[WLRC, May 2026] — Integrated watershed management interventions are in good progress at Wedecha catchment of Awash Basin, with ongoing efforts focused on soil and water conservation, gully rehabilitation, livelihood enhancement, and water harvesting.
Key activities are being implemented across two woredas and three sites, including Godino Kebele and Gende Gorba. At Angu Gully in Godino Kebele, significant progress is witnessed, particularly in water harvesting through the construction of cutoff drains designed to capture and manage runoff. To date, 41 gabion check dams have been constructed along the gully, contributing to erosion control and landscape restoration.
Community participation played a central role in advancing the interventions. In Gende Gorba Kebele, Harsede Woreda, for example, local residents actively engaged in stone collection at three sites to support ongoing gully rehabilitation works, demonstrating strong commitment to restoring degraded land.
Project teams are engaging with community members to address concerns regarding fears of potential land appropriation that arose from trench (stone bund) construction at the foot of Yerer Mountain and build consensus, while maintaining momentum in other intervention areas.
