Mapping of Zones Vulnerable to Water Erosion Using PAP / CAR and GIS Method Upper the Aït Moulay Hmad Dam, Northeast of the Central Massif, Morocco

Abstract

The present work is an application of the PAP/CAR (Priority Activity Program/Regional Activity Center) model within the catchment of the Aïn Leuh River in order to map vulnerable areas to water erosion. This area is a sub-watershed of the Beht River, located between the Middle Atlas and the southeastern side of Central Morocco. The first phase of the PAP/CAR (predictive phase) provides an erosion distribution map with approximately 12% of the total catchment area, which represents a medium to a high degree of erosion. The second PAP/CAR erosion map shows that 77.34% of the basin is covered by superficial gullies. The superposition map of the predictive and descriptive approaches, the 3rd phase of PAP/RAC, highlights soil loss locations that are proportional to the main factors of water erosion. This map indicates that maximum soil loss related to ravines and rills is located in the center and downstream of the watershed. The presence of these forms can be linked to the aggressiveness of the rain and the absence of plant cover.