Soil Erosion Problems Associated with Different Road Construction types in Moi University Campus and Sigor Division, West Pokot District, Kenya

Abstract

This study sought to investigate erosional damage on the area bordering drainage. The study University was carried out erosion the roads road resulting on 17 road Campus and on a 42Km stretch Division of West Pokot District. On and the from road segments in of the B4 road The stud ies were carried Moi in Sigor out between November 1995 and March 1996. Between November 1995 and January Moi University Campus were surveyed erosion and the environmental 1996, 17 road segments on to obtain roadside indices/classes drains on road damage resulting from road drainage. The extent of erosion in terms of gullies and rills the information was used for each of the to give on the road surface and erosion and sedimentation roads. Murram roads were found to be less eroded than the dust roads and footpaths. A more detailed stretch investigation was conducted on a 42 kilometre of the B4 road between Marich and Chesegon Centres in Sigor Division of West Pokot District, between January 1996 and March 1996. In terms of the lengths of the eroded road surface, the roads of Moi University Campus were more eroded than the 84 road in Sigor Division. Road drainage University Campus. Facilities However culverts, used on the B4 road to provide surface. were lacking from all the drifts and mitre drainage of the run-off The amount of erosion on the road surface roads of t'-1oi drains were from the road was found to depend on the slope of the road, the slope length of catchment and soil erodibility as reflected by the slaking index. The amount of roadside erosion depended on the slope of the road and the soil characteristics of the road segment. Erosion of the area road in Sigor Division areas roads around bordering (a semi arid of Moi theroad area University but 9 (a was severe there high for the 84 was no erosion on agricultural potential area). Road drainage found to be effective erosion control road culverts for for protecting serious the area around drainage GISI area on which used to predict areas of high sections observations. Planning soil identified This from the vegetation-soi from lacking erosion the map· the the 84 road soil erosion have indicated that works for on the was this gully analysis areas was The use of to cause more conducted for the The overlay was which coincided erosion could along the purpose. is located. Potential serious GIS environment Division. Were However in the areas outside of overlay drains) erosion. road was found use of drifts to conservation road mitre the 84 road of Sigor of run-off damage than drifts, the were generally Chesegon-Sigor the (culverts, As a result, environmental A in measures reserves. Observed structures the from be useful roads. With field