The Yala Swamp is a wetland region of about 175 square kilometres (68 sq mi) in Western Kenya .
25-521: The Yala Swamp at the mouth of the Yala River covers about 175 square kilometres (68 sq mi) along the northeastern shore of Lake Victoria. The swamp contains the 1,500 hectares (3,700 acres) Lake Kanyaboli , a freshwater deltaic wetland with an average depth of 3 metres (9.8 ft), which is fed by the floodwaters of the Nzoia and Yala rivers and by the backflow of water from Lake Victoria. The wetland
50-598: A few large hills. Most of the population are Luo , but in some areas the people are mainly Luhya . About 43% of the land is used for crops, and 55% for grazing livestock. Livestock includes cows, bulls, chickens, goats and sheep. There are few trees, and widespread soil erosion. As of 2016 a feasibility study had been completed for development of the Nandi Forest dam to support irrigation, water supply and power generation. The power plant would have two 25 MW Pelton turbines and would supply 185 GWh annually. In April 2020 it
75-561: A freshwater deltaic wetland with an average depth of 3 metres (9.8 ft), which is fed by the floodwaters of the Nzoia and Yala rivers and by the backflow of water from Lake Victoria. The lake provides a refuge for several species of fish that are no longer present in Lake Victoria. In the past the Yala River flowed through the eastern 20% of the Yala Swamp into Lake Kanyaboli, then into
100-541: A rocky bed, with a notable absence of alluvial flats and terraces. The main channel is about 30 metres (98 ft) wide, apart from the Yala Swamp. The river runs through the southeast of the Kakamega Forest , where it has a dramatic 20-metre (66 ft) waterfall. The Yala Swamp at the mouth of the river covers about 175 square kilometres (68 sq mi) along the northern shore of Lake Victoria. The swamp contains 1,500 hectares (3,700 acres) Lake Kanyaboli ,
125-606: Is among hundreds of ecosystems which are facing extinction threats in the country. Like its cousin oxbow lake in the Rift Valley, Lake Kamnarok , a game reserve which is currently at the edge of losing its value, Lake Kanyaboli is also underway to become an history. In early May, 2023, the lake broke all its dykes following the heavy rains in the region and lost its water at alarming rate for more than one week. The water swept everything on its way, destroying thousands of acres of farms and leaving hundreds of families homeless. According to
150-560: Is in Siaya and Busia counties in Kenya. It acts as a filter for waters that flow into Lake Victoria from two major rivers, the Yala River and Nzoia River . It is sometimes considered the source of the Nile. In the past the Yala River flowed through the eastern 20% of the Yala Swamp into Lake Kanyaboli, then into the main swamp, and then through a small gulf into Lake Victoria. Today the eastern part of
175-408: Is one of the largest Kenyan rivers feeding Lake Victoria, with an average discharge of 27.4 cubic metres per second (970 cu ft/s). The river contributes about 5% of the annual inflow to Lake Victoria. The Yala River flows through a wide, mature valley that appears to have been rejuvenated during the tilting associated with the rifting movements of the mid- Pleistocene . It runs swiftly over
200-772: The Silver cyprinid ( Rastrineobola argentea ) locally known as "Omena" or "Dagaa" among East African communities, the Nile Perch and the Nile tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus ). In 1988 the World Conservation Union listed hundreds of the endemic fish species as Endangered. Some of these fish are still thriving in Lake Kanyaboli, including several unknown Haplochromis species, Singida tilapia ( Oreochromis esculentus ) and Victoria tilapia ( Oreochromis variabilis ). Lake Kanyaboli
225-741: The Uasin Gishu District includes Lake Lessos , one of the Yala River's main sources. The block has level terrain with medium gradient hills with shallow depressions. There are wetlands and small permanent streams. The farms are large and there is little subsistence agriculture. The cultivated land is interspersed with grasslands. Dairy production is important. 22% of the plots showed soil erosion in 2008. The Middle Yala Block in Vihiga District and Kakamega District contains mountainous highlands with many small streams, and held clusters of wetlands. There are preserved remnants of forest throughout
250-743: The Yala Swamp on the border of Lake Victoria. The land along its course is mostly cultivated or used for grazing, with relatively few remnants of the original forest. Soil erosion is visible throughout the river basin, particularly in the lower parts. Projects are underway to exploit the river for hydroelectricity. The Yala River rises in the Nandi Escarpment in the Rift Valley Province , Kenya. It flows west for 219 kilometres (136 mi) to its mouth on Lake Victoria in Siaya County , Kenya. It
275-467: The Yala and Nzoia river basins issued a baseline report in 2008. It studied three representative 10 by 10 square kilometres (3.9 by 3.9 sq mi) blocks of land in the Yala basin. In all three blocks much of the land was cultivated. Subsistence crops included maize , beans , sorghum , banana , cassava and sweet potato , while cash crops included tea , wheat and mango . The Upper Yala Block in
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#1732872989206300-457: The Yala swamp complex to prevent further degradation of the ecosystem. As of 2019 BirdLife International scored the threat to the swamp complex as high, and was pessimistic about action being taken. Yala River The Yala River is a river in western Kenya, a tributary of Lake Victoria . It generally flows fast over a rocky bed through a wide valley before joining the Nzoia River to form
325-449: The backflow of water from Lake Victoria. In the past the Yala River flowed through the eastern 20% of the Yala Swamp into Lake Kanyaboli, then into the main swamp, and then through a small gulf into Lake Victoria. Today the eastern part of the swamp has been drained, and the river flows directly into the 8,000 hectares (20,000 acres) main swamp. It is cut off from Lake Kanyaboli by a silt-clay dyke. Lake Kanyaboli now receives its water from
