PAP/CAR-Based Water Erosion Analysis in the Oued Lakhdar Watershed

Abstract

This work is the result of a qualitative assessment of water erosion in the Oued Lakhdar watershed, located within the larger Oum Erbia watershed. The PAP/CAR model and geomatic tools were used for this evaluation. The Oum Erbia watershed, spanning 1664 km2, experiences severe erosion due to factors such as heavy and aggressive rainfall, steep slopes, sparse vegetation, and the predominance of soft rocks. Human activities, including deforestation, vegetation degradation, and inappropriate agricultural practices, have further exacerbated the erosion problem in the Oued Lakhdar watershed. The PAP/CAR method allowed for a qualitative assessment of erosion throughout the entire watershed and the identification of priority erosion zones. Data analysis using the PAP/CAR method revealed five main erosion states: extreme erosion (20.57%), strong erosion (18.56%), moderate erosion (23.02%), notable erosion (27.02%), and weak erosion (10.84%). In total, 62.15% of the watershed experiences moderate to extreme erosion.