The Role of Watershed Management Projects in Reducing Erosion and Sediment of Watersheds

Soil erosion is a phenomenon that leads to destruction and loss of valuable soil, especially under accelerated conditions. As the life of human societies requires water and soil, variety of biological and mechanical operations are practiced in order to prevent soil erosion and water loss, runoff control, and to improve the soil vegetative coverage. In order to evaluate the role of biological and mechanical watershed management projects on the erosion and sediments of Chehel Gazi Watershed, Sanandaj, the erosion and sediment of the watershed was determined using MPSIAC Model after identifying the performed operations. Then using paired T-test method, the impact of watershed practices on decreasing erosion and sediment was investigated. The results showed that specific sediment of watershed has decreased from 2.7 to 2.5 ton/hectare. Moreover, the level of higher sediment classes decreased and level of lower sediment classes increased. The statistical analyses showed that there is a significant difference between sedimentation before and after the watershed management project.