Potential impact and mitigation measures of pump irrigation projects on Lake Tana and its environs, Ethiopia

Environmental Impact of pump irrigation projects from Lake Tana (Megech - Seraba, Tana Asrate, Tana Mekonta, Tana Wenjeta, and Tana Zegie) was studied from July 2018 to February 2019. Interactions between project activities and environmental parameters were also done by a matrix, and quantitative and qualitative analysis. As a result, identified positive impacts are new job creation, the opportunity to promote traditional agriculture and income increase, whereas land, fisheries and wetland degradation, pollution, deforestation and wildlife, inefficient water use, the decline in soil fertility, erosion, sedimentation, small aquatic animal death, and cumulative impacts are negative ones. Mitigation measures for these impacts to reduce their effects to the minimum level and recommendations have been proposed so that the execution of the projects becomes a success without harming or with the least negative effect on the environment.