Erosion Control Study on Watershed of Low Paurai (Sokomaki), Flores, Indonesia, using Aerial Photo Interpretation

Agus P.P. Brotodihardjo

Research Institute for Water Resources Development, Bandung, Indonesia

An erosion control study had been carried out on watershed of Lowo Pauria (Sokomaki), Kabupaten Ende, Flores Island, Province of East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, with aerial photo interpretation as one of the study tools. Integratedly this study was also carried out using USLE (Universal Soil Loss Equation) method, but in this paper the USLE method will not be discussed furthermore and it will only be touched slightly at the end portion of this paper. 

By using aerial photo interpretation the studied area may be classified as 4 classes of erosivity potential/intensity, i.e. weak erosivity (W), medium erosivity (M), strong erosivity (S), and very strong erosivity (VS). For the purposes each factor influencing the erosivity potential/intensity has to be weighted with numbers. Those above factors are: geologic unit, slope steepness, vegetation and soil thickness. Furthermore, the total of the weight number of all factors will be used as the base for preparing the erosivity potential/intensity map of the area. 

As soon as the erosivity potential/intensity map of the studied area has been produced, the further stage to determine the action for controlling erosion hazards (which may be happened in the studied area) might be decided.