, in the Kafta-
Humera and Tahtay-Adyabo Woredas of South Western Zone and it has a total area of about
2176.43Km2.
Figure 4: Kafta-Sheraro National park

Source: Kafta-sheraro park office, 2015

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Bio-physical environment: Initially the park had an area of about 5000 km2 where as currently it
shrinks to a total area of about 2176.43Km2.Based on the 2007 official inventories, some previous and
recent assessments done, the Park harbors about 42 species of mammals (including elephant), 163
species of birds, and 9 species of reptiles.

Physically the park area is well known by its low land arid area dominated by extensive lower area due
to this a number of mammals by which agro ecologically tolerated the local climate had been survived
for a long period of time among these, greater kudu and African elephant are the key species of the
park. Biologically the park is densely populated by various plant species, where by some of them
remain endanger because of manmade and natural disasters.

A naturally endowed forest area is cover majority of the park due to this plenty of woody and grass
species appeared massively. Majority of the park area forest is covered by wood land vegetation and
previous studies reported about 37 plant species whereas according the official study done in 2014-2015
these number is reached to about 53 plant species according to the official report of Kafta-Sheraro
national park office and other official documents. The NP is primarily known to refuge variety of
ungulates and Gazelles. The area is also home to big games like Elephant and Roan antelope. Both
species are rare in number so that require special conservation concern at present. Leopard and Lion
were a common sight in the past but today exist with rare opportunities to observe them.
Table 4. Some of the wild life within the park area

S# Local (Tigrigna) name Scientific name Remarks

1 Harmath African elephant Endangered

2 Nay qolla agazen Greater kudu
3 Wundbi eland
4 Chelle ba’al game Roan antelope Endangered in Ethiopia
5 Mefles Common warthog
6 Sesha Klipspringer
7 Zibad African civet
8 Tera zibea Spotted hyena
9 Tera wa’ag Vervet monkey
10 Tselim hibey Olive baboon
11 Feako Oribi

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12 Meadak Common duike

13 Teli bedu Thomason Grant Gazelle
14 Aner Serval cat
15 Nebri Leopard Endangered
16 Dikula Common bush buck
Source: survey for EIA-2015

3.4 Socio-Economic profile the study area

The Socio-economic context of the study area has been studied by collecting and reviewing secondary
data from the project tabias, Woreda sector offices and previous studies and primary data through on site
observations and consulting of concerned officials. Detailed description of the socio-economic features
of the study area is given in a separate Socio-economic Study Report. The descriptions given in this EIA
Report focus only on the issues that is mostly relevant to the environment impact study.

3.4.1 Administrative conditions

The project is located in Kafta humera Woreda, moderately dense populated , the feasibility study states
that project PCA includes four kebeles completely and two kebeles partially; which holds a total
cultivated land of 155,352 out of which about 30,000 ha will be under the project development plan.
Most part of the project reserve area pumping stations situated within the nearby two kebeles namely
Adebay and Hilet kaka which is 20 km north east of humera town.

3.4.2 Population and Demographic dynamics

The latest official figures show that Kafta humera Woreda has a total population of some 115,580 of
which 60226 male and 55354 female and 29324 households. The average family size is around 3.88 which
is significantly less than the project area's average which is 5 Whereas the total population of the specific project
area is estimated to be 54,724 and with some household size of 20,754.

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Table 5. Population size of THIP Tabiyas

S# Tabiyas Population size Average HH Remarks

size
Male Female Total

1 Adebay The current

14,876 11,355 26,231 2,605
population figure is
2 Bereket
5497 2748 5296 8245 derived from
3 Central 5421 4579 10000 2150 projecting the

4 Hilet qokq 429 340 769 269 population senses

of
5 May kadra
9674 9003 18677 5073 2007
6 Rawiyan
4033 3769 7802 1958
Grand Total 31,290 26,383 54,724 20,754
Source: survey for-EIA, CSA, 2007

3.4.3 Economic base of the project area and the Woreda

Based on the survey and observations carried out at the project area sites, the majority of the population
in the Woreda and that of the project area too, is mainly dependent on agriculture which is a mixed
supplemented by animal husbandry for their livelihood. This is characterized by small scale farming
with, average farm sizes of 2-5 ha and extensive investment land holdings of some 20 ha to 5000 ha.
Thus, the predominant means of living for the population of Kafta Humera Woreda including the project
area is mixed farming. It is estimated that about 85 % of the population of the Woreda earn its livelihood
from mixed agriculture. It comprises investment and subsistence agriculture in which cash crop and
subsistence crop production is predominant, and livestock husbandry is intimately integrated with crop
production. Whereas the community of the project area earns its livelihood income mainly from mixed
farming.

Crop farming: Crops produced are mainly high value crops like sesame and it also consist of some
chief food crops like maize, sorghum and some supplementary fruits and vegetables like banana,
tomato, potato and salad are typical income and food source of the study area as well as Woreda.
Majority of the crop produced in the project area is manly based on rain-fed farming with some
irrigation practices mainly around Tekeze, Rawiyan, Gytse and Ruwassa Rivers. The average irrigated

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land holding at household level is about 0.55 ha as already assessed in some sample existing irrigation
schemes within the command area.

Livestock raising: As elsewhere in the country and the region, all types of livestock that contribute
most to crop production activities and food sources of the community are reared in the project area.
Livestock is the main source of economy in the Woreda which include cattle, goats, sheep, and poultry,
and camel, donkey and bee colonies.
Table 6: Animal population of project area

S# Tabia Cattle Goat Sheep Hen Donkey Total Remarks

1 Maykadra 5665 3830 8685 6605 1463 26248 The weighted

orange color
2 Central 394 146 304 1033 102 1979 indicates the
rank of animal
3 Bereket 4955 1200 12770 3870 403 23198 population
based on their
4 Rawyan 7955 1200 14770 6870 892 31687 size. The
darker the
5 Adebay 10378 3532 15890 2300 2894 34994 highest and the
lighter one, the
smallest
6 Hillot koka 360 743 468 832 204 2607
respectively.
Total 29707 10651 52887 21510 5958 120713

Source: survey for EIA, 2015

Existing irrigation practices: The areas where irrigation is practiced in the study area is limited to
some river belts of the Tekeze main river course from Adbay to Bereket which is pumping based
gravity and alongside the seasonal Rawiyan river a partially funded government, some 10 meter deep
wells include the larger irrigation scheme in the area. However due to lack of sufficient irrigation the
decline in water volumes has affected the production and the sustainability of the activities. The project
relies on gravity water supply to distribute the water to the projects‟ beneficially and who work on a
rotational patterns to ensure that all farmers are well served by the water supplies. The irrigated crops
include, tomatoes, onions, maize and French beans among others. The quality of crop management on
the local farmers‟ plots is generally low due to low use of agrochemicals and organic manure.

The impact of Weeds, insects and diseases: According to the interviewed farmers and development
agents, several weeds are growing in the study area. The main weed control practices in the study area

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are hand-weeding (for both the rain fed and irrigated crops), intercrop cultivation (vegetables and maize)
and using herbicide (2,4-D) on sorghum and maize .The weeding frequency for the rain fed crops is
mostly 2-3 times. Unlike the rain fed crops the vegetables farming is weeded more frequently. Insect
pests are among the most important constraints to crop production. These agents may cause significant
yield loss at the field and in stores. The major regular insect pests prevalent in the study area and their
control measures are shown in the next table. Chemicals applied to control the insect pests are diazinone,
fentrotine and malathione.
Table 7: Major insect pests

Insect pests Crops attacked Control

measures
Local name Common name applied
Kancha Feharie Stalk borer Sorghum Chemicals
African ball worm Sorghum Chemicals
Fanta Grasshopper Sesame and sorghum Chemicals
Aleba saret Web worm Sesame Chemicals
Qoratsi gundi Cut worm Onion Chemicals
Thrips Onion Chemicals
Tsaeda hamema White fly Tomato and citrus Chemicals
Qotsli sersari Leaf miner Citrus Chemicals
African, American or Sudan boll worm Cotton Chemicals

Efel Aphid Tomato and cotton Chemicals

Jassid, Milli bug, Aphid & Semilipper Cotton Chemicals

Filho Termites Mango Chemicals

Crop diseases are also other most important production constraints. Major diseases prevalent are smut
(on sorghum), root rot (on pepper, tomato and sesame), bacterial blight (on sesame), early and late blight
(on tomato and pepper), blossom end rot (on tomato), basal root rot (on tomato), anthracnose (on
sorghum, mango and citrus) and sesame phyllody (on sesame).

Agrochemical utilization and environment concern: Though the existing inexpensive irrigation
practice of the study area has low agro-chemical utilization history and contribution towards
contamination to the natural environment and water bodies. It is obvious that such mega-irrigation
project could probably expect to utilize massive and variety of agro-chemical inputs in the long run. Due

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to this, the un managed leaching effect can affect the existing quality of downstream surface and sub-
surface water bodies and some ground water sources which in return could affect the human and animal
health and ecological balance of the area. Agro-chemicals are being used to kill unwanted pests and
weeds on farms and fertilize the soil for crops. They may be collected by rain water runoff and carried
into streams and lakes or dams if applied abundantly. Irrigation and drinking water supplies can be
contaminated with pesticides and nitrates, a pollutant often derived from fertilizer run off. In relation to
the upper stream effect of contamination on the reservoirs of water pollution is not likely typical concern
to the project since its main source of irrigation water supplied through pumping from a clean river
runoff the Tekeze river but to some extent a recognized and likely effect for sediment deposition of the
pumping station and cumulative agro-chemical accumulation on the reservoir area and canals could
affect the down users.

3.4.4 Market access

Marketing and its efficient infrastructure is a very crucial concern for a given social and economic chain
of existing local and regional project sustainability. Due to this especially in the recent time the project
area endowed with well-organized marketing system and infrastructure accordingly there are some
structurally seated official marketing centers and places of different agricultural and industrial
commodities sold and buy. The existing and potential huge investment in the area specially, that of
Maykadra holds a strong economic and marketing place in the study area.

3.4.5 Education status and enrollment

The educational enrollment in the project Woreda shows that there are 42 elementary schools, 5
secondary and one preparatory schools and other one technical/vocational junior college in Humera
town. Based on a recent data of the Woreda education office about 30,637 was attending their education.

3.4.6 Public health status and facilities

Based on a rapid health status assessment the scope and capacity of patient serving differ from Tabia to
Tabia almost all the kebeles have currently obtained health service in side or their nearest district at 5-15
km far from their locality. Though, there is some progressive improvement comparing to previous poor
health status and sanitation problem in the area still a number of tropical and water born and related
diseases are affecting the living standard, life expectancy and working capacity of the community which
can affect effectiveness. According to survey some official reports reviews the main health hazards in

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the project area are vector borne tropical diseases especially malaria, water born and related and
respiratory tract infections. The top ten causes of morbidity (illness) reported by the Woreda Health
Offices in 2014-2015 are listed below (table 8).
Table 8: Existing Top Ten Diseases in Kafta Humera Woreda

No To ten diseases Number of patients

by project Woreda

1 Malaria with p.falciparum 11753

2 Acute febril illness/AFI/ 7563
3 Acute upper respiratory infection(ARI) 6665

4 Other or unspecified 6020

5 Malaria other than p.falciparum 5878
6 Malaria with species other than p.falciparum 4731

7 Diarrhea/non bloody/ 4279

8 Pneumonia 3046
9 Helminthiasis 2484
10 Infection of skin & subcutaneous tissue 2259
Total 54,678

3.4.7.1Health Facilities

Health Centers are the focus facilities for curative and preventive health care in rural areas in Ethiopia.
Each Centre is designed to meet the medical and health needs of a population of some 25,000 people.
They are staffed by a Public Health Officer, nurses, community nurses, clinical nurses, environmental
health workers and other paramedical staff.

Health facilities operating and serving the PCA population include four health centers, two health posts,
and five clinics.

3.4.8 Domestic Water supply and use status

In the PCA most water for domestic uses is obtained from groundwater at depths vary from some 7 m
shallow wells Rawiyan and Adebay to 150 m deep wells in Maykadra and Bereket Campaigns supported
by Woreda and regional government have resulted in a significant density of protected wells with hand
pumps which serve for domestic and animal drink are more utilizing in Rawiyan and Adebay. Thus a

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total of 194 tap water sources exist in the Woreda, which include 41 hands dug wells, 116 shallow wells
and 37 deep wells.

3.4.9 Road Access and transportation

The project area which has an average distances of 12 km from the zonal town Humera is 654k.m and
1437km far from Mekelle and Addis Ababa respectively. Most of the project Tabias found alongside
two main roads namely Shire-Humera asphalt main road and Humera-Lugudi (Sudan). Thus Rawiyan,
Adebay, Hiletkoka and Maykadra extend within 42km of asphalt roads while the two kebeles are
reached by 17 gravel road. Additionally the PCA also get alternative road access via Gonder Humera
Dansha. In relation to transport facility there is higher traffic flow and relatively good facility in the area
with official bus terminals in humera town and Maykadra Generally speaking, the project area has a
better road accessibility and transport facility owing to its location.

3.4.10 Housing and settlement pattern

The settlement housing pattern of the project area is situated in well organized in township and village
districts. Three of the project kebeles namely Maykadra, Adebay, Rawiyan have a growing town
structure which have centralized administration of municipality based. Majority of housing structure is
built steel dominant wooden pillars and some concrete based buildings especially in the secondly ranked
town of the Woreda i.e. Maykadra. Except some two kebeles that is central and Hiletkoka which has
still rural village structure of settlement and housing pattern the rest four tabias of the project are in a
progressive urbanization trend. Thus, all social services and economic and marketing exchange are
directing in well centralized and easily accessible manner.

3.4.11 historic and Cultural heritage sites

According to a rapid environmental assessment (REA) no preserved prehistoric, historic and officially
recognized cultural heritage site is found within the PCA. But some local worshiping places like church
are found within the command area; typically churches in central and Rawiyan have situated directly in
the intermediate part of the command. Due to this some effects related to canal crossing or other
infrastructure building could rise.

3.4.12 Energy base

Different source and utilizing patterns of energy is available within the PCA. In most of the Woreda and
kebeles centers especially at the main town Humera the electric city coverage is improved from recent

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times and structurally it has a good management and infrastructure facility since it serves as technical
and supply center of the district. Though electrification has is a recent history in the area which is
officially reported to begin since 2004 E.C the coverage is progressive except some remotely seated off
grid rural settlements majority of the Woreda recently have relatively fair status.

3.5 Stakeholder and Community Consultations

To assess the public and concerned officials view about the proposed irrigation project several
structurally organized public hearing and stakeholder consultation phases was held during the project
scoping phase of the EIA at three representative project areas viz. Hiletkoka and Rawiyan. The project
consultation have received feedback from project area residents on a number of occasions and by
various methods, ranging from informal meetings in the field through focus-group discussions to formal
consultative public meetings and stakeholder consulting forum .

Although the residents are generally supportive of any project or changes that will lead to economic
betterment and increased livelihood opportunities, especially roads and marketing facilities, they are,
overwhelmingly, concerned about land tenure and future use right among the project area settlers.
Locally, farmers have three recognized land use right private, house hold and investment land and
different levels of soil fertility, from high to low, respectively. Farmers are fearful that the project could
result in either an absolute loss of land, or land consolidation and thereby loss of access to some plot of
land to the project infrastructure and re-distribution.