350-623: The block used for cultural purposes, and logging in the Kaimosi forest in the southeast of the block. Most of the farms are overcropped, without traditional rotation and fallow periods. The farms are managed better in the north of the block, with more trees and hedges, while in the southern part steep slopes are cultivated with no conservation measures. About half the block shows evidence of soil erosion. The Lower Yala block in Kisumu District and Siaya District has low to medium gradient terrain with
375-402: The country's largest freshwater lake. The Yala Swamp at the mouth of the Yala River covers about 175 square kilometres (68 sq mi) along the northern shore of Lake Victoria. The swamp contains 1,500 hectares (3,700 acres) Lake Kanyaboli, a freshwater deltaic wetland with an average depth of 3 metres (9.8 ft), which is fed by the floodwaters of the Nzoia and Yala rivers and by
400-593: The lake by a culvert, which created the 500 hectares (1,200 acres) Lake Sare through back-flooding. Lake Sare, with its direct link to Lake Victoria, is important in preserving the cichlid fish fauna of Lake Victoria. The river water enters Lake Victoria from Lake Sare through a channel crossed by a bridge that carries the C27 coastal highway along the Goye causeway. The Yala River drainage basin covers 3,351 square kilometres (1,294 sq mi). An ecosystem management study of
425-405: The main swamp, and then through a small gulf into Lake Victoria. Today the eastern part of the swamp has been drained, and the river flows directly into the 8,000 hectares (20,000 acres) main swamp. It is cut off from Lake Kanyaboli by a silt-clay dyke. Lake Kanyaboli now receives its water from the surrounding catchment area and from back-seepage from the swamp. The river's gulf has been cut off from
450-499: The river and the adjacent lake. The watershed must also be rehabilitated to maintain farm productivity and to reduce erosion and sedimentation of the wetlands and river. A 2005 report noted changes in Lake Sare that threatened the lake ecosystem through eutrophication and pollution. It recommended an inclusive management plan for the Yala swamp complex to prevent further degradation of the ecosystem. As of 2019 BirdLife International scored
475-535: The river, deforestation and resulting river bank erosion, and sand extraction. Development potential includes irrigation and drainage projects in the lower and middle parts of the basin, hydroelectricity, wetlands products, eco-tourism and water sports tourism, and perhaps carbon sequestration . Conversion of the wetlands for crop production must be carefully managed to ensure environmental sustainability. Sufficient wetlands must be maintained to control erosion and improve water quality, which in turn affects fisheries in
500-460: The surrounding catchment area and from back-seepage from the swamp. Lake Kanyaboli provides a refuge for several species of fish, some of which are no longer present in Lake Victoria. The introduction of the Nile perch ( Lates niloticus ) to Lake Victoria caused an ecological disaster which threatens to destroy the ecosystem of the lake. In the past the lake fishermen caught hundreds of species of fish, many of which were endemic. Today they rely on
525-633: The swamp has been drained, and the river flows directly into the 8,000 hectares (20,000 acres) main swamp. It is cut off from Lake Kanyaboli by a silt-clay dyke. Lake Kanyaboli now receives its water from the surrounding catchment area and from back-seepage from the swamp. The river's gulf has been cut off from the lake by a culvert, which created the 500 hectares (1,200 acres) Lake Sare through back-flooding. The swamps harbour endangered fish species Oreochromis esculentus and Oreochromis variabilis that have disappeared from Lake Victoria itself. The Sitatunga antelope ( Tragecephalus spekii ) still lives in
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#1732872989206550-525: The swamps’ papyrus . BirdLife International classifies the Yala Swamp among Kenya’s 60 Important Bird Areas . Some of the birds that live there are the blue-breasted bee-eater , the papyrus gonolek , the swamp flycatcher , the papyrus canary , the white-winged swamp warbler and the Baillon's crake . A 2005 report noted changes in Lake Sare that threatened the lake ecosystem through eutrophication and pollution. It recommended an inclusive management plan for
575-501: The threat to the swamp complex as high, and was pessimistic about action being taken. Lake Kanyaboli Lake Kanyaboli is the largest oxbow lake in Kenya and the second largest in Africa,formed after River Yala disconnected from its course at the meander stage, leaving behind a U-shaped lake. The lake is found in Siaya County in western Kenya and is home to a variety of fish species that have almost disappeared from Lake Victoria ,
600-473: Was announced that Tembo Power of Mauritius, along with Metier and WK Construction of South Africa had signed an agreement for development of a run-of-the-river hydroelectricity plant on the Yala River. The Kaptis Hydroelectric Power Station was to have a 15MW capacity and would be operational by 2022. The project would cost $ 30 million. The electricity would be fed to the grid operated by the state-owned Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC). The power plant
625-418: Was to be located near the town of Kakamega . A study of discharge data from 1950 to 2000 showed a general increase in discharge. This may be due to destruction of land cover, including indigenous forests. Yearly discharge of nutrients into the lake is about 1,000 tonnes of nitrogen and 102 tonnes of phosphorus . Threats to the river ecology include garbage from panning for minerals, oil spills in and near
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