Agula'i River

[2] Future Lake Giba will occupy the plain where Sulluh, Genfel and Agula’i Rivers meet.

It is a confined river, locally meandering in its narrow alluvial plain, with a slope gradient of 8 metres per kilometre.

Peak discharges up to 520 m³ per second occur in the second part of the rainy season (month of August) when there are strong rains and the soils are saturated with water in many places.

[4] As such water contains many nutrients (locally it is called "aygi"), farmers estimate that it strengthens their cattle, which they will bring to the river.

On steep slopes, exclosures have been established; the dense vegetation largely contributes to enhanced infiltration, less flooding and better baseflow.

Transhumance takes place in the summer rainy season, when the lands near the villages are occupied by crops.

The gorges are particularly attractive as a transhumance destination zone, because there is water and good growth of semi-natural vegetation.

[12] Boulders and pebbles encountered in the river bed can originate from any location higher up in the catchment.

Giba drainage network
Sediment sampling from Agula’i river, using a purposively built foot bridge
Agula’i bank erosion