But still they raise some doubts to negotiation and clarification during the different consulting phases
these can be shortly summarized as:
 When the project begins the loss of assets and inadequate or no compensation, displacement
to make way for commercial farms or "investors".
 Having to change cropping patterns and systems, especially their local cash crop
 The changing and re-shaping of the usual grazing pattern.
 Lack of markets and marketing facilities
 Price drops due to over-production and inadequate markets.
 Lack of accessibility to ecologically tolerable irrigation crops

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 The need to training and experience sharing from best practicing areas
 Special technical assistance to women and people with special need

After an open ended and full participation some wrong perceptions have be able to shaped to better
argument and the perception of the community on this project were awfully positive. Generally
speaking, most of the participants which is over 95% eagerly welcomed the proposed irrigation project
to their locality and they strongly declared that any contribution expected from them including some
local labor force, land and any expected effort from them could devotedly contributed until the final
efficient implementation of the project.

CHAPTER IV: POLICY, LEGAL AND INSTITUTINAL FRAMEWORK

4.1. General Overview

This chapter outlines the policy, legal and institutional frameworks governing environmental issues in
Ethiopia, reviews the African development Bank Integrated Safe Guard Systems, besides looks into
applicable international conventions and or agreements.

4.2 Relevant national policies and strategies

4.2.1 Constitutional base

The Constitution of Ethiopia (August 1995) embodies the right of the Ethiopian people to development
and to live in a clean and healthy environment. The Conservation Strategy of Ethiopia emphasizes the
importance of incorporating environmental issues into development activities right at the initial stages of
development. The Environmental Policy of Ethiopia (April 1997) aims to “improve and enhance the
health and quality of life of all Ethiopians, to promote sustainable social and economic development
through sound management and use of natural, human-made and cultural resources and their
environment as a whole, so as to meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. It further seeks to ensure the empowerment and
participation of the people and their organizations at all levels in environmental management activities,
and to raise public awareness and promote understanding of the essential linkage between environment

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and development. The Environmental Policy recognizes the need for environmental impact assessments and
environmental audits in development projects.

A number of sectoral environmental policies have been, or are in the process of being, prepared or
endorsed. These include policies relating to soil husbandry and sustainable agriculture; forest woodland
and tree resources; genetic species and ecosystem biodiversity; water, energy and mineral resources;
human settlement, urban environment and environmental health; pollution from industrial waste and
hazardous materials; atmospheric pollution and climate change; and cultural and natural heritage.

4.2.2 Environmental Policy of Ethiopia

The Environmental Policy of Ethiopia (EPE) was issued in April 1997. The EPE supports Constitutional
Rights through its guiding principles. The overall policy goal is to improve and enhance the health and
quality of life of all Ethiopians, to promote sustainable social and economic development through sound
management and use of natural, human-made and cultural resources and their environment as a whole,
so as to meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations
to meet their own needs. The policy seeks to ensure the empowerment and participation of the people
and their organizations at all levels in environmental management activities, and to raise public
awareness and promote understanding of the essential linkage between environment and development.
In addition to its guiding principles, the policy provides sectoral and cross-sectoral environmental
policies. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) policies are included in the cross-sectoral
environmental policies. The EIA policies emphasis the early recognition of environmental issues in
project planning, public participation, mitigation and environmental management, and capacity building
at all levels of administration.

The policy establishes the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to harmonize Sectoral
Development Plans and to implement an environmental management program for the Country. It also
imparts political and popular support to the sustainable use of natural, human-made and cultural
resources at the federal, regional, zonal, Woreda and community levels.

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4.2.3 Land Tenure, Expropriation and Compensation Policies

The Constitution gives every person the ownership right for the property he has invested on the land,
and in this regard article 40 (7) states that every Ethiopian shall have the full right to the immovable
property he builds and to the permanent improvements he brings about on the land by his labor or
capital. If the land that is owned by an individual is expropriated by the Government for public use, the
person is entitled for compensation. In this regard, article 44 (2) of the Constitution states that all
persons who have been displaced or whose livelihoods have been adversely affected as a result of state
programs have the right to commensurate monetary or alternative means of compensation, including
relocation with adequate state assistance.

4.2.4 Water Resource Policy

The Ministry of Water Resources formulated the Federal Water Resource Policy in 1998 for a
comprehensive and integrated water resource management. The overall goal of the water resources
policy is to enhance and promote all national efforts towards the efficient and optimum utilization of the
available water resources for Socio-economic development on sustainable bases. The document includes
policies to establish and institutionalize environment conservation and protection requirements as
integral parts of water resources planning and project development.

4.2.5 Wildlife Policy

The Wildlife Policy was developed in 2006 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The
prime objective of the policy is to create conducive environment for the preservation, development and
sustainable utilization of Ethiopia‟s wildlife resources for social and economic development and for the integrity
of the biosphere/biodiversity. It covers a wide range of policies and strategies relating, amongst others, to wildlife
conservation and protected areas with four categories from the highest protection ranking ‘National Park’,
followed by ‘Game Reserve’ and ‘Sanctuary’ to ‘Controlled Hunting Area’.

4.2.6 National Population Policy

This Policy was issued in April 1993 and aims at closing the gap between high population growth and
low economic productivity through a planned reduction in population growth combined with an increase
in economic returns. With specific reference to natural resources, the main objectives of National
Population Policy are:

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 Making population and economic growth compatible and the overexploitation of natural
resources unnecessary;
 Ensuring spatially balanced population distribution patterns, with a view to maintaining
environmental security and extending the scope of development activities;
 Improving productivity of agriculture and introducing off-farm/nonagricultural activities for the
purpose of employment diversification;
 Maintaining and improving the carrying capacity of the environment by taking appropriate
environmental protection and conservation measures.

4.2.7 Policy on Public Health

Ethiopia's health policy was issued in 1993, with the aim of giving special attention to women and
children, to neglected regions and segments of the population, and to victims of manmade disasters. The
priority areas of the policy are in the field of Information Education and Communication (IEC) of health
to create awareness and behavioral change of the society towards health issues, emphasis on the control
of communicable disease, epidemics, and on diseases that are related to malnutrition and poor living
condition, promotion of occupational health and safety, the development of environmental health,
rehabilitation of health infrastructures, appropriate health service management system, attention to
traditional medicines, carrying out applied health research, provision of essential medicines, and
expansion of frontline and middle level health professionals. The Government in its Plan for Accelerated
and Sustained Development to End Poverty (PASDEP) document has reaffirmed its commitment to
accelerate progress on maternal and child health and to reduce in child and maternal mortality rates by
expanding the provision of essential health and nutrition services to the poor.

4.2.8 Ethiopia water Policies and Proclamations

Ethiopian Water Resources Management Policy is set out in Proclamation No. 197/2000 (the "WRM
Proclamation"). The policy is intended to promote comprehensive and integrated water resources
management and optimal utilization of available water resources for sustainable socioeconomic
development. Inter alia, the policy calls for conservation and protection of water resources as an integral
feature of the water resources planning and development process, and therefore mandatory EIAs of all
water resource development projects (see Chapter 5 of the EPA's 2003 EIA Procedural Guidelines which
cover water development for agriculture and hydropower, as well as associated resettlement). The

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proclamation entrusts the Ministry of Water Resources (now MoWE) with broad powers to plan,
manage, use, administer and protect water resources, including the promotion and implementation of
irrigation projects.
The Policy was elaborated in the Ethiopian Water Sector Strategy (2001), also known as the National
Water Strategy. The purpose of the Strategy is to translate the Policy into action, with the following
specific objectives:
 Improving the living standard and general socio-economic well-being of the Ethiopian people.
 Realizing food self-sufficiency and food security in the country.
 Extending water supply and sanitation coverage to large segments of the society, thus achieving
improved environmental health conditions.
 Generating additional hydro-power.
 Enhancing the contribution of water resources in attaining national development priorities.
 Promoting the principles of integrated water resources management.

The Strategy is a comprehensive document, covering all aspects of water resources development and
management. Inter alia, it calls for mandatory EIAs for all water projects, and promotes gender
mainstreaming (see Section 3.3.12). From an environmental point of view, it is interesting that the
Strategy includes a call to "Reclaim existing wetlands" by drainage and other means, but not for their
conservation or the protection of wetland values. MoWE sub-sectoral policies include Irrigation,
Hydropower, and Water Supply and Sanitation, each with an associated Strategy. In 2002 MoWR
published the Water Sector Development Program (WSDP) covering the period 2002- 2016 (MoWR
2002). This defines concrete interventions in terms of projects and programmes to achieve the water
policy objectives, using the guidelines set under the National Water Strategy. The WSDP is a
development program with a 15 year planning period from 2002-2016, divided into three five year
development programs:

4.2.9 National and Regional Conservation Strategies

The major environmental and natural resources management issues facing Ethiopia are well documented
in the Conservation Strategy of Ethiopia (FDRE, 1997). The CSE sets out detailed strategies and action
plans as well as the institutional arrangements required for the implementation of sectoral as well as
cross-sectoral interventions for the management of Ethiopia's natural, man-made and cultural resources.

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The CSE provides a strategic framework detailing principles, guidelines and strategies for the effective
management of the environment.
The most important areas that are considered in the document include the following:
 Improvement of soils, crop and animal husbandry for sustainable agricultural production.
 Management of forest and woodland resources.
 Development of water resources for irrigation, hydroelectricity and water supply.
 Rangeland management and pastoral development.
 Promotion of individual participation in sustainable development of natural, artificial and
cultural resources, and environmental protection.
 Land resource use policy and strategies; physical land use planning.
 Integration of social, cultural and gender issues in sustainable resources and environmental
management.
 Development of environmental education, public awareness and human resources.
Implementation of the CSE required the formulation of region-specific conservation strategies in line
with Federal environmental policy, which was approved in 1997.
Since the early 1990s, the Federal government of Ethiopia has undertaken a number of Initiatives to
develop regional, national and Sector strategies for the environmental conservation and protection.
Paramount amongst these was conservation strategy of Ethiopia (CSA, 1996). It provided a strategic
framework for integrating environmental planning into new and existing policies, programs and projects.
It is an important policy document, which views environmental management as part of the economic
development. In particular, it recognizes the importance of incorporating environmental factors into
development activities from the outset, so that planners may take into account environmental protection
as an essential component of economic, social and cultural development.

4.2.10 ETHIOPIA ‘S National Biodiversyty Starategy and Action Plan

This National Biodiversity Strategy and Action plan has been prepared to guide
national efforts in the conservation, sustainable utilization and access and fair and
Equitable benefit sharing undertakings in the Country. It provides information on
biodiversity resource bases and its values as well as ecosystem services. Further provides
information on the various threats to the country's biodiversity and ecosystem services,

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and analyzes institutional and legal frameworks that govern biodiversity resources of the
country.
Biodiversity and the ecosystems of the country are facing multitudes of interlinked pressures which
include habitat conversion unsustainable utilization, invasive alien species, climate change,
replacement of farmers' varieties/breeds and pollution. These resulted in eventual fragmentation and
degradation of natural habitats;disturbance of ecosystem functions and loss of biodiversity and
ecosystem services.
It is stated that habitat los can be addressed through conservation of currently viable ecosystems and
restoration of degraded ones. The emphasis being preventing the lose of high-biodiversity value habitats
such as primary forest and wetlands and rehabilitation of degraded eco-systems. This can be achieved
through adopting relevant technologies and innovations that increase productivities of farms, which will
eventually decrease requirements for new agricultural land and pressure on lose of high-biodiversity
value habitats.

4.3 Environmental laws and legislations

Based on the environmental protection policies, conservation strategies, the constitution and other
adopted international conventions, the country has published a number of Proclamations and guidelines.
Among which the following has cited in this EIA study according to their relevance.

4.3.1 Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (1995)

The Constitution is the supreme law of the country all other policies, regulations and institutional
frameworks must comply with. The Constitution states that People have the right to full consultation and
expression of views in the planning and implementation of environment policies and projects which
affect them directly or indirectly. The concepts of sustainable development and environmental rights are
enshrined in the Constitution of the FDRE. Article 44 of the Constitution of the FDRE states that all
persons who have been displaced or whose livelihood has been affected because of state programs have
the right to commensurate monetary or alternative means of compensation, including relocation with
adequate state assistance. However, the compensation does not take into account the value of land.

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4.3.2 Environmental Impact Assessment (Proclamation No. 299/2002)

This Proclamation aims primarily at making the EIA mandatory for categories of projects specified
under a directive issued by the EPA. The law specifies the projects and activities that will require an
environmental impact assessment (EIA). The proponent of the project must prepare the EIA following
the format specified in the legislation. The EPA will then review the EIA and either approve (with or
without conditions) or reject it. Under this legislation, the EPA has to prepare procedures, regulations,
guidelines and standards for the EIA.

4.3.3 Environmental Pollution Control Proclamation (Proc. No. 300/2002)

This is based on the right of each citizen to have a healthy environment and the obligation to protect the
environment with a primary objective to provide the basis for developing environmental standards and
the “polluter pays” principle becomes applied to all persons. IT empowers the EPA with a mandate of
creating Environmental Inspectors with the authority to ensure implementation and enforcement of
environmental standards.

4.3.4 Ethiopian Water Resources Management Proclamation (No. 197/2000).

This Proclamation was issued in March 2000 and has provisions for water resources management,
protection and utilization to ensure that water resources of the country are protected and utilized for the
highest social and economic benefits. The Proclamation defines the ownership of water resources,
powers and duties of the supervising body, inventory of water resources and registry of actions, permits
and professional licenses, fees and water charges. According to the Proclamation, all water resources of
the country are the common property of the Ethiopian people and the State.

4.3.5 Wildlife Conservation and Development Proclamation (No. 541/2007)

This Proclamation came into effect in August 2007 and its major objectives are to conserve, manage,
develop and properly utilize the wildlife resources of Ethiopia; to create conditions necessary for
discharging government obligations assumed under treaties regarding the conservation, development
and utilization of wildlife; and to promote wildlife-based tourism and to encourage private investment.

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4.3.6 Forests Conservation, Development and Utilization (Proclamation No. 542/2007)

Issued in September 2007, provides for the development, conservation and sustainable utilization of
forests in satisfying the needs of the society. The Proclamation categorizes types of forest ownership as
private forest and state forest. The Proclamation then goes on to give some specific direction for the
development and utilization of private and state forests. It contains provisions for the Promotion of the
Utilization of Private Forest.

4.3.7 Proclamation on Rural Land Administration and Use (Proc. No. 456/2005)

The objective of the Proclamation is to conserve and develop natural resources in rural areas by
promoting sustainable land use practices. In order to encourage farmers and pastoralists to implement
measures to guard against soil erosion, the Proclamation introduces a Rural Land Holding Certificate,
which provides a level of security of tenure. According to the Proclamation where land, which has
already been registered, is to be acquired for public works, compensation commensurate with the
improvements made to the land shall be paid to the land use holder or substitute land shall be offered.

4.3.8 Proclamation on Expropriation of Land Holdings and Payment of Compensation

(Proclamation No. 1161/2019)
The main objectives of this proclamation are to define the basic principles that have to be taken into
consideration on determining compensation to a person whose landholding has been expropriated and to
define organs that shall have the power to determine and the responsibility to pay the compensation.

According to this proclamation a landholder whose holding has been expropriated is entitled to payment
of compensation for his property situated on the land and for permanent improvements he made to such
land. Displacement compensation is given for a rural landholder whose landholding has been
permanently expropriated and landholder or holders of common land whose land holding has been
provisionally expropriated.

4.3.8 Research and Conservation of Cultural Heritage (Proclamation No. 209/2000)

It provides legal framework for Research and Conservation of Cultural Heritage and established the
Authority for Research and Conservation of Cultural Heritage (ARCCH) as a government institution
with a juridical personality. In addition, it has provisions for management, exploration, discovery and
study of cultural heritage and miscellaneous provisions.

