Assessment of Water Recedes At the Smith Sound Bay in Lake Victoria in Misuingwi Tanzania

Abstract

An environmental degradation in the form of wetland destruction has been evident at the tip tail of the Smith Sound bay of Lake Victoria. Therefore the main objective of this study is to assess the changes that are occurring at the smith Bay by determining their causes and possible impacts, and the specific objectives of this study include the following: -To determine the trend in water level, determination the trend of rainfall at the area and to ascertain the possible causes to the trends in the variation of the water levels. Data was collected between June and July 2013 using various participatory techniques, including in-depth household interviews of direct wetland resource users (e.g. farmers, fishers, traders, hunters, herdsmen, craft makers etc), Key Informants (local administrators, CBO and local NGO leaders) and direct observations, Group discussions were held with community members of Ilalambogo and Lubili who reside in the affected area. The study was able to elicit historical perspective of the area, their views on the causes and effects of the drying up wetland. Transect walk with the local members was done to observe, ask, listen, discuss and identify different zones, soils, land use, vegetation and discuss problems. The sampled population consisted of 150 randomly selected household respondents living within the bay. Discussion of the findings done by peoples accounts of the past major events, ecological histories and changes in water use and analysis of data by SPSS and Exel. Result shows that water recedes was contributed by, Pumping of water from the bay to the gold mines near by i.e. Kakola mines. Overgrazing by hundreds of cattle from Shinyanga, Geita, kwimba and the local ones near the bay and Current agricultural activities such as chickpea growing, sweet potatoes etc have accelerated the decline of water. Lastly, the study gives conclusions reached, that it was true that Smith Sound bay has dried up in parts and its water were recedes in other parts of the bay. hence Lake recession increased availability of land for agriculture and crop yields, fishery to food security and household income showed a marked declined. I suggests some recommendations mainly to do an analytical research on a much larger catchment area to include surrounding districts of Geita, Shinyanga and Missungwi and to conduct an outreach programme in the area with an aim of creating public awareness on environmental issues also National policies on wetland conservation management which can conform with agricultural development policies are