The inception report of the Akagera / Nyabarongo avulsion study was presented to Rwanda and Burundi stakeholders respectively on November 1st at the Ministry of Environment, Kigali and 3rd, 2019 at Hotel Le Chandelier, Bujumbura.
The meetings involved representatives of Rwanda Ministry for Water and Environment, Rwanda Water Forestry Authority (RWFA), Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), Burundi Ministry for Water, Environment and Agriculture, Institut de Geographie du Burundi (IGEBU), the Office Burundais pour la Protection de l ’Environment (OBPE), Department de Geographie de l’Universite du Burundi. The meeting also involved NELTAC Members, Rusumo Project Steering Committee Members on behalf of the Rusumo Power Company Limited Managing Director.
The objective of the study is to determine if Akagera river avulsion has any impact on the production of the Rusumo hydropower plant. In case there is negative impact, the study will propose mitigation measures and advise on well-informed decisions. HYDROC & POYRY, the leading consulting firm will collect existing data from reports and studies of respective Burundi and Rwanda ministries and institutions as well as from field surveys.
Under the supervision of Rusumo Project, HYDROC & POYRY will address fluvial morphological issues and changes to find out the deep cause of the avulsion, the changes in sediment transport pattern and the change in upstream and downstream meanders, the floating papyrus islands, low lake level to name but a few. Some of the anticipated proposed solutions will be blocking the channels due to floating papyrus islands. HYDROC & POYRY will also conduct oral interviews with local people during the field surveys.
Some of the key questions that the study is enquiring is: is this the first time that an avulsion towards Lake Rweru took place? Were in the past already connecting channels present? Is there occurrence of floating islands? How did the avulsion develop over time? Local ideas on cause of avulsion?
Presentation of inception report of the Akagera River avulsion study to Rwanda Ministry of Water and Environment, Nov 1st, 2019
Group Photo after presentation of inception report of the Akagera River avulsion study to Rwanda Ministry of Water and Environment, Nov 1st, 2019,
Presentation of inception report of the Akagera River avulsion study to Burundi Ministry of Water and Environment, Nov 3rd, 2019
Group Photo after presentation of inception report of the Akagera River avulsion study to Burundi Ministry of Water and Environment, Nov 3rd, 2019