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4.3.9 Water Users Associations

Article 27(2) states of the WRM Proclamation states that Water Users Associations (WUAs) may be
established upon the initiation and will of the users. Article 27(1) of the Proclamation allows the MoWE
(described as the "Supervising body" in the proclamation) to encourage the establishment of
Associations of Water Users Associations (AWUAs), in consultation with appropriate public bodies "as
it deems necessary to utilize water for beneficial uses".
The WRM Proclamation is framework legislation, requiring elaboration by means of regulations and
directives. Some regulations have already been adopted pursuant to Article 27 of the WRM
Proclamation.

4.3.10 Environmental Guidelines

The GoE, mainly through the EPA, has published a number of guidelines for the EIA process. These
cover EIA procedures in general, the review of EIA documents, and specific sectors: including that of
irrigation.

4.3.10.1 Environmental Impact Assessment Guidelines on Irrigation (EPA, 2004)

The Environmental Impact Assessment Guidelines on Irrigation Cover all types of irrigation projects
including water harvesting, storage, conveyance, on-farm distribution and drainage etc. It aims to assist
in developing irrigation projects that address sustainable development issues.

Major issues and potential impacts are highlighted with appropriate enhancement and mitigation
measures to be taken during preparation and assessment phases.

4.3.10.2 Guidelines for Dams and Reservoirs (EPA, 2004)

Provide guidance on the construction and operation of dams and reservoirs for various purposes. Major
issues and potential impacts with appropriate enhancement and mitigation measures to be integrated in
designing, construction, EIA and management phases.

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4.4 Institutional Framework

4.4.1 Government administrative structure

The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia is administered through a hierarchical system as follows:
Regions (National Regional States), Zones (sub Regions), Woredas (similar to districts) and Kebeles
(similar to parishes). The powers of regional governments include establishment of a State
administration that advances self-government, protection of the Federal Constitution, enactment of the
State constitutions and subordinate laws; formulation and execution of economic, social and
development policies, strategies and plans of the State; administration of land and other natural
resources in accordance with Federal laws. The zone, Woreda and Kebele deals with local
administration within their respective jurisdictions.

4.4.2 Institutional framework (The federal EPA)

In 1995, the EPA was created by means of the Environmental Protection Authority Establishment
Proclamation (Proclamation No. 9/1995). At the same time, an Environmental Protection Council (EPC)
was established, with representatives from most of the federal ministries to supervise the EPA‟s
activities. The Director-General of the EPA was to serve as the Secretary to the Council and the EPA
took on the duties previously assigned to the Ministry of Natural Resources Development and
Environmental Protection (MoNREP). The mandate and duties of the EPA were subsequently clarified
in the Establishment of Environmental Protection Organs Proclamation (Proclamation No. 295/2002).
The federal EPA is responsible for:

 Establishment of a system for environmental assessment of public and private sector projects as
well as social and economic development policies, strategies, laws, and programs of federal
level functions.
 Review, decision-making and follow-up implementation of environmental impact study reports
for projects, as well as social and economic development programs or plans where they are
subject to federal licensing, execution or supervision; also proposed activities subject to
execution by a federal agency, likely to entail inter- or trans-regional and international impacts.
 Notification of its decision to the concerned licensing agency at or before the time specified in
the appropriate law or directives.
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 Auditing and regulation of implementation of the conditions attached to the decision.

 Provision of advice and technical support to the regional environmental agencies, sectoral
institutions and proponents.
 Making its decisions and the EIA report available to the public.
 Resolution of complaints and grievances in good faith and at the appropriate time.
 Development of incentives or disincentive structures required for compliance with regional
environmental agency requirements.

4.5 African Development Bank Integrated Safeguard System

The AfDB adopted the Integrated Safeguard System (ISS) as a tool for identifying risks, reducing
development costs and improving project sustainability. The ISS promotes best practices in these areas
but also encourages greater transparency and accountability and protects the most vulnerable
communities. The bank has now adopted five Operating Safeguards (OSs) to achieve the goals and the
optimal functioning of the Integrated Safeguards System (ISS). These OSs are:

 Operation Safeguard 1: Environmental and Social Assessment: this is an overarching safeguard of

determining a projects environmental and social category and the resulting environmental and social
assessment requirements.

 Operational Safeguard 2: Resettlement land acquisition, population displacement and

compensation: this consolidates policy commitments and requirements contained in the Bank’s
policy on involuntary resettlement, and incorporates a number of refinements designed to improve
the operational effectiveness of those requirements.

 Operational Safeguard 3: Biodiversity and ecosystem services: this seeks to conserve biological
diversity and promote the sustainable use of natural resources with a focus on integrated water
resources management in operational requirements.

 Operational Safeguard 4: Pollution prevention and control, hazardous materials and resource
efficiency: this covers the range of key impacts of pollution, waste, and hazardous materials for
which there are agreed international conventions, as well as comprehensive industry-specific and
regional, including greenhouse gas accounting. The Bank’s new screening tool for climate change
risk helps in screening and categorising a project in terms of its vulnerability to the risks of climate
change.

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 Operational Safeguard 5: Labour conditions, health and safety: this relates to workers conditions,
rights and protection from abuse or exploitation.

The IAIP support program has been assigned a category 1 by the African Development Bank in line
with the guidelines within the bank’s ISS because the cumulative potential environmental and social
impacts associated with the construction and operation phase of the works which the Bank intends
providing funding for, could be significant and irreversible. Furthermore some of the project works
(provision of access roads and installation of water supply pipelines) could potentially result in the
displacement of farmers and their livelihood support farm lands.

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Table 9: Africa Development Bank Applicable Operational Safeguard Policies

Operational Triggered? Explanation

Safeguard
OS 1: Environmental Yes The Project will finance a variety of activities that will consist of
infrastructures including construction of pump stations, ponds, link
and Social Assessment
access roads, installation of irrigation channels and supply mains to
connect the pump station, ponds and farming areas. The cumulative
environmental and social risks associated with these kinds of
project are significant. It is therefore possible that the project may
fall into Category 1.Thus ESIAs and Environmental Management
Plans (EMP) has been prepared.
OS 2: Involuntary Yes Field assessment observations on the site for the irrigation project
resettlement land indicated that the site is sparsely inhabited by settlers with most
settlements organized into small towns. The project area has
acquisition, population abundant vast plain irrigable land which provides enormous
displacement and opportunity for carrying realignment of infrastructures at design
stage to minimize resettlement of farmers or their properties.
compensation: Thus there is high probability that no major resettlement will occur
as a result of project activities. In the event few resettlement actions
become necessary, compensation program is to be carried to free
the sites and right of ways from its current occupants or farmers.
OS 3: Biodiversity, No Tekeze irrigation system main components do not involve
construction of large scale structures like irrigation Dam near or
renewable resources
inside the Kafta Humera National Park. There is excess cultivated
and ecosystem services: land (155,000ha) outside the National Park and the 30,000ha
command area needed for irrigation can be easily met without
encroaching the National Park. Thus the Surface pump based
irrigation system is less likely to significantly affect the
biodiversity, natural or critical habitats.
OS 4: Pollution Yes The residual impacts of the Tekeze Humera Irrigation project
components to be supported by the ADB may have the potential to
prevention and control,
affect the environment and human health if that do not meet
hazardous materials applicable environmental standards during construction and
operations.
and resource
efficiency:
OS 5: Labour Yes The construction and operational phases of the project will involve
the recruitment of temporary and permanent labor and staff
conditions, health and
members. Thus observance of health and safety aspects will
safety become essential.

Operational Safeguards (OS) 1 on Environmental Assessment have been triggered because the project
activities have the potential to generate significant environmental and social impacts to identified
receptors within its area of influence. Operational Safeguard (OS2) has also been triggered because it

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could displace households and farmers from their settlements and farmlands. Operational Safeguard (OS
3) has not been triggered due to the fact that the Tekeze irrigation system main components do not
involve construction of large scale structures like irrigation Dam near or inside the Kafta Humera
National Park. There is excess cultivated land (155,000ha) outside the National Park and the 30,000ha
command area needed for irrigation can be easily met without encroaching the National Park. Thus the
Surface pump based irrigation system is less likely to significantly affect the biodiversity, natural or
critical habitats. Operational Safeguard (OS 4) on Pollution Prevention and Hazardous Substances is
triggered since construction and operation will involve use and disposal of different types of wastes.
Operational Safeguard (OS 5) on Labour, Working Conditions, Occupational Health and Safety is
applicable since the construction and operation phases will involve a significant number of construction
and operation workers.

4.6 International Environmental Agreements

Ethiopia has ratified many international conventions on natural resources and the environmental the
relevant ones to this study include
 Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES
 Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC
 Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD
 The UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD):
 The Cartagena Protocol on Bio-Safety to the Convention on Biological Diversity:
 Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (World
Heritage Convention
 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (UNESCO
 International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.
 Convention on the Control of Trans boundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their
disposal (Basel Convention
 Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (Stockholm Convention on POPs):
 Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS, Bonn
Convention):

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CHAPTER V: PROJECT ALTERNATIVES

5.1 Background
This study considered possible project alternatives which include alternative sites, activities, products,
materials, technology and waste management procedures among others. The project report seeks to give
a detailed description of the project area, technology, resources and other inputs that are to be put in
place so as to promote the best working models that could be adopted to prevent injurious activities to
the supporting resources.

5.2 No Action scenarios

This alternative implies the project does not proceed thereby enhancing the status quo. The status of the
environmental resources neither improves nor worsens since the state of the resources is not interfered
with at all. The „No Action‟ has various negative and possibly long term impacts to the area. Some of
its consequences include:-
 Increased water losses and wastage in the existing irrigation schemes thereby bringing about
water scarcity
 Loss in productivity of the land
 Increase deforestation and land degradation for additional land seeking
 Reduce animal husbandry efficiency
 Reduce employment opportunities and aggravate un employment
 No generation of capital or no prosperity

5.3 Alternative Irrigation Methods

There are several irrigation methods that can be used in the project area, from the most appropriate
method has to be chosen that promote effectiveness in the water conservation measures. There was a
consideration of various methods that would be used in the areas so as to ensure water conservation
measures are promoted. Some of the methods considered are sprinkler Irrigation, Flood Irrigation, drip
irrigation and surface irrigation and the latter in which water flows to the land by gravity has been
selected due its convenience to the area under consideration.

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5.4 Alternative Design and layout

This project can be considered to be more or less site specific. From the initial feasibility study report for
the intake of the proposed canals, the intake sites are appropriate as they are located on higher levels
from the land to be irrigated. Some of the factors that influenced the choice of the locations include the
agro-climatic conditions of the area, the soils, water availability and the drainage system in the areas.
These can be seen to be the most appropriate site locations for the activities because of close proximity
to the sources of water to be used for these activities and for the convenience of the water sustainability
and regeneration. A number of alternative designs and layouts have been considered in the design
process. The major options include:

5.4.1 Irrigation technology

Soil and water conditions in the PCA are difficult. In most of the area, especially in the southern parts it
will be extremely important to minimize water applications so as to guard against the risk of
groundwater leaching effect and secondary Stalinization. Pressurized irrigation is an excellent technique
for managing water efficiently, but requires higher levels of investment than surface irrigation (for
pumps, pipes and sprinklers), has higher running costs (more complex technology) and higher skills
requirements for operation and water scheduling. The risks to soil quality will be minimized (a) by
excluding sensitive areas, (b) by prioritizing drainage, and (c) by monitoring groundwater and soil
quality. Nevertheless, with surface irrigation project benefits may drop with time because of the
development of water logging and salinity.

5.4.2 Flood management alternatives:

At present the command area is highly affected by poor drainage pattern and higher flooding. To greater
extent majority of the command area has exposed to soil water logging effect every year. This maintains
soil fertility and allows flood recession but also destroys crops and prevents access for sustainable and
effective project implementation.

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5.4.3 Command area layout

The command area layout is determined by gravity for both irrigation and drainage, and consequently
has many choices. One consideration is the inclusion or exclusion of existing settlements in the system
of channelization including urban peripheries planned for future expansion.

5.4.4 Road layout

The road layout is based on principal service roads along the main and secondary canals. Within the
scheme subsidiary roads run mainly north-south. This choice reflects both the landscape, which
basically drains from north to south have economic and administrative links, which are to the market
and on the main north-south road which crosses most of the project kebeles.

5.4.5 Pump station establishment

The detail Tekeze-humera surface irrigation project design have fixed six (6) pump station sites around
heilegen which is about 15 km north-east of humera town though most of the fixed stations are feasible
in terms of technical, geological stability and to some extent environmental aspect.

5.5 The Alternative operating system

An effective operating system could possibly increase the efficiency of the project and un doubtable
helpful to achieve the expected ultimate goal. Alternative operating systems that should consider during
the design process may include 24-hour irrigation halves the flows needed to a particular location and
therefore reduces investment costs for channels, but farmers have to be available at appropriate times
including in darkness. It was considered unrealistic to expect efficient 24-hour irrigation under the
conditions of the project area. The alternative is to double the size of the main canal, with associated
costs.Various rotation periods were analyzed (the length of time between watering). The
recommendation for a fixed rotation could make on the basis of fairness, so that no farmers would have
to water more than the reasonably fixed conventional schedule. Even to wide approach this can help to
regulate the excess soil water logging effect and some disputes emanating from lack of local
management in experience and unfair irrigation water utilization.

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5.6 Alternative management systems

Based on the nature of the project, administrative structure, cultural tie of the community and
geographical location and settlement pattern of the project beneficiaries different approaches of
management alternatives could be proposed to this project. Accordingly, the on-farm and off-farm
management structure could effectively well adapt to this project. By considering the social settings and
administrative base and to some extent geographical factors the on-farm approach could be effectively
applicable and strongly recommended.

CHAPTER VI: IMPACT ANALYSIS AND MITIGATION MEASURES

This chapter presents the assessment of environmental impacts likely to arise as a result of implementing
the proposed irrigation project. Each issue has been dealt based on its nature, predicted impact, extent,
duration, intensity and probability and the stakeholders and/or values affected. Although impacts has
been analyzed and quantified as much as possible, many of the impacts of the THIP will be indirect. In
such cases, and to indicate significances a qualitative assessment has been used and value judgments are
part of the study which are experience based opinions. As in most impact studies, the analyses focus on
potential problems and their solutions rather than on the project's overall benefits. However, where
opportunities for enhancement occur these are identified and outlined. The analysis is divided into two
main sections: the Construction Phase and the Operation Phase.

6.1 Background

Irrigation has contributed significantly to poverty alleviation, food security, and improving the quality of
life for rural populations. However, the sustainability of irrigated agriculture is being questioned, both
economically and environmentally. The increased dependence on irrigation has not been without its
negative environmental effects. Inadequate attention to factors other than the technical engineering and
projected economic implications of large-scale irrigation or drainage schemes in Africa has all too
frequently led to great difficulties. Decisions to embark on these costly projects have often been made in
the absence of sound objective assessments of their environmental and social implications.

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It is essential that irrigation projects be planned and managed in the context of overall river basin and
regional development plans, including both the upland catchment areas and the catchment areas
downstream. According to the initial environmental evaluation during the scoping phase each actual and
potential adverse impact that emanate as a result of this project has been identified and prioritized based
on their significance, nature, magnitude, reversibility and scope of coverage.

6.2 Identification of Impacts

The anticipated impacts have been predicted and evaluated using standard methods of impacts
identification. Several approaches to impacts identification were used such as screening and REA
checklists and matrices to identify the main sources for potential impacts from the proposed activities.
Public consultations also played a key role in the process as the local communities are the people who
have experienced and devised means to address these impacts.

