Ecological Impacts of Dams on Vegetation Communities and Pattern Using GIS: A Case Study of Wadi Ma?awil Catchment

Dams are a human innovation to reduce flood hazards and to provide water for irrigation and domestic use. In Oman, dams also slow the water flowing through natural wadis, increasing infiltration into subsurface zones. At the same time, dams could ecologically disturb the habitat and the ecosystems downstream. This study is aimed at documenting the changes in the vegetation and soil properties in upstream and downstream areas of Ma?awil dam. This research will examine the potential impacts of the Ma?awil dam in reducing sedimentation transport downstream. Our hypothesis is that the dam will reduce the supply of sediments to downstream areas, and there will also be change in the habitat in upstream and downstream area. These reductions in sediment will have major impacts on wadi channel geomorphology, and in plant and animal habitat. Despite the fact that several dams have been constructed in Oman, no attempt has been made to investigate these dams? impact from an environmental point of view. The main objective of this study is to investigate habitat change or shift due to interference with the natural process of sedimentation transport. The study will provide a database for future reference in mapping habitat change within the study area and a framework for study of other dams in Oman.