A new government proposal to construct a major dam inside Tsavo East National Park has sparked fresh debate over balancing development needs with environmental conservation.
The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has announced that the National Irrigation Authority is seeking approval to build the proposed Athi Dam and related irrigation infrastructure within the park in Taita Taveta County.
According to details contained in an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report, the project would involve the construction of a mixed concrete and rock-fill dam with a storage capacity of 306.4 million cubic metres of water.
The dam, if constructed, would result in the construction of a vast reservoir, spanning about 38 square kilometres within the park, measuring approximately 13 kilometres long and six kilometres wide.
In a notice issued by the agency, NEMA asked Kenyans to give their opinions about the development proposal before any final decision is made.
“National Environment Management Authority wishes to invite members of the public to make oral or written submissions within thirty days of the issuance of this notice to the Director General NEMA for purposes of assisting the Authority in the decision-making process in relation to this project,” the notice says.
The Athi Dam project is aimed at irrigation, controlling of flow in the river and controlling of sediments using the extensive water supply system. The project will see the creation of a dam, rising up to 34 meters in height, and functioning as an important water storage facility.
However, the project has also raised environmental concerns due to its location within one of Kenya’s largest and most important wildlife conservation areas.
The EIA report outlines some of the possible impacts that include destruction of wildlife habitat, alteration of wildlife movement corridors, decline in biodiversity, and disruption of natural flow of water. Human-wildlife conflicts may also result from the implementation of the proposed project.
However, some of the ways to mitigate these effects include wildlife overpasses, wildlife habitat restoration, continuous ecological monitoring and monitoring of wildlife population.
There is also a need for creation of artificial watering facilities for wildlife that would be affected including hippos and crocodiles due to change in their habitats.
This comes at a time when there are public concerns about development projects within conservation areas that affect wildlife.
In recent weeks, there have been heated discussions about other development projects implemented by the government within protected conservation areas and the environmental groups are demanding more safety for wildlife habitats and ecosystems.
As the public participation process kicks off, conservationists, local community members and other stakeholders will be analyzing the potential impacts of the project before the NEMA makes its decision.