Irrigation projects have the potential to generate a wide range of both positive and negative physical,
biological and social changes with possible consequences to communities and the environment ranging
from onsite to neighboring areas. Based on the detailed EIA study of this proposed irrigation project the
likely impacts that are expected to occur could be grouped into,
 Positive or negative impacts
 Direct or indirect impacts
 Long-term or short term in occurrence
 local and downstream effects
The proposed project induces both positive and negative impacts with cumulative nature in some cases.
Both potential positive and negative impacts are predicted to arise during construction and operation
phases and measures should be taken to manage or avoid the negative ones.

6.2.1 Positive Impacts

Induction of the proposed surface (pumping) irrigation project to the area is expected to bring a variety
of positive socio-economic and environmental impacts. Thus, the major potential positive impacts can
briefly summarize as:

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Enhance agricultural productivity, food security and reduce poverty: New development of such
large project on this previously un utilized arable land with sufficient water source would boost the
agricultural productivity of the area and this in turn help to achieve food security. The proposed
development project is meant to bring about land productivity and over economic property through
integrated agriculture and agro - industry including livestock development.

Creation of Job opportunities: Implementation of the project will generate job opportunities for both
skilled and semiskilled as well as labor in general and for the local population in particular. After the
completion of the irrigation structure, it is expected that the land will be certified for the existing
individual owners and extra land will be re allocated to landless members of the community who will
engage more farmers and create job opportunities.

Increase efficient use of water resource of the area: Efficient use of water resources is crucial for the
development of country's socio-economic development; hence expansion of the proposed irrigation
project will enable to use available Tekeze River water resource efficiently and effectively through
pumping irrigation, which otherwise flow freely for years.

Efficient use of land resources: The current use of the proposed land is partly grazing and partly under
rain fed agriculture, thus developing it into irrigated farm would provide better production and efficient
use of the land bringing an overall economic improvement at local and national levels.

Improved Infrastructure: The expansion of the access roads into the villages will ultimately lead to
opening up to the markets. There have been many challenges that arise out of the undeveloped roads
especially in transportation of farm products during the rainy seasons and now with the opening up of
these areas, accessibility shall be made easy. Consequently, the improved revenue growth will
precipitate the development of other social amenities.

Gender encouragement and benefits: Like other community members, both women and men will
benefit from the agricultural transformation and employment opportunities of the project equally.
Furthermore, women will be more benefited by running shops, bars and petty trades in the project area
during the construction and operational periods. As a result, more women will likely be engaged in
income-generating activities by selling local products and services to the workers. After the completion

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of the project, more and more agricultural and non-agricultural income generating opportunities will be
created for women.
Table 10: Summary of Positive Impacts of the proposed irrigation project during Operation phase
Planned
I
Increased cropping intensity on some 30,000 ha due to the provision of dry season irrigation water

Increased crop yields due to improved drainage, inputs and crop husbandry
Increased crop diversity due to an improvement of land capability by irrigation and drainage and
improved access to seeds and markets
Improved livestock husbandry and productivity
Increased and stabilized household incomes from agriculture for some 10,00 farm households
Increased secondary economic activities - agriculturally-related goods and services - and associated local

employment, including for scheme operation and maintenance

Improved institutional capacity of government organizations responsible for water management and

agricultural development at regional, woreda and kebele levels

Improved road access, with many associated benefits
Social development, particularly due to the establishment and operation of democratic, gender-sensitive
and transparent water management organizations at different levels
Reduced impact of flooding
II Anticipated positive impacts

Improved adult literacy in command area due to adult literacy programs

Improved health for command area households due to multiple health initiatives, combined with

Improved literacy, women's status, road access and household incomes

Improved status and quality of life of women in the command area due to multiple community

Development initiatives especially provision of domestic water supplies, increased household incomes,

Adult literacy, improved health, better access to fuel and inclusion in community decision making
Mechanisms
Conservation of fish and wildlife in command area and associated rivers due to establishment of habitat

protection and fishery management mechanisms and increased environmental awareness

Reservoir fishery
Restoration of wetland ecosystem functions adjacent to command area due to wetland restoration program

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6.2.2 Negative impacts of the project

Both biophysical and social negative impacts and their possible mitigation measures are compiled in this
part of the document which are either quantified or qualitatively described in terms of significance or
value judgments based on professional experience opinion. The analyses focus on potential problems
and their solutions rather than on the project's overall benefits, dealing in both construction and
operation Phases. It should be noted that measures to many of the issues discussed need to be
implemented in Pre-construction Phase. Poor water quality below an irrigation project may render the
water unfit for other users, harm aquatic species, aquatic weed growth. Reducing the river flow changes
flood plain land use and ecology and can cause salt water intrusion in the river and into the groundwater
of adjacent lands.

Impacts on endangered species and vegetation: Increase clearing of vegetation will be immediately
noticed impact so as to lay canals for water conveyance resulting in loss of biodiversity. Most of the
wild animals that used to inhabit in the area had moved to less disturbed areas elsewhere like Kafta-
Sheraro National Park areas along the Tekeze River adjacent to the project area, those species like
Anubis baboon, Vervet monkeys and hyenas and which still found within the command area will further
migrate due to this project.

Loss of Land and Displacements: The average land size within the project area was found to be
between 2 to 5 ha per household. The individual land owners may be affected through land
repossessions to pave way for canal laying. The initial assessment established that 325 landowners are
likely to be affected by the proposed activities.

Impact on Soil Erosion and degradation: An increase in the soil erosion due to construction activities
that involves excavation and vegetation clearing is predicted. Some of the loose soils accumulated in the
area will be swept away by winds and rainwater leading to siltation which is detrimental to the aquatic
life.

Soil Compaction: The high traffic especially of machineries and the construction workforce within the
project area is likely to lead to compaction of the soil structure further leading to reduced capacity of the
water to infiltrate into the soil thereby affecting the soil-water balance and the hydrological cycle

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largely. Adverse soil modification usually occurs in irrigation schemes mainly due to the low efficiency
of irrigation systems.

Impacts of Inappropriate Reservoir Management: Improper reservoir management could result in

inadequate water released for daily command area demands; excessive water released resulting in
inadequate supplies to meet full dry season demands, thermal stratification, inadequate or no
environmental flow releases, insufficient detention of flood flows, and excessive releases with
inadequate warning to downstream residents, some infrastructure in the command and even the project's
infrastructure could easily affected for these reasons.

Pollution of Rivers and Wetlands: The construction of the intake canals and water conveyance
systems if not well controlled could deposit resultant construction wastes such as sediments from the
earthworks, oils and fuels into the rivers and also through surface run offs. This may ultimately lead to
potential degradation of the water quality especially for downstream users and adversely affect the
aquatic life.

Increased Traffic: There is meant to be an increased traffic flow into the project area varying from
heavy to light and fast vehicles for the movement of the construction materials. The access roads largely
made of earthen roads could result in increased dust and consequent increased traffic especially at the
daily onset and offset of the construction works. This is likely to affect the health of the residents and
the aesthetic value of the areas.

Extraction of Construction Materials: There is a heavy demand for construction materials in bulk
such as sand, gravel and rocks. These will be extracted from the local sources. The extraction and
transport of these materials is likely to result in the distortion of the ground structure, vegetation loss,
dust emission, oil spills, noise and potential for accidents. Further, the quarries and borrow pits
associated with extraction of raw materials may collect water which will form ponds. Such stagnant
water is highly suitable breeding grounds for mosquitoes and other diseases vectors.

Construction Wastes: The construction activities will ultimately lead to the production of solid wastes
primarily the soil excavated and rock debris, metal cut offs plastics, cardboards, paper, wood and waste
concrete among several others. The effects of improperly managed wastes could be far reaching and

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may include aspects of environmental pollution, nuisance to the local communities, and increased
vermin among other undesirable effects. During the construction phase liquid wastes including grey and
black water, concrete washing and canal watering, run off from workshop areas are likely to cause
imminent threats to surface and groundwater.

Pollution; Dust and Air Quality Concerns: The construction activities mostly the excavation of the
canal will generate a significant amount of dust which may be blown by the wind and construction
vehicles. This is likely to affect the workers and the residents of the project area and its environs.
Construction vehicles and other plant on site may generate a lot of smoke from the diesel engines
leading to air pollution. Noise pollution emanating from construction machinery and vehicles will
impact livestock and wild animals.

Impacts on climate change\ greenhouse effect: Climate change the cumulative effect of combined
emissions of three major Green House Gases (GHGs)namely carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous
oxide to the atmosphere over many years, is directly or indirectly attributed to human activities and
increase the global warming. Greenhouse gas emissions from irrigation development could conceivably
be generated from two sources when water is released and applied to the fields, there may be a change in
cultural practices, as well as in the enterprise mix on the farm. These changes could significantly alter
the production mix, input demand for factors of production, and may lead to increased emissions of
GHGs. Major Sources of such emissions include the application of fertilizers, pesticides and manure to
crops, the decomposition of crop residues, production of legume crops leading to fixing of nitrogen in
the soil, and soil carbon sequestration through tillage practices. In addition to direct emissions, irrigated
production may lead to some indirect and induced emissions related to the technology of production
applied to various crops and lead to emissions. Climate change is sensible in the area since the arid and
semi- arid climate with aggravation of the expansion of Sahara desert and local desertification, in recent
years a clearly visible climate change effect can be seen in the long term.

Poor Construction Techniques: The construction of the main intake, laying pipe works, canals
construction must be done appropriately and to the recommended engineering designs. Inappropriate
construction techniques will lead to poor water regulation, intensive manual labor use and eventually
conflicts in the water intake.

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Water Quality Degradation: The quality of the water is within the permissible limits as provided in
the Environment Management (Water Quality) Regulations. However, intensified use of pesticides and
fertilizers can lead to ground water pollution and the Eutrophication of the water bodies thereby
polluting the water bodies. The disposal of containers used to pack agrochemicals if not properly
disposed can also find their way into nearby water bodies, leading to pollution and probable poisoning of
the aquatic life.

Water logging, soil salinization and sedimentation: Inappropriate management of the water like
excess irrigation and inadequate drainage will lead to water logging and leaching of water soluble
nutrients to levels where they are no longer available for use by plants. Waterlogged conditions will
adversely affect growth of plants including crops and may also encourage change in natural composition
of vegetation by suppressing some and encouraging others. Cultivation along the river banks may lead
to the loss of the riparian ecosystems thereby leading to a vulnerability of the soils surrounding the
rivers and thereby leading to collapse and eventual sedimentation into the rivers.

Extended Exposure to Malaria: Malaria is endemic in the area and a major cause of disease and death.
The project is likely to change the pattern of malaria infections during the year, with an extension into
the dry season. Permanent (year-round) malaria is less dangerous than short, intense seasonal
transmission, but malaria will continue to have a very high impact on human health, especially for
children.

Pests and Crop Diseases: Increased acreage of irrigated land may create a more conducive environment
that is favorable for the increase of agricultural pests and plant diseases. Change to a more uniform
environment on the project areas will favor vigorous species adapted to a wide variety of conditions.
Diseases and weeds may spread quickly via the re-use of waste-water and drainage water or by the
application of fertilizers. Increase in pests and plant diseases may affect the farm harvest thereby leading
to food insecurity. Increased pests and crop diseases will trigger increased use of pesticides leading to
water contamination and the degradation of resources.

Impact on water quality for fish: Water quality for fish may be lowered due to increased salinity and
the use of agrochemicals, besides the project will affect water quality by augmenting normal dry season
and wet season flows with drainage flows from fields. These return flows will carry any chemicals

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added to the fields and not immobilized, biodegraded or taken up by plants, including pesticides,
fertilizers and salts.

Impacts on existing infrastructure and future urban land use: An estimated land area of about
30,000 ha will be irrigable under this project which mainly covers land surrounding semi-urban
peripheries of different towns in the Kafta humera Woreda, which is congested by different current
infrastructures and future development plans of roads, water supply, urban expansions. So due to the
building of the project infrastructure like reservoir, canals and other similar schemes it would put
pressure on the available infrastructures and future development plans if mitigation measures are not
early applied.

Impacts on Livestock Husbandry System: The project will reduce the total area of grazing and increase
the demand for labor with knock-on effects on livestock numbers. Livestock, especially cattle, are
essential for the existing mixed farming system and provide many practical services. The project will
reduce the area available for grazing due to direct land taken for the infrastructure. The consequences of
reduced grazing land and exclusion from seasonal fallow or use of post harvest fields for livestock
herding because of which livestock will be more tightly controlled and will survive on even fewer
grazing resources besides labor demand for herding will increase.

Figure 5: Animal population pressure within the command area

Source: field survey for EIA

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6.3. Downstream Effects

Though the current water balance and river flow do not indicate any downstream effect both on the
ecological function of the river and downstream users, it should early consider during the design phase
of the project since future water use scenarios could be changed.

6.3.1 Environmental Flows

Environmental flows are the water that is left in a river, or released into it (e.g., from a reservoir), in
order to maintain features of the ecosystem. In recent years there has been proliferation of methods for
estimating environmental flows, ranging from relatively simple low-confidence desktop approaches to
resource intensive high confidence approaches. The more comprehensive methods are based on detailed
multidisciplinary studies often involving expert discussions and collection of large amounts of
geomorphologic and ecological data. Typically they take many months sometimes years to complete.

Tekeze River served as the core ecological base both for the neighbor forest, wetland-ecosystem, birds
and aquatic species like crocodile and fish. Though recently the stream flow indicates an adequate
release to downstream, it may shrink through time due to over exploitation or climate change incident.
Therefore, to guaranty the stream sustainable ecological function, 20% of the upper stream flow from
the project intake site should be timely planned and monitored during river water utilization.

6.3.2 Water balance scenarios of Tekeze River

Constructions of the Tekeze hydro-electric power dam and upstream water resources development have
altered the Tekeze river natural water balance. Therefore, it is important to get a baseline picture of the
river behavior, taking into account the main recent water resources development and being a control
sample for the scenarios to come. According to many hydrological studies, the mean flow of the Tekeze
River at the frontier between Ethiopia and Sudan is around 20,000 Mm3/year. Based on the baseline
scenario consists of application of the observed hydrology of the previous five years, Tekeze river is
dramatically increased by 0.5-1m height, which is adopted from long experience resident farmers
scenario that shows the upstream is positively affected to reach the river its pick flow even in very dry
and drought season.

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6.3.3 Impacts on downstream users

Though hydro-meteorological data shows the water balance and stream flow of the river dramatically
increased in the previous five years, mainly because of the upper stream dam (Tekeze-hydro power arc
dam), adequate water release for such extensive irrigation system will put another new pressure on
downstream users paired with the future climate variability and changes. At a distance of some 5-8 kms
down to the proposed intake site, existing irrigation practices with an irrigable land of some 102 hectare
is currently growing by local farmers and investors. This figure of irrigated land will be expected to
show progress in the near future, therefore, while estimating net irrigation water demand considering
and monitoring the release to downstream users must be well planned.

6.3.4 Water Regulating and Monitoring System

Knowledge of water resources and their uses is an important basic function, essential to implement other
functions. Other than budget related staff and equipment shortages, separation of tasks (data collection
and data processing including quality data control) is one of the main difficulties.

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CHAPTER VII. PROPOSED MITIGATION MEASURES

7.1 Construction phase

7.1.1 Land required temporary for contractors camps

The contractor will require land to establish camps including site offices, workshops, stores, vehicle
parking, and staff accommodation. Other land will be needed temporarily for aggregate processing and
concrete manufacturing, metal fabrication, back-up power generation, and access.
Mitigation options:
 Allocate land with possibly lowest value for the contractor camp
 Establish a mandatory entitlement related to temporary land
 Apply best practice management in terms in contractor camp management
 Demand the contractor to employ a fulltime community relations officer to establish a formal
Social Responsibility system.
 The contractor's facilities should be completely removed before the end of the contract, unless
required by the Employer, and the land restored to its previous condition or better.

