Incorporating urban greenery /detention ponds in urban flooding management in the Mamahuma Basin

Prof Kwaku Amaning Adjei,
Mr Richard Kofi Amekor
Kwame Nkrumah University Of Science and Technology, Kumasi (KNUST)

Research problem: Channelization has been the main approach to solving the Perennial flooding in the Mamahuma basin but has been unable to stop the recurrent flood. The use of urban green spaces and Detention storage has had very little attention, though it has the potential to reduce flood peaks greatly

Innovation/novelty: The use of urban green spaces and detention storage is not one of the main approaches used in the management of floods in Ghana, and hence, this research will serve as a basis and evidence for the justification and adoption of this approach in the management of floods in Ghana

Proposed solution: Hydrological/Hydraulic modelling will be used to simulate the impact of using urban green spaces and detention storage at both the household and municipal levels as one of the main options in the management of floods in the basin to justify the adoption and influence policy in the management of floods

Research Methodology: A literature review will be carried out together with the setting up of a Hydrological/Hydraulic model to simulate the impact of urban green spaces and detention storage on flood peaks in the Mamahuma basin. The research output will be disseminated through a dissemination workshop, a Journal article and a Policy Brief.

Practical application and implications: The model developed will be shared through a dissemination workshop with key stakeholders in the management of floods in Ghana, including the Ghana Hydrological Authority and the National Disaster Management Organization as well as the development of a policy brief to help in the adoption and institutionalization of the proposed approach.

Assumptions: Key stakeholders will be interested in our proposed approach; hydrological, meteorological, and catchment characteristics (soil, land/cover, etc.) data are available

Scope and limitations:  This study will only focus on the Mamahuma basin