Rising in the mountains of Dogu’a Tembien in northern Ethiopia, it flows southward to empty finally in the Giba and Tekezé River.

[1] It is a confined river, locally meandering in its narrow alluvial plain, with an average slope gradient of 43 metres per kilometre.

At Habdi Luqmuts and on other steep slopes, exclosures have been established; the dense vegetation largely contributes to enhanced infiltration, less flooding and better baseflow.

The objective was to improve the livelihood of the communities of Harena, Hech'i and Addi Qolqwal as well as to demonstrate and promote global catchment management in the district.

[10] The results of the implementation of site-specific conservation techniques aimed at increasing water infiltration and conserving soil were particularly monitored in the headwaters at May Sho'ate: dry masonry stone bunds,[11] check dams in gullies,[12] and the set-aside of degraded rangelands which resulted in exclosures.