7.1.2 Impacts of Construction Access & Traffic

The contractor needs to access the site using permanent and temporary roads which may existing or
newly constructed ones. Similarly light and heavy construction traffic will use both public roads and the
contractor's temporary roads with associated potential damage.
Mitigation options
 Maximum use should be made of future permanent roads for site access.
 Rights of way for temporary access must be negotiated with all affected individual users, and
any temporary loss of land compensated in accordance with mandatory procedures.
 Temporary access should not be permitted in the sensitive wetlands along the Tekeze River and
elsewhere in and around the PCA.
 The condition of all non-paved public roads and all temporary access routes should be recorded
and agreed with the concerned authorities and/or land users before use,
 Any damage to public roads should be made good to the satisfaction of the road authority
immediately.

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7.1.3 Impacts related to construction materials extraction

The contractor will require bulk materials for construction, specifically earth for embankments, stone for
stone pitching, stonework and rip-rap (channel bed and bank protection), and various grades of
aggregates (sand, gravel, crushed rock) for road construction and concrete; these will have to be sourced
locally. There is a low possibility that asbestos-cement or other asbestos containing materials might be
used in the works, besides materials suppliers (both national and international) have varying standards
with respect to all aspects of corporate social responsibility.

Mitigation options:
 Maximize the re-use of excavated materials in the works, as fill,
 Use quarries and borrow pits carefully to minimize impacts,
 Obtain archaeological clearance for all proposed borrow pits and quarries,
 Strip all available topsoil from borrow pits and quarries and store it safely for use,
 Operate quarries and borrow pits so as to avoid creation of steep slopes,
 Close all borrow pits and quarries in accordance with an approved plan to maximize their long
term biological productivity and minimize health hazards.
 Ensure sand is only sourced from mining agency approval.
 Ban all use of asbestos containing products (clause in the tender documents)
Figure 6. Showing environmental impact of construction material extraction

Source: Survey for the EIA study (construction materials extraction within the PCA)

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7.1.4 Impacts of Spoil Disposal

The project will involve the excavation of soil and rock surplus or unsuitable for re-use in the works.
This will require disposal.
Mitigation options:
 Maximize the reuse of all excavated materials in the Works
 Dispose surplus material at designated sites by approved methods and responsible authority
 No spoil should be disposed in areas of wetlands, watercourses, ecological valuables,
 Obtain environmental clearance for all potential spoil disposal sites in advance.

7.1.5 Pollution control and Waste Management

The construction process will involve creation of various solid and liquid wastes and the use of
materials (fuels, oils and solvents) which may be hazardous for the environments.

Mitigation options:
 Identification of all waste streams, development of appropriate management methods based on
the three Rs (reduce, re-use, recycle),
 The risk of accidents involving hazardous materials such as fuel can be minimized by a standard
best practice approach involving such basic precautions secondary containment of all stationary
fuel stores, vehicle maintenance only on purpose-built impervious concrete platforms with oil
and grease traps, and standard operating practices for refueling mobile equipment.

7.1.6 Worker’s Hazards

To build the project several hundred workers will be involved in construction activities over an
estimated three years. This is highly likely to result in accidents and injuries to workers. Besides
involvement of construction labor on offsite behavior should be governed by code of conduct.

Mitigation options:
 Ensure that the project proponent and financier signal that best practice of health and safety
standards should applied.
 Include standard best practice health and safety provisions in the construction contract
 Include a specific task in the supervision contract concerning health and safety
 Establish an emergency evacuation procedure for casualties to an approved hospital.

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7.1.7 The hazard of Flooding

The project involves the construction of more than 10 km of channels and associated structures in a
floodplain subject to annual floods of varying severity and duration.
Mitigation options:
 Confine work on at risk structures to the dry season,( October to May).
 Ensure that all structures are completed by the end of the dry season or protected temporarily
 Plan and implement comprehensive revegetation measures on exposed surfaces

7.1.8 Direct Loss of Habitats

Channelization of the Tekeze and other rivers for drainage will change the configuration of the river
beds and destroy the existing vegetation on the banks. It will also reduce or sever hydrological
connections to the riverine wetlands and some seasonally flooded grassland, and could alter the
morphology of the confluences with tributaries.
Mitigation options:
 Ensure the detailed design maintains effective hydraulic connections between all tributaries,
Tekeze River and associated wetlands.
 Implement construction activities during the dry season between Nov and May to avoid the
breeding season of the majority of fish species, which is the wet season.
 Construction zone limits should be identified and physically marked, to avoid key habitats,
riverine wetlands and to off-site trafficking and damage.

7.1.9 Impact and disruption on wildlife

The construction process will create noise, dust, lights, vehicle movements, and human activities
throughout the command nearby areas. It will also improve access to sensitive habitats and provide
potential additional markets for natural resources. Especially since the project lay adjacent to
ecologically sensitive areas like the hilegen denser shrub land and Kafta- Sheraro national park needs
due attention during access road pavement.
Mitigation options:
 Use blasting blankets to minimize blasting noise (standard best practice for safety reasons).
 Use directional security lights that minimize casting light outwards or upwards (to reduce
nighttime disorientation of night-flying birds).

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 Physically identify sensitive habitats (specifically, remaining wetlands) and that workers do not
enter these for any reason.
 Establish a ban on the purchase of wildlife products (e.g. skins, feathers) by all members of staff
and workforce.

7.1.10 Permanent loss of land and buildings

The project's infrastructure, canals, drains, roads and flood dykes will occupy some significant size of
land which permanently taken out of cultivation and or residential and farmstead structures. Since the
project command area is highly congested by different development activities and previously planted
infrastructures it needs serious attention during implementation phase of the project.
Mitigation options:
 Compensation for standing crops, trees and any other improvements or assets on the land,
including to non landowners whose assets are affected, i.e. persons with houses or trees on land
legally registered by other names.
 Provision of replacement land of equal quality nearby combined with proportionate cost of
adjustment
 Measures to ensure no loss of income or livelihoods during the transition period to the new
system.

7.1.11 Redistribution and Consolidation of Agricultural Land

The design of the irrigation system is based on standard farm-level irrigation units of 2ha (200 m long
down slope and 100m wide across the slope). Each 2ha unit will be sub-divided into 4 independent plots
of 0.5 ha each. Since at present households have, on average, 4 plots totaling 2.ha, and some percent of
the total land in the PCA will be taken up by irrigation and road infrastructure, this implies
reorganization of existing land holdings and a reduction of the average number of plots to per
household. Procedures and mechanisms for land redistribution for "modern irrigation" are established by
the relevant federal and regional legislation and the regional guideline. Under this process farmers losing
land are allocated replacement land through a proportional adjustment of all the irrigation beneficiaries'
land holdings, at the same time as consolidation of fragmented holdings to enable effective scheme
management.

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The project design assumes that the new WUAs will design and construct the necessary field ditches and
field drains, and that farmers will themselves be responsible for the precise land leveling which is
necessary for effective water management in irrigated vertisols. In addition extra labor will be needed
for preparation of the new land; patterns of access will be changed.

7.1.12 Interruption of Access

The project will involves constructing main canals, drains and many field ditches. The canals will be
kept full of water throughout the year to minimize seepage losses and the drains too partly. Except for
the field drains, all channels will be sufficiently wide to represent a barrier to walking.
Mitigation options:
 Construct additional bridges and crossings as their need becomes apparent.

7.1.13 Impacts on endangered species and vegetation loss

The vast vegetation clearing will lead to loss of biodiversity especially of organisms that are prevalent in
the areas. The area is also a home to many bird species and animals and therefore biodiversity loss will
lead to the loss of habitats and interference in the migration corridors. The cutting of indigenous trees
may interfere with some cultural values of the local community as some trees have energy and
construction value and have been used for treatment purposes.
Mitigation
 Where possible, the clearing of vegetation more so the indigenous trees need to be avoided
during construction as much as possible,
 Where clearing occurs the land should be landscaped and planted with as much indigenous
vegetation as possible so as to restore the lost biodiversity.

7.2 Operation Phase Impacts

In this section analysis of predicted direct and indirect impacts during operational phase of the proposed
project are present in detail.

7.2.1 Inadequate Skills, Labor and Equipment at Field

The project design assumes that Irrigation Water Users Associations will design and build the necessary
field ditches and field drains and farmers will carry out all land preparation (leveling, creation and

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maintenance ridges and furrows per household for dry-season irrigation), together with husbandry of
commercial crops and the maintenance of a proportion of the irrigation and drainage channels. This will
require high levels of labor at certain periods and need for new implements and skills which otherwise
would reduce the project benefits.
Mitigation options:
 Provide technical and logistical support for on-farm construction to the WUAs, either through an
addendum to the construction contract or through other options,
 Precise land leveling should be carried out by the project as a one-off capital investment. This
should be done as part of the land redistribution and consolidation exercise, before the
reallocated parcels are marked out in the field,
 Consider alternative irrigation methods, specifically basin irrigation, initially,
 Provide significant levels of support for ridging, through farmer training and equipment,
 Labour requirements can be reduced, for example by mechanization, or labor freed up, for
example by providing domestic water near houses and by converting to fodder crops and stall
feeding to reduce herding requirements,
 Moving from the traditional plough to other types of cultivation equipment would be a
transforming step, but requires household financial resources that did previously exist at present,
subsidized rental system is required.

7.2.2 Inefficient Water Use

Inefficient water applications pose a salinization risk. Associated issues related to surface irrigation
include inexact irrigation, no flexibility in applying smaller water quantities and shorter irrigation
intervals, hydraulic structures necessary for road and canal crossings and for flow control besides
tertiary and extra canals occupy larger areas than would be needed for pressurized irrigation.

Mitigation options:
Convert to alternative irrigation technologies which use less water per unit of yield as soon as economic
and skills conditions permit, or as soon as environmental monitoring indicates incipient salinization.

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7.2.3 Poor and Inadequate Drainage

The project command area is only moderately to marginally suitable for irrigation due to semi evenly
distributed slope, and in some small areas is not suitable; there is a need for an intensive drainage system
in an area of extremely difficult drainage conditions; drainage of the PCA is affected by topography and
soil structure. The return period level selected for the drainage design is different from the same level
computed by another study; drain performance depends on good maintenance which may not occur in
practice.
Mitigation options:
 Exclude the most sensitive areas from the scheme.
 Use irrigation technologies which minimize water logging risk
 Convert to alternative irrigation technologies as soon as economic and skills conditions permit,
or as soon as environmental monitoring indicates incipient.
 Minimize water applications through farmer training and non-surface irrigation technologies.

7.2.4 Groundwater Rise and Secondary Salinization

Soils in the command area are almost all vertisols, clays which expand when wet and become
impermeable. The groundwater is saline at shallow depth, incorrect water management and inadequate
drainage could result in rising water table and salinization of the topsoil.
Mitigation options:
 Include soil and water monitoring in the full scale trial.
 Ensure farmers have knowledge and skills necessary to minimize surplus water applications,
 Establish water fees based on volumetric measurement,
 Enforce high levels of drain maintenance both on and off farm,
 Switch to other irrigation technologies,

7.2.5 Decline in Soil Fertility

Intensified cropping may result in a decline in soil fertility.
Mitigation options:
 Provide easy access to inorganic fertilizers
 Improve the fuel wood supply, so that manure is no longer needed for fuel.

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7.2.6 Effect of Vertisols on Structures

The dominant soils in the command area are vertisols which crack when dry and swell when wet.
Structures built on and in these soils could be affected by heave. In vertisols areas masonry structures
are at risk of cracking due to soil shrinking and swelling and the resulting differential heave and
subsidence.
Mitigation options:
 Design all structures, down to field level, to resist damage due to soil heave (e.g., using unitary
construction, avoiding masonry, installing foundation platforms).

7.2.7 Erosion in Command Area & Sedimentation

Vertisols are highly erodible, even on gentle slopes as in the command area. Gullying is possible and
could threaten the new infrastructure. The catchments below the dam site and adjacent to the command
area are in poor condition, widely cultivated and heavily grazed, with low productivity and significant
surface and other forms of erosion Sediment originating in these catchments will continue to affect
watercourses downstream unless watershed conditions are improved. Despite the generally very low
slope angles, the vertisols in the command area are prone to erosion which can rapidly become severe if
runoff is concentrated. In vertisols, water passing outside hydraulic structures or seeping around them
can rapidly create rills and tunnels and affect their stability. Livestock will trample and damage
irrigation and drainage channel banks.

High population and grazing pressures and cultivation of all available land, including on slopes, have
completely altered watershed conditions over most of the Tekeze river basin. The catchments of the
rivers crossing the PCA are no exception. As a result, surface erosion is widespread, with significant
volumes of sediment being moved downstream. Most of this geomorphologic work occurs during and
immediately after heavy rains near the beginning of the wet season, when vegetation cover is sparse but
soils have been wetted by antecedent rainfall.
Mitigation options:
Erosion within command area
 Vegetate all unlined channel side slopes, vermin, banks and any other exposed soil surface using
non-invasive grasses. This should be done during construction, as part of the construction

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contract, with subsequent maintenance by the O&M contractor using local staff responsible for
specific, short reaches of the channels.
 Trial the use of vetiver grass for bank stabilization and erosion control in the command area, and
promote if successful.
 Sediment input from upstream
 Consider extending successful practices piloted by ongoing land management projects
 Ensure that drain maintenance is adequate to maintain hydraulic performance of the main
natural drainage channels

7.2.8 Potential Delay in Irrigated Agriculture Development

The project relies on knowledge-, inputs- and labor-intensive model of production at the field and
household level. This model is untested under the environmental, social, economic and institutional
conditions prevailing in the command area. If the model is not feasible, there will be a delay in project
benefits as potential solutions are tested and applied. Changing this system to one based on double or
triple cropping for both domestic staples and outside markets will require very large adjustments in
household lifestyles and practices: new tools will be needed, and new skills, the need for cultivations
will increase and therefore the demands on large livestock, labour demands over the year will increase
above the existing high levels, with differential impacts on men and women. All this is without
considering the requirements for new institutions, for crop processing and storage facilities, for
marketing, and for changes in knowledge, attitudes and behavior.
Mitigation option

 A clear need for proof-of-concept at household level before scaling up to full implementation.
This will be necessary in any case, as part of the research required to identify and develop the
various extension and inputs packages that will be required

7.2.9 Impacts continuing and over Flooding on canals

Since the project area has poor watershed management and drainage system history a number of
flooding events have occurred since the previous three years. Based n this scenarios, flooding could be
risky to the area. Some Portions of the project command area will be flooded by channel discharges

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with many years return period; this could cause important crop losses and physical damage to channels
by siltation or erosion.
Mitigation options:

 Improvement of watershed conditions in the catchments upstream and below the reservoirs, with
long term aim of reducing flood peaks and sediment loads.
 Channel maintenance, which includes maintaining the design profiles and cross-sections,
maintaining the flood dykes, and removal of channel vegetation to maintain hydraulic
performance.
 Designate flood buffer zones and manage them during high flood events.
 Prepare detailed flood hazard maps for the flooding impact zone
 Develop flood management and mitigation plans for adoption at local community level

7.2.10 Impacts of Inappropriate Reservoir Management

Improper reservoir management could result in inadequate water released for daily command area
demands; excessive water released resulting in inadequate supplies to meet full dry season demands.

Mitigation options:
 Ensure fully integrated operation of the irrigation project and the reservoir based on
comprehensive data on all aspects of the system's hydrology.
 Develop and implement a Reservoir Management plan
 Ensure the reservoir operating rules do not permit the operator to make sudden changes in
releases, except in case of emergency.

7.2.11 Climate Change concern

As the environmental assessment have done in the project area extreme weather events and to some few
three years climate change which is expressed in terms of higher temperature, extreme flooding,
drought and desertification climate change and its long term effect could put its pressure in the project.
Climate change could affect project operation through higher temperatures inducing higher water
demands, more intense rainfall leading to intense floods and reduced rainfall and lower water
availability.

