POTENTIAL OF EPISODIC FLOWS IN SOME FOUR REPRESENTATIVE NON-PERENNIAL RIVER FLOW CATCHMENTS IN SEMI ARID LAIKIPIA DISTRICT, KENYA

The purpose of this study was to establish the water resources of thenon-perennial streams in providing supplementary water needs inLaikipia district. This district has undergone remarkable land usechanges resulting in water use stress of perennial river abstractions andgroundwater exploitation in the semi arid environment.Over a three year period extending from January 1989 to December1991, hydrological variables were monitored in four non-perennial flowcatchments within the district. These catchments have been shown tohave potential of about 8000 m³/km²/year except forlong dry spells during the observation period and high sediment lossesand evaporation rates calling for proper conservation measures in orderto exploit productively the water resources potential of such catchments.