Feasibility and In-depth Studies on the Development of Lake Chad

<p>The drastic decline in freshwater availability in the Lake Chad Basin has resulted in a 95% decrease in the volume of the lake from 1963 to date. At the same time, the degradation of the Lake Chad ecosystem following the droughts of 1973-74 and 1985-86 leads to increased erosion of the watershed and silting of Lake Chad and its main tributaries, the Chari and Logone rivers. The actual rate of siltation and sedimentation of Lake Chad is unknown. However, it has been estimated that the lake could receive around 2.8 million tonnes of sediment by rivers each year, and approximately 150 tonnes of wind-generatedper km&sup2; of lake per year.Due to silting and sedimentation in the lake sedimentation in the lake, it has become difficult to navigate,especially during low-water periods.Other obstacles to navigation in Lake Chad include invasive plants. The 14th Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the LCBC,held in N'Djamena in April 2012, approved the following measures the following measures as a means of improving availability of water in the Chari River and Lake Chad:</p>
<p>i. Improve the hydraulic capacity of the Chari in order to limit losses in flood plains; </p>
<p>ii. Develop Lake Chad and its main tributaries through dredging and desilting to ensure a better distribution of water in the</p>
<p>the various basins of the lake.There is therefore a need for the intervention strategy should begin by acquiring knowledge,as well as the need for</p>
<p>observation and short-term measurements.</p>
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