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Mitigation
Though, no specific mitigation measures are recommended for the project in relation to climate change
and hydrology, the situation should be monitored closely so that appropriate measures can be taken to
manage water resources at both local and sub-basin level.

7.2.12 Reduced Water Quality due to Pollution

During operation, the project is likely to have significant adverse effects on water quality unless
mitigated. The principal areas of concern are pesticides and insect sides, fertilizers, salts, and waste,
both solid and liquid.

Mitigation options:

 Conserve riverine wetlands to act as buffers,

 Develop and promote Integrated Pest Management (IPM),
 Carry out crop-specific research to refine fertilizer recommendations,
 Raise capacity of extension service to deliver recommendations to farmers,
 Consider the strategic options of promoting organic agriculture,

7.2.13 Changes in Pests and Diseases

The agro-ecological setting of the project area is highly suitable for the survival of different kinds of
pastes and insects and so diseases. Intensification of agriculture is highly likely to result in the
intensification of problems from pests and diseases. At present crop pests and diseases cause major
economic losses in the PCA. Most damage is caused by insects, followed by weeds, storage pests, and
plant diseases.

Mitigation options:
Targeted research on prevention and control techniques for the major insect, weed and disease problems
in the area and development and delivery of appropriate preventive extension packages in problem
avoidance and management techniques.

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7.2.14 Habitat Degradation

The project will alter vegetation communities in the command area and its vicinity due to changes in
hydrological conditions, and will also intensify pressure on the forest and some reservoir areas,
especially by young people who do not have access to developed land within the command area,
resulting in further loss of their economic value and ecosystem functions.
Mitigation measures are:
Manage the project to ensure that habitat diversity is retained, specifically by redrawing the project
boundary to exclude development of some habitat area and develop and implement a forest and some
endogenous plants restoration programs.

7.2.15 Continuing Impacts on Birds

The river is among the few international river basins in Ethiopia that has potential ecological area for
bird accommodation. Especially in the area of pump station around heilegen different migratory and
endogenous birds to the area are highly seen the plantation of pump station around this site could affect
the survival of this bird species. The project area is extremely important for international migratory
birds. The project will increase pressure on the natural environment resulting in degradation and loss of
bird habitats.
Mitigation options:
 Avoid interruption such ecologically sensitive areas
 Awareness programs for local residents with respect to birds and their protection,
 Manage the project to maintain the integrity of the wetlands,
 Initiate a wetland restoration program and/or support existing wetland restoration initiatives.

7.2.16 Impact on the Kafta-Sheraro national park

Part of the project command area is fallen within the Kafta-Sheraro national park which lay between
Adebay and Hilet Koka. Some part of the park will be used for pump station; main canal crossing and
the construction activities could affect plants and wild life species.

Mitigation measures.

 As much as possible an alternative site could simultaneously proposed not to interrupt the park,

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 Some international regulation could affect for funding to the project so this should be considered
and any activity that could affect the park should be avoided.

7.2.17 Prolonged Exposure to Malaria

The project is likely to change the pattern of malaria infections during the year, with an extension into
the dry season permanent (year-round) malaria is less dangerous than short, intense seasonal
transmission, but malaria will continue to have a very high impact on human health, especially for
children. Health interventions are essential to ensure that the project's social and economic objectives
are reached, and reducing malaria morbidity and mortality in the region is a battle to be fought every
day for a very long time.

Mitigation options,
Reduction of contacts between humans and Anopheles by the use of impregnated bed nets is useful.
This has been proved to result in a reduction of the incidence of malaria. Together with efficient health
facilities and health education, the general result of mass use of bed nets, preferably impregnated with a
long lasting insecticide, is a dramatic decrease in malaria morbidity and mortality. However, the bed
nets are fragile and do not last more than two or three years. Consequently, at present they are not
available for each individual in all households. Moreover, they are not easy to use in houses without
beds, and not all the residents are convinced of their effectiveness against malaria.

7.2.18 Mitigation for downstream and river function effects

Major concerns of this effect will be that the demand for water for irrigation comes during the dry
season, when release levels are already low. Irrigation demands at this time may conflict with the
demands of other uses such as ecological function of the river and downstream users.

Mitigation options
 The water balance, crop water requirement and other utilization strategies under the Tekeze
River should consider and respect the use-right and some domestic, navigation and existing
downstream irrigation practices of the downstream users.
 A minimum of 20% from the total stream flow of the river must consider for the sustainable
ecological function of the river.

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 A periodic stream flow monitoring and hydrological balance computing should be planned ahead
of a use right conflict happen with downstream nations.

CHAPTER VIII: ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND MONITRING PLAN

8.1 Background

Based on Ethiopian environmental policies, laws and guidelines this proposed project falls within the
category of projects that need a full EIA study> this EIA report has identified a number of potential
environmental and social impacts for which mitigation measures has been developed and a management
and monitoring plan is presented as below.

8.2 Environmental management plan (EMP)

A management plan is the process of implementing mitigation measures in accordance with the schedule
of action contained in the EMP, together with any necessary adjustments to respond to unforeseen
impacts or other changes. In order to make the program sustainable integration of environmental
considerations for key development programs and projects is essential. Monitoring allows the measures
and conditions attached to project approval to be fine-tuned in the light of new information. The primary
aim of monitoring is to provide information that will aid impact management and continually; to
achieve a better understanding of cause effect relationship and to improve environmental assessment
prediction and mitigation methods. When used systematically, it facilitates impact management, built
continuity in to the environmental and social impact assessment process and help to optimize
environmental benefits at each stage of the project development. Environmental monitoring program
has prepared for the proposed project for assessing the efficiency of environmental management plan
implementation and to take correction measures in case of any degradation activity in the surrounding
environment. Monitoring of the project operations, i.e. the physical environment and public health in
the vicinity of social and ecological management facility is an integrated part of the design, construction
and operation of the project. The responsible institute and authority, like the ministry of environment
and forest, the regional EPA and the correspondent Woreda will easily monitor and evaluate the
effective implementation of the mitigation parameters proposed during the environmental management
plan. To facilitate this, monitoring parameters and their corresponding implementation measures have
clearly been identified, quantified and presented in a summarized table below.

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Table 11: Summary of Environmental management plan

S# Potential impact Mitigation measures Project phase Time frame Responsible Budget
Institute (Birr)
1 Biological Environment parameters

Impacts on the -Avoid cutting indigenous trees and vegetation within Construction Post operation Project owner 230,000
existing flora and the survey area/ path of the water conveyance and operation season and contractor
fauna phase
-Avoid excessive bush clearing; where possible adopt
re-vegetation around the water intakes
Loss of flora -Minimize number of indigenous trees cut -A
forestation and reforestation programs in certain parts
of farmlands
-Preserve certain sections for grazing purposes The
integrity of the forest resources should be well guarded
from the spillover effects of the project‟ activities so
as to maintain their functionalities

Loss of fauna - Construction within sensitive habitats should be Construction Preconstruction Project Nil
avoided at all costs season contractor

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S# Potential impact Mitigation measures Project phase Time frame Responsible Budget
Institute (Birr)
-Wetlands should be buffered by a minimum of 50
meters
-Construction zone should be clearly indicated
to prevent off site damage - Modifications of
canal routes should be preceded by an ecological
survey
- There should be intensive tree planting
- Setting aside woodlands

Destruction of  The habitats diversity should be retained and Construction During Contractor and Nil
Wildlife habitats protected by conserving them and operation construction project owner
 There should be no cultivation on riparian sections season
since they serve as habitats for several animal
species
 Woodlands should be adequately established

Risk of Alien • Managing canals so as to minimize weed growth. Operation Post-operation Project owner 455,000
species, pests and season and local
aquatic weeds benefices

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S# Potential impact Mitigation measures Project phase Time frame Responsible Budget
Institute (Birr)
 Avoiding stagnant water points that suit for
aquatic weeds.
 Monitoring and removing weeds before they
spread and clog canals.
 Keeping dry canals, drains and fields when crop
watering is not required.
 Implementing improved drainage and efficient
water applications.
 Use of resistant crop varieties.
 Use of chemicals as the last option.

Pollution-concern

II Air and Dust  Provide dust masks to workers construction During Project 135,000
 Sprinkle water on the soil during excavation and construction contractor
land filling; season
 Control speed of working machinery

-Abate noise by sensitizing drivers in the project Construction During Project Nil if mitigated
-Use manual labour as much as possible. construction contractor as proposed
Noise
season
-Restriction of activities to daytime

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S# Potential impact Mitigation measures Project phase Time frame Responsible Budget
Institute (Birr)

- Workers within the vicinity of high level noise to

be provided with adequate PPE. -No idling of
vehicles and machinery if not in use, they should be
switched off. -Control speed and noise of
construction machinery;
-Insulate noisy machines and activities during
construction to minimize noise impact to neighboring
communities -Unnecessary hooting is to be avoided as
much as possible

Water -Keeping all equipment and machinery free from mud Construction Post construction Project owner Nil if it
-having workable standard operating procedures while and operation season ,contractor and mitigated as
working along water resources phase local proposed
-Apply appropriate irrigation procedures to prevent community
contamination
-Sensible use of agrochemicals to prevent deposition
into rivers
-Adhere to waste discharge regulations
-Compaction of loose material/soils -All repairs and
maintenance work should be done at the contractors

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S# Potential impact Mitigation measures Project phase Time frame Responsible Budget
Institute (Birr)
• Avoiding pollution of river water during concreting Construction At the time of Project Nil
Water borne work from cement slag and oil and fuel spills by construction contractor
diseases providing suitable diversion and/or other appropriate
measures.

 Use of environmentally friendly biocides. Operation During and post Project owner Nil
Water quality  Avoid releasing of drain or irrigation return water operation
into streams and rivers.
 Taking precaution in biocide spraying not to
pollute water in the canals.
 Conducting periodic water quality monitoring.

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S# Potential impact Mitigation measures Project phase Time frame Responsible Budget
Institute (Birr)
Physical Environment
III Impacts on soils  Schedule construction for dry season. Construction During and post Contractor And 1,200,000
and  Minimize compaction of soils and loosen compacted and operation construction project owner
Siltation soils by plowing after Completion of works.
 Provide appropriate cross and longitudinal drainage
facilities including Lined side ditches for construction
of any roads.
 Refill the exposed or excavated soil soon after
completion of works.
 Keep land clearing and disturbance to absolute
minimum.
 Reduce the time surface remain bare following
completion of works and establish vegetation cover
on exposed areas/soils with appropriate vegetation.
 Follow up and maintenance of erosion protection
measures on roads, canals and drains.
 Distilling program to clean silted up structures.
 Efficient land and water management to reduce
erosion.

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S# Potential impact Mitigation measures Project phase Time frame Responsible Budget
Institute (Birr)
Impacts on  Minimize side-casting of excavation materials on Construction During Contractor of 300,000
landscape and down-slope. phase operation And the project
visual amenity,  Restore borrows sites, materials processing sites maintenance
and slope through back-filling, landscaping and re- season
stability establishing vegetation cover.
 Replant and maintain vegetation to restore the
natural appearance of construction areas.
 Preserve the vegetation cover of the areas
unsuitable for irrigation and implement
enhancement measures.
Sedimentation • Implementing soil conservation measures in the Operation post operation Contractor of Nil
catchments and command area to reduce soil erosion phase the project
and sediment loads of the canals.

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S# Potential impact Mitigation measures Project phase Time frame Responsible Budget
Institute (Birr)
Siltation and -Ensure proper design and layout of field to avoid Construction Post construction Contractor of Nil
farm flooding canal on the steep gradients the project and
-Ensure there is appropriate terracing where possible project
-Ensure water application does not exceed soil intake consultant
rate, over irrigation

Salinization/ -Avoid water logged conditions, where possible Operation Post operation Project Nil
Leaching -Add humus and organic manure to the soils regularly contractor and
benefices
Construction During Project Nil
Water • Avoiding pollution of river water during concreting construction contractor
Quality concern work from cement slag and oil and fuel spills by
providing suitable diversion and/or other appropriate
measures.

Socio-economic and institutional settings

 Stakeholder consultation and involvement in 1,000,000
Land decision making at all levels Construction Post construction Project owner
Repossessions and  Compensation of land to the farmers or the
Relocation contractor as
 Provision of alternative land of similar value per the
 Skip areas where the crops are maturing to cut on agreement
the losses
Measures to reduce loss of income to those affected by
the relocations

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S# Potential impact Mitigation measures Project phase Time frame Responsible Budget
Institute (Birr)
Labor migrants - Provision of alternative and additional social Construction Post Contractor, Nil
IV pressure on scarce welfare prioritizing both the skilled and semi- skilled construction project owner
social service and local labor ahead population planning and its And operation and local
employment consideration with the inhabitants government
- Expansion of available social service -Monitor the structures
trend in migration to the area during the project
implementation and increase the requisite facilities

- Implement awareness creation of eminent social evils Construction Since Project owner, Nil, Part of the
Health effect on the such as HIV/AIDS and other STDs construction and relevant wereda annual
nearby - Organizing community sensitization drives on the post operation stakeholders health
society prevention and management of the HIV/AIDS and contractor budget
- Liaising with the local organizations for the training
and education on the right prevention mechanisms
- Contraceptives should be provided at acceptable
locations

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S# Potential impact Mitigation measures Project phase Time frame Responsible Budget
Institute (Birr)

- Exclude lands assumed by future urban land use Preconstruction During designing Project Nil if the
Impact on the plan time and consultant, proposed
existing urban land - Search alternative irrigable land outside the urban construction contractor action is
use pattern fringes in the extensive cultivated land applied
- Relate the project land use plan with the existing
urban future plan and over to exclude some
affected area.

Use of canal water - Sensitize the community on the dangers Operation Post construction Project owner, Nil part of the
for domestic of using canal water for domestic purpose the public and woreda’s
purposes - Consider the possibility of providing tap water relevant budget
- The local community should be encouraged to stakeholders
treat the tap water.
- Ensure there is adequate sanitation facilities to be
installed on sites
- Warning signs/bumps to be erected and/or placed
at risky points
- There should be insurance covers for the workers
under the workman‟s
- Install at strategic points enough firefighting
equipment

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S# Potential impact Mitigation measures Project phase Time frame Responsible Budget
Institute (Birr)
Possibility of - - Avail drinking points for the livestock along the Operation Post construction Project owner, Part of the
Increased canal or build the water pans along the canal use community integrated
Conflicts - - Fencing off the farms to prevent animals entry into and wereda project cost
the farms concerned
- - Regular communal discussions and dialogue should offices
be facilitated between to bring about mutual
agreements between various land users
- - Other modes of grazing could be encouraged such as
zero grazing as it is less pasture demanding
- - Fodder production can be done on irrigated land to
reduce the pressure of over grazing
- - Establish local bylaws and irrigation management
structures to handle the conflict

Institutional capacity - Along with the introduction of surface pump Operation Post construction Project owner, 500,000
building on irrigation, the capacity of the irrigation sector has season wereda relevant
irrigation/ water to be built on irrigation/ water management offices
management through HRD, Training, equipment, etc.

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S# Potential impact Mitigation measures Project phase Time frame Responsible Budget
Institute (Birr)
Water related - Avoid creating pools of water where insect vectors Construction From Contractor, Nil, part of the
Health hazards of diseases may breed. construction to project owner integrated
- Provision of adequate safe water supply, sanitary implementation and wereda wereda and
facilities, and health services for the project season relvant project running
workers and local population. stakeholders cost
- Provision of adequate impregnated bed nets for the
population in the project area.
- Spraying the houses in the project area with
insecticides.

