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CRS-Afghanistan Case Study for CRS IWRM-LA
Case Study: Integrated Water Resource Management at Siakhar Togai
David Gandhi, Technical Adviser – Agriculture and Watershed, CRS Afghanistan.
Objectives:
 Integrated water resource management in catchment and command area of a spring-fed system
 Mapping of water resources for IWRM using GPS / Google Earth
1. Background: Siakhar Togai hamlet (20 households) is located in the middle catchment of the
Sare Ahangaran watershed, which has been taken up by CRS for implementing a Community Based
Natural Resource Management programme. This case-study describes the efforts initiated by the
community with CRS support, to implement an integrated water resource development project in a
micro-watershed near Siakhar Togai.
The project centers around renovation of an existing indigenous earthen and boulder check-dam which
is used by the community for meeting it’s various needs viz. water for drinking for humans and livestock;
domestic use and irrigation. The check dam harvests water from 4 small springs which are located at
the outlet of the micro-watershed. The catchment area is around 45 ha. (estimated using GPS, Google
Earth and Easy Acreage software) The water for irrigation is carried from the check dam via a 1 km long
earthen canal to irrigate a number of a number of small fields scattered along it’s length (see map).
During the participatory resource mapping exercise carried out with all the villages / hamlets of Sare
Ahangaran during June’09, the representatives from Siakhar Togai identified renovation of the check-
dam as a priority for CRS support. The main problem reported was insufficient water storage capacity
and heavy seepage losses from the structure, as a result of which they were unable to effectively irrigate
their fields. After site-transect and many discussions with the community, the following problems were
identified with the system
 15-20 years ago the total area irrigated by the canal was around 18-20 jerib (approx. 4 ha.).
However, at present the area under irrigation is around 10 jerib (2.4 ha.). The reduction in area
is due to reduced discharge from the springs and seepage losses from the check-dam and canal.
 A few decades ago, there was good vegetative cover in the catchment area of the check dam /
springs. Since then the area has been heavily used for grazing and uprooting of bushes and is
presently eroded and largely devoid of vegetation. While some of the elders from the
community could not relate to loss of vegetative cover to the decrease in spring yield (instead
attributing this to climatic and other factors), the leaders who have participated in the NRM
awareness programs organized by CRS were able to do so.

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CRS-Afghanistan Case Study for CRS IWRM-LA
 The canal runs along the slope and is breached at many places due to run-off from the upper
part of the hill, resulting in loss of irrigation water.
2. Interventions: After repeated site-visits and discussions with the community, it was decided to
address the problem using the IWRM approach. GPS coordinates were taken of the spring,
catchment, canal and fields and a detailed map prepared using Google Earth. Areas were estimated
using Easy Acreage software.
The following activities have been initiated
 Renovation of Check Dam: In October’09, CRS supported the community in construction of a
masonry check-dam at the site of the earthen dam with a view to increase storage of water and
reduce seepage losses. CRS has provided construction material, technical support and paid for
skilled and unskilled labor through Cash-for-Work, while the community contributed the stones
and also transported the construction material uphill from the road to the site.
 Bio-Diversity Conservation: The community has agreed to implement a Bio-Diversity
conservation program in the catchment area of the Check-Dam. The entire catchment area will
be protected from grazing and uprooting of bushes for a period of 4 years (Fall 2009 – 2012).
The community owns approx. 120 sheep and goats, 10 cattle and 10 donkeys, which will now be
grazed on alternate sites in the proximity of the village (the community has access to around
100 ha. of grazing land on either side of the Sare Ahangaran river). In addition soil and water
conservation measures including contour stone bunds, trenches, gully plugs have been initiated
during Nov’09, with a view to conserve soil and facilitate infiltration of rain water and snow
melt. Seeding of grasses and shrubs will be carried out in the area. CRS will support the labor
component through Cash-for-Work. These measures are expected to result in increase in
vegetative cover and eventually contribute to increased water yield from the springs feeding the
check-dam.
 Protection for Canal: The hill slopes above the canal will be surveyed and the critical sections
will be treated with stone walls, gully plugs and vegetative measures to prevent run-off from
damaging the canal. This will reduce water-loss due to canal breaches and erosion of the slopes
below the canal.
 Protection of Water Source (spring): The women collect drinking water from the spring, while
livestock drink either directly from the spring or from the pool below it. As a result, it is difficult
to maintain hygiene around the spring site. CRS plans to initiate discussion with the women and
men of Siakhar Togai for protecting the spring and surrounding area while meeting the drinking
water needs of humans and livestock.

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CRS-Afghanistan Case Study for CRS IWRM-LA
3. Benefits from IWRM at Siakhar Togai:
 Renovation of the check dam and measures to protect the canal from damage are expected to
enable the community to increase the frequency of irrigation, as also meet other needs such as
water for domestic use and livestock more effectively.
 The bio-physical measures in the catchment area are expected to be completed by mid-2010,
while the bio-diversity conservation will be an ongoing effort on the part of the community.
The total protection (ban of grazing and extraction of bushes) will be replaced by a sustainable
system of harvesting the vegetation to meet the fodder and fuel needs to the community.
 Over the next two to three years, the yield from the springs is expected to increase significantly,
enabling the farmers to utilize the irrigation system to it’s previous coverage of 18-20 ha.
 Spring protection measures will enable the community to meet drinking water needs for
humans and livestock while maintaining a hygienic environment at the site.
4. Note on Mapping of Water Resources:
Physical maps of required scale are not easily available for most areas in Afghanistan. Maps can be
generated by recording coordinates using hand-help GPS units and plotting these on Google Earth free
software. Areas can also be estimated using Easy Acreage software along with Google Earth. In
mountainous areas such as Sare Ahangaran, where it is not practical to physically visit high locations for
recording GPS coordinates, it is possible to visually locate catchment boundaries, drainage lines and
other physical features on Google Earth. Hence, this is a handy tool for NRM planners to prepare maps
and work with communities.
While planning IWRM at Siakhar Togai, in the absence of physical maps we were able to prepare
accurate maps using GPS and Google Earth. The spring, catchment area, canal and fields were located
and areas estimated. Though we were not able to reach the high ridge points for recording GPS
readings, we were able to visually demarcate the catchment area on Google Earth. The maps were
shared with the community and were a basis for active discussions and decision making.

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CRS-Afghanistan Case Study for CRS IWRM-LA
1. Base Map of Sare Ahangaran Watershed (Siakhar Togai hamlet at extreme left)
2. Siakhar Toghai Hamlets and surrounding area

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CRS-Afghanistan Case Study for CRS IWRM-LA
3. Siakhar Togai spring and catchment area
4. Siakhar Togai canal and irrigated area

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CRS-Afghanistan Case Study for CRS IWRM-LA
5. Indigenous Check-Dam to harvest spring water for irrigation (June 2009)
6. Renovation of Check-Dam (October 2009)

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CRS-Afghanistan Case Study for CRS IWRM-LA
7. Use of spring and check-dam for drinking purposes
8. Springs and Catchment area (October 2009)

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CRS-Afghanistan Case Study for CRS IWRM-LA
9. Soil and Water Conservation in Catchment Area (November 2009)
10. Gully Plug in Catchment Area (November 2009)
ENDS