Estimation of small reservoir storage capacities in Limpopo River Basin using geographical information systems (GIS) and remotely sensed surface areas: Case of Mzingwane catchment

Abstract The current interest in small reservoirs stems mainly from their utilization for domestic use, livestock watering, fishing and irrigation. Rarely were small reservoirs considered in the water resources system even though they are important in water resource planning and management. The main limitation being lack of knowledge on small reservoir capacities, for the methodologies used to quantify physical parameters of reservoirs are costly, time consuming and laborious. To address this challenge an attempt has been made in this study to estimate small reservoir storage capacities using remotely sensed surface areas. A field study on 12 small reservoirs was carried out in Mzingwane catchment in Limpopo River Basin; Zimbabwe. The depths of water accompanied with their coordinates were measured; from which area and capacity were calculated for each reservoir using geographical information system based on data acquired from the field and that from satellite images. The output data was compared and a linear regression analysis was carried out to establish a power relationship between surface area and storage capacity of small reservoirs. The Pearson correlation analysis at 95% confidence interval indicated that the variances of the two surface areas (field area and image area) were not significantly different ( p 2 ) and storage capacities of reservoirs (m 3 ), with 95% variation of the storage capacity being explained by surface areas. The relationship can be used as a tool in decision-making processes in integrated water resources planning and management in the river basin. The applicability of the relationship to other catchments requires further research as well as investigating the impacts of small reservoirs in water resources available in the river basin by carrying out a hydrological modelling of the catchment.