Extended malaria - Malaria diagnosis, treatment and management Construction Construction and Contractor and Nil, part of
Season and skills upgrading for frontline health workers post operation wereda the wereda‟s
increase - Repeated mass treatment of local population season health office annual health
schistosomiasis - Benet programme including LLIN distribution, cost
education and training, and monitoring

Impacts of - Continue implementation of the livestock Operation Post operation Project owner, Nil
transformation of programme as a major project component season beneficares
livestock husbandry - Establish livestock corridors between and relevant
System. fields wereda
stakeholders

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S# Potential impact Mitigation measures Project phase Time frame Responsible Budget
Institute (Birr)
V Climate change - Plan irrigation systems to address ways and Preconstruction Throughout Contractor, Nil cost its
incident means of reducing GHG emissions without project cycle project owner, sharing of legal
jeopardizing the beneficial effects of irrigation EPA, local responsibility
project. community and
- Search research findings on devising ways and relevant
means to reduce GHG emissions, irrigation could stakeholders
become environmentally sustainable adaptation
measure under climate change.
- Encourage forestry Actions: encourage tree Operation Post construction project owner, Nil cost its
planting on the hills, community and private land EPA, local sharing of legal
and develop better management of forestry community and responsibility
operations as trees absorb and store atmospheric relevant
CO2 and avoid forest fires not to release CO2 stakeholders
- Minimize the off-take of woody biomass for
construction and fuel and use other alternatives
such as stoves, electricity, stones and cement
concrete breaks instead of wood for house

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S# Potential impact Mitigation measures Project phase Time frame Responsible Budget
Institute (Birr)
VI Cumulative Downstream Effects

Inadequate - Continue implementation of available information Design Preconstruction Project Nil, part of the
information for and prioritizing the establishment of hydrological season Consultant project detail
Planning monitoring and information systems. study

Impact on down - Regulate the demand flow Operation Since operation Project owner, Nil, it needs
- Ensure the minimum release to the lower riparian and maintenance users effective
users
as high priority association management
- Apply periodic stream flow monitoring and re-
compute downstream demand
- Develop an integrated water resources
management (IWRM) plan based on actual
hydrology.
- Include a multi-stakeholder rule-making
mechanism in the IWRM plan.
Environmental flow - Determine environmental flows for the river basin Design Pre construction Consultant and 200,000
consideration using multi-stakeholder process. Minimum of 20% project owner
of the lean flow.
Reduced dry- - Regulate (augment) dry season flows at border Operation Post construction Contractor and Nil cost
season flows using water regulating mechanism users
association

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S# Potential impact Mitigation measures Project phase Time frame Responsible Budget
Institute (Birr)

Affect - Consider the environmental flow and hydrological Design Preconstruction Consultant , Nil, utilization
downstream water balance of the river basin by which that tolerate contractor and management
transport and this effect. water users arrangement
economic tie of the - The water balance, crop water requirement and association need
riparian other utilization strategies under the Tekeze River
should consider and respect the use-right and
some domestic, navigation and existing
downstream irrigation practices of the riparian
countries.

Overall project mitigation cost Project major impact’s enhancing measure cost=3,685,000

Contingency (10%) =368500

Total project Environmental cost =4,053,500

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8.3 Auditing for EIA implementation and feedback mechanism

Periodic environmental auditing and monitoring is mandatory for effective implementation of

the early designed management plan and monitoring parameters. The project proponent,
responsible authorities federal and regional EPA and contractor of the project should conduct
periodic audits to ensure the systems are operating effectively. The audit needs to ensure that:-

 The EMP being used is up to date,

 Variations to the EMP and non-compliance and corrective actions are documented
 The appropriate environmental training for personnel is undertaken
 Emergency procedures are in place and effectively communicated to the personnel
 A register of major accidents is in place and other documentation related to the EMP
 The appropriate corrective and preventive action is taken by the contractor once
instructions have been issued.
The environmental management of the proposed project should strengthen the mobilization of
the beneficiary communities with regard to environmental and health aspects and render the
proposed irrigation project sustainable. The EMP has various components with the respective
stakeholders involved towards the implementation of the corrective actions. The following
should be involved in implementation of the EMP;

 project owner
 Federal, Regional and local EPA authorities
 Contractor of the project
 funding agency
 Relevant stakeholders
 Responsible local administrations
 Local community and beneficiary

The result of auditing processes in the implementation of the project and its correction measures
if any gap appeared should be officially declared by a strong and responsible feedback through
official written documents.

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8.3 Capacity Building
Capacity building is essential to properly implement the proposed environmental
management and monitoring plan. The irrigation and drainage department of the
MoWR is the responsible department for organizing and implementing the
environmental issues concerning the irrigation sector development. Therefore, it is
pertinent to increase the capacity of this department by providing further training for
the staff members locally or in abroad or by equipping the environmental unit with
facilities and necessary tools. Capacity building should also be extended to Woreda
level Environmental conservation units since they are the one who directly involve in
environmental management and monitoring activities.
Training in abroad is proposed for two staffs for the duration of 30 days. The specific
training place could be in Sweden, Norway or Israel
On job training should be given for the representatives of construction workers and
Woreda level environmental conservation unit staffs. On job training can be arranged
by the construction supervision consultant in collaboration with MoWR for five days
before the start of actual construction work and for another five days after the midway
of construction work. The content of training should focus on environmental
conservation and awareness creation in general and HIV/AIDS prevention in
particular.
The first session of on job training could incorporate the following modules:

• An introduction to the concepts, terminology, aims and objectives of ESIA,

environmental management and monitoring, with specific reference to irrigation
development projects

• HIV/AIDS pervasion and awareness creation

• An on-site review of existing environmental conditions in the project area,

potential impacts and mitigation and benefit enhancement measures
 ESIA Report for Tekeze-Humera Irrigation Project

• A review of approaches which have been and are being adopted towards
environmental management in the case of the present project, and their
applicability in general to irrigation projects, with particular reference to how
uncertainties are handled

• A review of the role of environmental monitoring as a management tool.

The second session could cover the following aspects:

• on-site comparison of impact predictions in the ESIA with what has happened in
practice, with particular emphasis on analyzing the reasons for any significant
differences

• on-site review and analysis of the success or otherwise of the proposed

mitigation measures, environmental management and monitoring approaches,
including contributions from the contractor, the site supervision team, and
representatives of the local authorities and the people who live around the
project area

• Summary of lessons to be learned which could usefully be applied to similar,

future projects.

A generally informal approach would be adopted to the training sessions, in order to

promote interaction between trainees and trainers, and in particular to facilitate the free
and open exchange and discussion of ideas.
Numbers of trainees would have to be discussed and agreed with both MoWR and
construction supervision consultant, but in order to preserve a suitable level of
informality, and to facilitate the vital site visits, it is suggested that these should be
limited to about 10. The cost estimated for the capacity building is listed in Table 28.

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Table12: Summary Environmental Monitoring plan

Environmental Monitoring Parameters Frequency Institutional Cost Remarks

Components to be
Responsibility Estimate
monitored
(Birr)
Soils  Soil PH, EC, salt (e.g. soluble sodium) and water-logging Twice per year Water Resources 25,000.00
Bureau of Tigray annually
 Rate of soil erosion and siltation of canals
Once per year K/Humera W. 15,000.00 Significance
 Soil drainage efficiency and reduced water logging
Agriculture Office Annually
 Conserved status of soil
Water  Sampling & analysis of physical and chemical parameters Twice per year Water Resource 25,000.00 significance
Resources and & biocide residues of water resources in the impact zone. Bureau of annually
Water Quality Tigray
 Effective utilization of irrigation water
 Low and avoid contamination of agro-chemicals
 pH Salinity (EC) Pesticide residues

Forest reserve area and  Avoid inclusiveness of ecologically sensitive areas Twice a year Woreda and
park  Avoid and reduce deforestation and endangered of plant and Regional EPA,
animal species WRDAO, kafta-
sheraro Park
authority

Wild life and endangered Avoid danger and destruction both on wild life and endangered Twice a year Woreda agriculture 10,000 Significance
species species Office and park
authority

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 Public Health &  The availability of sufficient social infrastructure (health, Twice a year Woreda Health 40,000.00 per Highly
year Significance
Social education, water supply) in the project area; and Education

Infrastructure  Incidence of water related diseases (malaria, Offices

schistosomiasis & water-borne diseases);

 Condition of vector breeding sites & vectors;

Misuse of irrigation water Effectively use water and settled conflict Every quarter Woreda WRMO As per significance
and conflict over Yearly plan
cost
Improved irrigation Improved irrigation management integrated with crop & livestock Twice a year WRDAO 30,000.00
management integrated feed production
with crop & livestock feed Per year
production
Re-allocation of farmers Re-allocation of farmers who lost their farm land Preferably on Twice a year WRDAO 25,000 Per significance
who lost their farm land irrigable command area year

IV Cumulative downstream • Mutual benefit and less controversial use Every year Regional and 50,000 Highly
effect Woreda water significance
• Avoid over utilization
resource agencies
• Consult and consider downstream use right
• Regulate environmental flow of the river
V Overall Performance • Project ultimate goal achievements Federal and 65,000.00 Significance
evaluation and Status • regional EPA,
Fulfilling of proposed environmental standards and early per year
auditing Woreda
proposed enhancement measures
Agriculture
Office

Estimated Total monitoring cost (Birr) 300,000.00

 ESIA Report for Tekeze-Humera Irrigation Project

CHAPTER IX: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

9.1 Conclusion

This study has been carried out to equip the client with relevant and sufficient information about
the proposed Tekeze - Humera irrigation scheme on how far the project could impact the
environment both positively and negatively. It is anticipated that the proposed development
project would bring substantial economic benefits not only to the local communities within the
project area, but to the entire nation as a whole. It is also believed client would use this
information to apply proposed measures to enhance the positive and mitigate the negative
impacts.

The negative environmental impact on the implementation of this project is minimal and could
be addressed by implementing the proposed mitigation measures to ensure that they pose no
threat to the environment and communities. These measures are part of the project component
and will bring some fair cost in the implementation process.

The benefits of implementing the proposed project are enormous and will address persistent
problems of irrigation water shortage in the project area that has affected the communities for a
long time. Typically, the Tekeze Humera surface irrigation project can bring about a number of
short and long term benefits like:
 Enhance agricultural productivity and food security and reduced poverty
 Create huge seasonal and permanent job opportunity

 improved social and physical infrastructure

 Improve living standards of the people
 Efficient use of land and water resource
 Increase income

 Gender encouragement and benefits

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To the contrary, this project could also bring about different adverse impacts both to the natural
environment and the community. Which are tending to appear during the project construction
and operation phase. Accordingly the major adverse negative impact of the project can be
summarized as:
• Bio-physical (impacts on water, air, land , forest, soil and wild life)
• Socio-economic and cultural
• Institutional and
• Cumulative downstream effects
To list some detail adverse impacts the following found to be significant i.e., Loss of vegetation
and land degradation, affect the nearby urban land use pattern, health issue especially the spread
of malaria, water quality concern that could affect by agro-chemical misuses, impact on
ecologically sensitive areas, water logging and poor drainage, displacement and relocation of
land and people, loss g grazing land and health and social safety issues as well as downstream
effect.

Despite of this, Majority of the negative impacts can be reduced to acceptable levels, except
some immeasurable factors through integration of environmental mitigation measures in the
design or planning and implementation of the project. Therefore, it can be concluded that there
will be no irreversible or immitigable impacts that will prevent the implementation of this
irrigation project that while the recommended mitigation plan is properly implemented.

In relation to its social acceptability, stakeholders and public consultations had thoroughly
conducted at different level that is Woreda and community levels. Due to this, the outcome
revealed that a high acceptance for the proposed irrigation project. This is largely based on the
expectations that there will be opportunities for substantial increase in agricultural production
and employment for local people, and thus, increased income level and improved living
standards. Due to this, In order to have minimal and acceptable residual environmental and social
impacts, and enhance the potential, a total Environmental mitigation cost is estimated to be
4,053,500.00 and necessary follow up of their effectiveness should be made through well
planned monitoring programs with the cost of 300,000.00 Birr per planned year and a total of

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Birr 4,353,500.00 for consecutive five years by concerned stakeholders to have minimal and
acceptable residual environmental and social impacts and enhance the potential benefits.
9.2 Recommendations
In the previous topics the assessment indicated that different strategic actions should be taken to
help ensure the project's feasibility and enhance its sustainability by proposing various
environmentally sound mitigation options and enhancement measures. However, still there are
sensitive and prioritized crucial issues of the study that need special attention through the project
cycle.
It is important that during the implementation, the project proponent should be actively involved
to address some of the cross cutting issues such as, natural environment, air quality, biological
environment, Health, socio-economic and other relevant issues for their mitigation.
 The project is a bold attempt to transform agricultural production methods and yields and at
the same time radically change living conditions in a poor and socially semi-rural society
living in a difficult physical location with sensitive ecological values. This approach carries
with it a number of risks, economic, institutional, social and biophysical. So the identified
adverse impacts in this study should be respected by the concerned institutions responsibly.
 Majority of the project command area lay under the existing and proposed towns of future
urban land use plan and investment sites (like in Humera town, Adebay, Rawiyan and
Maykadra) this could be highly controversial and clash with other development arena so
the proposed urban land use should excluded instead there is a plenty of cultivated land
outside this impact zone that could be included early before operation.

 There is no previous experience of successful implementation of such mega project in large

scale, modern and commercial based project in the area, therefore these risks are
significant. Therefore the issue of institutional and community capacity building should
harmoniously done.
 The project command area( the western Tigray especially that of Kafta humera Woreda) is
among the few areas of the country by which ecologically sensitive and biologically
endangered reserve areas and flora and fauna diversities are found because of this the
impact on such specific impact zone would expect to avoid or put to be minimum

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 Some part of the project reservoir area and .pump stations have proposed to lay within the
kafta-sheraro national park around heilegen at Adebay and Hilet koka area, which is
among the few protected areas of the country and endemic site of the Tigray regional state
. in the case of international loan and fund raising for the project such act could not match
with some financial institution's loan safeguards and over all the ecological balance of the
park could disturbed for the sake of this the planting of pump station and main canal design
should consider noise pollution, forest degradation altering of the usual wild life
movement.
 The issue of water born and related diseases to the area is serious, especially malaria is
endemic to the area such huge surface irrigation project could aggravate the incident rate
appear before due to this the project owner, contractor and other relevant stakeholders
should aware early to mitigate it.
 Majority of the PCA inhabited by different member of community which were immigrated
by integrated resettlement programs in the previous years so a serious attention should
made not to re-displace and relocate such strongly un stable community.
 There are minority groups of Kunamma community in the project area who have not
irrigation practice experience had been lead their life as semi-pastoralist later changed to
mixed agriculture so they should be treated in special capacity building program.
 There, exist similar projects in study area mainly focusing on potable water supply but
sitting similar projects at same geographic area of interest would probably affect each other
so a harmonizing mitigation approach to correlate both projects should early identified.
 The area is highly endowed by livestock resource but the entrance of such huge irrigation
project could interrupt the usual grazing system of the area so a best action in adopting both
activities mixing agriculture in the PCA would be highly feasible.
 Establishment of an efficient water application/management system to irrigation fields in
order to prevent adverse soil modification like water-logging, and creation of mosquito and
snail breeding sites.
 Such mega irrigation project would likely to utilize a bulky agro-chemical Application like
pesticides and insect sides so a proper handling and use of agro-chemicals is recommended
in accordance to environmentally friendly approach and acceptable relevant guidelines.

