Abstract
In the Sahel region, the desertification is progressing with the influence of the climate change and the human being activity. The purpose of this investigation was to examine about the nature and the development of water resources for prevention of desertification.
The investigation area is the Goroubi drainage basin which extends over the Republic of Niger and Burkina Faso. Rain on the basin fall only in the rainy season from May to September and the annual precipitation is from 400 to 800mm. The river is a seasonal river and has flow only in the rainy season from June to early October. The annual flow rate is an average of 260 million cubic meter. The outflow form of the river is related with the size with drainage basin area. The groundwater can divide three unconfined aquifers. These aquifers exist in the basement complex of the Precambrian, in the Continental terminal formation of the Tertiary and the alluvial deposit of the Quaternary. This groundwater can be used through the year.
After estimating the water balance of the basin by the tank model, evapotranspiration is 66%, the river outflow is 5% and the underground penetration is 29%.
Effective usage of water resources is groundwater and dam storage water in the dry season, surface water and groundwater in the rainy season judging from the characteristic of water resources. Practically, these are construction of small dam and recharge dam, and well development for aquifers.
