Assessment of rainstorm induced sediment deposition, gully development at Ikot Ekpene, Nigeria and the devastating effect on the environment

This work focused on the assessment of rainstorm induced sediment deposition, gully development and the devastating effect on Ikot Ekpene watershed through the observation and measurement of rainstorm events and the physical parameters; rainstorm intensity, flow velocity, flow duration, kinetic energy of the storm, runoff flow discharge, etc. which are variables of soil erosion. This was carried out for eight (8) events recorded, measured and tabulated accordingly. Results showed that the degree of sediment deposition in the studied watershed was a function of the rainfall intensity and the speed at which the runoff cuts through the watershed, which is also a function of the slope of the catchment. These variables inadvertently built up the kinetic energy of the flow within the watershed for every event and affected the detachment, deposition and total soil loss of the studied gully area. The highest amount of storm was recorded on the 18/06 with the highest storm duration. Eventually this day recorded the highest of the other factors which included kinetic which was analysed with the energy equation proposed with Marshall and Palmer. These phenomena affect the environmental Geotechnics of the studied area and the other adjoining suburban and rural hubs within the state because the erosion rips into the major roads connecting the Ikot Ekpene to Umuahia, Aba, Uyo, Eket and Calabar as well as the cities accommodating the multinational business life in Akwa Ibo state.