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 Establishment of a strong environmental management and vector control and educational

programs to control the transmission of water related vector-borne and STD diseases
including malaria, schistosomiasis and Sexually Transmitted Diseases including
HIV/AIDS.
 Enhancing market oriented production system using production enhanced technologies that
lead to agro-industrial development.
 Establishing a monitoring program for checking the critical parameters like environmental
flow of the river, adverse trans boundary effect, water quality, relevant soil characteristics,
groundwater level, water-logging, and disease vector breeding places.
 The commitments of the key stakeholders including the Bureau of Agriculture, Tourism
and Culture, Water Resources Bureau, Woreda and Kebele Administrations, Agriculture
Offices, and Health Offices to implement the mitigation measures specified in the EMP and
other necessary actions will be vital.
 For further project sustainability reasons this project needs additional future public
disclosure and stakeholder consultation phase in order to resolve timely arising problems.
Finally, It is important to note that to secure the effective implementations of such bulky
measures allocating the necessary resources remain among the critical governing factors.

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REFERENCE
Abebe Getahun & E. Dejen. (in press). Field Guide to the Fishes of Lake Tana, Ethiopia. Nile
Transboundary Environmental Action Project. Addis Ababa.

BRLi. 2009b. Consultancy for the Elaboration of the Transboundary African River Basin
Organisations
Sourcebook. Work in progress.

BoA (2005). Bureau of Agriculture and Natural Resources Development. Proposed Management
Plan of Kafta-Shiraro Wildlife Reserve.
Dougherty, T.C. & A.W. Hall. 1995. Environmental impact assessment of irrigation and
drainage projects.FAO Irrigation & Drainage Paper 53. 74p

EPA. 2004. Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for the Identified Sectoral Developments
in the
Ethiopian Sustainable Development and Poverty Reduction Programme (ESDPRP) (Draft).
EPA. Addis Ababa. 72p

EPA (1997). Environmental Policy. Ethiopian Environmental Protection Authority.

EPA (2000). Environmental Impact Assessment Guideline Document. Ethiopian Environmental
Protection Authority.
EPA (2003). Environmental Impact Assessment. Procedural Guideline. Ethiopian
Environmental Protection Authority.
Ethiopian Wildlife and Natural History Society (1996). Important Bird Areas of Ethiopia.A First
Inventory.
FAO (1989). Water Quality for Agriculture. FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 29 Rev.

ERM. 2007a. Environmental and Social Management Framework, Ethiopian Irrigation &
Drainage Project.MoWR.

Howard, H., C. Bellier, R. Kennedy & Donkin. 1997. Environmental Impact Assessment,
Ministry of WaterResources Medium Scale Hydropower Plant Study Project. Tis Abbay II Joint
Venture for MoWR.

King, J., Tharme, R.E. and de Villiers, M.S. 2000. Environmental flow assessments for rivers:
manual for the building block methodology. Water Research Commission Technology Transfer
Report No. TT 131/00, Pretoria, South Africa.

M.P. McCartney, E. Boelee, O. Cofie and C. M. Mutero (2007). Working Paper 117:

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 ESIA Report for Tekeze-Humera Irrigation Project

Minimizing the Negative Environmental and Health Impacts of Agricultural Water Resources
Development in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Ministry of Water Resources (1998). Water Resources Policy of Ethiopia.

Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (2006).Wildlife Policy of Ethiopia.
NEDECO (1998). Tekeze River Basin Integrated Development Master Plan Project.
Master Plan, Volume I. Main Report. Sector annual report of Kafta Humera Woreda, for the year
,2006
In addition to the above the following materials have also reviewed
1. Constitution of Ethiopia, 1995

2. Federal Proclamation No. 541/ 2007

3. Federal Proclamation No. 542/ 2007

4. Federal solid waste proclamation # 513/2007

5. EIA Proclamation -proclamation # 299/2002

6. Environmental policy of Ethiopia, 1997

7. Ethiopian CRGE document of, 2007

8. Institutional set up –proclamation # 295/2002

9. Industrial policy of Ethiopia, 2010

10. Proc.No.300/2002 pollution control

11. Regional rural land proclamation no 136/2000

12. Regional pollution control proclamation No.300/2003

13. Regional EIA proclamation of Tigray, 200/2003

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Annexes

FDRE MoWIE TWRB Page 116

 WQM-permanent recording sheet
S# Assessed Specific GCP-remarks Sample water EC-indicator findings Remarks
district locality X Y Z pick source TDS Saline RSTV
ECw
1 Tekeze-river In-dS/m ppm In-% In-kΩ The
Examining g
Sam-1 date is held in,
9/06/07-
Sam-2 15/06/07
E.C
2 Adebay
Sam-1 At-8-12 am
And
Sam-2 9-6 pm
3 M/kadra
Sam-1

4 Bereket
Sam-1

5 Rawiyan
Project- nature: __________________

Investigated by: __________________

Position: ________________________

Examining date: _________________

Time: Am_______ Pm________

 A Signup Sheets for Permanent Records of Public Hearing For EIA Study
District: Venue:

Ward/Village: Date:
S# Name of The Participant Age Sex Occupation Designation(position) Signature
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
A public hearing stage during scoping of EIA draft, TWWSDSE
Rapid Environmental Assessment Check list

Assessment:
Project name/location: draft/Revi/Final

Assessor's name/position: Date:

ID A. Project Sitting Impact rating (short screening response) (X) Remarks

Is the project area…? Yes N/A No

Densely populated?

Heavy with development activities?

Adjacent to or within any nsitive

environmentally seareas?
I
Protected Area

Wetland

Buffer zone of protected area

Special area for protecting biodiversity

Socially sensitive infrastructures

Water availability scarce area

Socio-cultural settings

Religious site
II Cultural heritage site

Other belief and custom area

Endogenous and minority group

Others

Endangered species

Area in rehabilitation
III
Sensitive infrastructure

Geo-politics dispute zone

War front

Military area-zone

Hydro-geopolitics issue

Others if so……
 Impact screening checklist
A. Potential Can cause Degree of significance of Trans boundary effect Remarks
incidence impact
Environmental Impacts
yes N/ A No ukn low m hi inse Mod Sever local region Inter
Will the Project cause… id gh gnifi erate al nationa
c l
Exclusion of specific groups
from the irrigation scheme
allocation process due to lack
of knowledge.
Can affect the adjacent urban
land use pattern
Affect minority group
Lack of training of workers in
charge of irrigation water
system operations
(exploitation)
Increase pressure on existing
social services due to
population immigration.
Increase in diarrhea and other
illnesses due to drinking
reservoir and canal water
Degradation of air quality and
ambient noise due to
construction work.
 Contamination of surface and
underground water

Obstruction and clogging of

canals by weeds and
sedimentation increasing standing
waters and vector breeding sites

Over use and miss use of

irrigation water
Lack of access to markets
Water logging due to excessive
irrigation
Change in soil chemical
properties PH, salinity,
fertility etc.
Loss of vegetation due to land
clearing
Creating habitats for
animal diseases
reservoirs and vectors
Loss of cultural heritage
(archeological and historical
sites)
Population pressure due to the
arrival of migrants attracted
by new economic
opportunities

Expansion of illegal and

Unplanned human
settlements
Restriction for livestock grazing

Disputes on water access and

rights
Failure to achieve production
targets
Pressure on natural

resource due high immigration

(energy,
water, etc.)
Water-borne diseases e.g.
diarrhea, and cholera
associated with poor sanitary
conditions and misuse of
irrigation water for domestic
purpose

Water related disease like

malaria and others associated
with increasing in vector
breeding and contact
Water washed diseases like
scabies and skin infections
with poor sanitary and
hygienic
condition
Poising associated with
excessive mineralization of
irrigation water.
Less water for downstream
users
Loss of water from seepage and
evaporation
Loss of fisheries
 Increased work load of women

Disruption of traditional
cropping systems
Erosion or sedimentation of
canals
Wetlands destruction
Increase in weed pressure
Increased agrochemical
contamination
Disruption of livestock
systems

Failure to achieve production

targets
Poor water distribution
Inequitable allocation of irrigated
plots
Faulty design and construction

Siltation of reservoirs (ponds)

Difficulty in land leveling
Annex EMP monitoring and Monthly Reporting template

Project stage /Phase 1.CONSTRUCTION PHASE EMP Monitoring template

Project Activity Potential Proposed mitigation Institutional Mitigation Mitigation Remarks

Environmental measures Effectiveness
Responsibility Compliance Com Indicate in
Impact
1-5 scale
For Indicate in
Indicate in (1=Low compliance
1-5 scale
Implementation 1-5 scale (C);
(1=Low)
(1=Low) Non Compliance
(NC)
Not applicable (NA)

 


Annex Monthly Reporting template

Monthly Report

Submitted By: __________________________________

Date:___________________

Table of contents
Summary………………………………………………………….
Project Salient Features ………………………………………
General …………………………………………..
Objective …………………………………………
Project Location ………………………………..
Work Progress ………………………………………………..
Environmental and Social Impact Management Work Progress Vs Planed ……………………………………….
Issues that needs Clint’s attention ………………………..

1. Summary of progress:

2. Meetings held:
3. Issues discussed and decisions reached:

4. Estimated completion dates:

5. What tasks do you anticipate having ready and by what dates?

6. Problems that need resolution:

7. Are research activities needed? If so, what activities?

8. Are there collaboration needs or resource constraints?

9. Describe any other assistance needs:

10. In general, describe potential risks and proposed solutions:

Miscellaneous Check list
PART-II
Environmental baseline, impact assessment and natural resource appearance analysis
6. Land use pattern of the kebelle
Total area
 Cultivated land
 Grazing
 Forest and reserve area
 Settlement
 Park
 Wet land Others
6.1. Vegetation cover and variety of species wild life
6.2. Majority cover plant SPECIES IN %
6.3. List endangered plant and animal species

6.4. Describe the reason behind the endangering event of such species?

6.5. Past experience and current practice of the kebelle in Water shade Management including
current achievement
6.5.1. soil water conservation in ha
6.5.2. Biological conservation in ha

6.5.3. area closed in ha

6.5.4. SWC coverage in % from total area

6.5.5. Plantation in hr survival in %

6.5.6. parks and reserved area hr
6.5.7. bad and best land use and management practices of local community practice

6.5.8. Number of cases by deforestation submitted to court and settled in the past three
years, 2004,2005,2006 please quantify it.
6.6. Explain the general condition of environmental degradation , and deforestation, soil erosion,
flooding and others cause-effect trends:

6.7. Is there any effect of soil structure and composition change (disorder) that can site as a
result of traditional farming practices?

6.8. Describe the history, culture and attitude of the community towards sustainable land
management in private land

6.9. Is there any occurrence of invasive alien species entrance from another area could you
estimate the coverage and duration of occurrence???
6.10.Is there any extreme weather event or natural disaster in your locality that can affect
such irrigation project??? When does it occur, 2004,2005,2006,2007

6.11.Is there any climate change incident in your locality in the past and in recent time how it
happen brief shortly.

6.12.How can u describe the state of animal population pressure and grazing balance rate in
your locally? Number of all animal population grazing rate
if so animal population immigration,
6.13.is there any animal out break disease seen recently _____when, how, number

6.14.What do you think be the major challenges, constraints and potential of this locality in
implementing such irrigation practice???

6.15.What potential adverse environmental impacts could come about this project and what
risk minimization measures would u recommend to wards better implementation
approach of this project??
 Summarized checklist for environmental baseline data organization from different sector
and cross sector institutes and relevant stake holders
Water resource and mining office
1. Is there any irrigation practice in your locality describe the existing and potential
irrigation structures.
ID Exciting irrigation Actual irrigable land Potential for Potential Irrigable
structures currently, Hr irrigation land

1 Check-dam Check-dam

2 Diversion Diversion

3 Private pond Private pond

4 Community pond Community pond

5 Roof-catchment Roof-catchment

6 Spate Spate

7 Pumping Pumping

8 Others Others
Source:
 2. Describe the hydrological setting of your kebele, if there is rivers, spring, ponds,
wetland and other including their specific area and official name.

ID Exiting water bodies Official Name Specific locality Potential

1 Rivers
2 Spring
3 Ponds
4 Wet land
5
6
7
8
Total

3. Is there any mining activity, if so what kind of minerals and construction materials have
been extracting and quantity it their corresponding volume of production till 2006 E.C

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

4. What is the source of energy by which the majority of society utilized ever…???

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________

5. List down the alternative energy source and the different energy saving technologies
introduced till 2006.
 Corresponding Types of energy saving technologies Remarks
Year
Imp/stove Ele/stove Ele/cooker lakech Solar-home D-light

Till-2006

In-2007
 Urban-environment aesthetic value and waste management practice
1. What is the general condition of waste management and urban greenery practices in your
town kebelle, how do you evaluate the status its trend
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
2. The volume of waste generated and safely managed

2.1. Generated waste in metric tone

2.2. Safely treated or managed in M3
3.Is there land fill site, if so number
3.1. Solid waste ground area(size)

3.2. Liquid waste num area(size)

4.Urban greenery and aesthetic value related activities

4.1. Green area hr
4.2. Parks hr
5. Sewerage and waste treatment canal length
6. Volume of waste converted to re-use or recycled 3

7. Challenges in waste management, if there exist, also the best practices

7.1. Challenges ever seen
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
7. Best practices
Health-office

1.List the number of health service centers in your locality and their capacity of serving patients per
year averagely?
1.1. health center, numb___________serving capacity (number of population
1.2. health post,
1.3.clinic including private,lower mid total population
1.4. pharmacy, drug shop drug vendor
1.5. Others if so

2. The number of human population who get health service in 2006

3. Explain brefly the top ten diseas and the victims of each correspondent disease ever seen in your
locality(Kebelle) since,2006

1. 6.
2. 7.
3. 8.
4. 9.
5. 10.

4. Is there any disease out-break event of new case, in the past three years, when was that ( the
year), what was the nature of the diseases and quantify it the number of incident in specific period of
time ?

4.1. If so when were the year

4.2. What was the nature of the disease ?

4.3. How many people were affected by the incident ?

5. Was there any water born or related disease occurrence in the past three years ever if so specify
it when and how many group of society vulnerable?

_____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
_
____________________________________________________________________________________
_ _______________________________________________________________________________
6.. Hygien and sanitation how many formal latrines are by now functional in your, kebele and
 quantify the number of people benefited from the service

7. is there waste management practice in your health center compound, land fill site
inclinator ?

Annex : Gap Analysis of Environmental Impact Assessment Studies – Main Report

The general comments

The document is generally well studied and articulated, but it has shown minor
omissions, limitation of information provided and inadequacy in the following points.
1. The purpose and the need of the project needs to be discussed adequately with its own section .
2. Positive impact enhancement measures and mechanisms are not adequately addressed in the EMP
3. The concerns of the community raised needs to be addressed in the ESIA management plan
adequately
4. The ESIA study exhibits inadequacy in information in the physico cultural and Archaeological
resources in and around the project area and the potential risks and the necessary conditions and
management plan
5. Maps and descriptions of the aquatic, wetland, and terrestrial communities found in and around the
project site needs to be provided
6. Description of all alternative actions or project components and scenarios those were, or are, being
considered wear not adequate
7. Information regarding Impact on local biodiversity (such as impacts on bees from pesticide
application, eutrophication of aquatic ecosystems resulting from potential nitrate and phosphate
nutrient addition from fertilizers and invasive species such as water hircine needs to be adequately
discussed and for the potential impacts mitigation and enhancement measures need to be adequately
provided.
8. The types and quantities of waste matter, energy and residual materials and the rate at which this
will be produced needs to be adequately addressed and the disposal routes to the environment
needs to be adequately covered .
9. Information on the size and location of land requirements is not adequately given
10. Grievance redress mechanism and Information disclosures modes in the construction and operation
phases of the project needs to be addressed