Analysis of the Impacts of Soda Ash Mining on Abijata and Shala Lakes: Analysis of the Impacts of Soda Ash Mining on Abijata and Shala Lakes Subwatershed: the Main Ethiopian Rift System

Lake Abiyata is a closed, highly alkaline lake located in the Main Ethiopian Rift where extractable soda ash for industrial production is available.This book mainly analyses the major environmental impacts of soda ash extraction in the last two decades of the Main Ethiopian Rift Lakes, particularly Lake Abijata.The long-term mean monthly lake levels of Ziway and Langano Lakes show fluctuations about the average values whereas Lake Abijata has shown a higher amplitude with a loss of 7.5m in the time span of 27 years. The total akalinity and salinity values for Lake Abijata have increased by higher percentage values in the last 40 years.In addition,the rates of brine abstraction by the Abijata Soda Ash Share Company has shown a decline while rates of abstraction of waters in the head waters of the Ziway-Shala watershed has increased, due to the demand for irrigation and household use over last 20 years.Therefore, integrated basin level approach is very crucial to effectively utilize the potential in a sustainable manner.