SOIL EROSION ASSESSMENT AND CONSERVATION SCENARIOS IN THE WAY SEKAMPUNG DAM CATCHMENT AREA, INDONESIA
Authors: Ikromi Fahmi, Slamet Budi Yuwono, Endro Prasetyo Wahono, Abdullah Aman Damai & Dyah Indriana Kusumastuti
Ikromi Fahmi: Doctor of Environmental Science, Postgraduate, University of Lampung, Indonesia.
Slamet Budi Yuwono: Department of Forestry, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Lampung, Indonesia.
Endro Prasetyo Wahono: Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Lampung, Indonesia.
Abdullah Aman Damai: Department of Fisheries and Marine, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Lampung, Indonesia.
Dyah Indriana Kusumastuti: Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Lampung, Indonesia.
ABSTRACT
Soil erosion in dam catchment areas poses a serious threat to watershed sustainability and reservoir performance. This study assessed erosion characteristics and conservation scenarios in the Way Sekampung Dam catchment area, Lampung Province. Soil erosion was estimated using the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) by integrating rainfall erosivity, soil erodibility, slope, land cover, and conservation practices in a GIS environment. The results show that the existing average erosion rate reached 141.55 ton ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, far exceeding the tolerable soil loss (38.7 ton ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹), with very high erosion risks dominating the watershed. Conservation-based development scenarios significantly reduced erosion, with the integrated conservation scenario achieving the lowest rate (19.9 ton ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹). These findings highlight the importance of sustainable watershed management to reduce erosion, prolong reservoir service life, and support water availability and food security.
Keywords: Soil erosion, Watershed management, USLE, Dam catchment area, Food security