Abstract

Tracking the changes in the river basin system and identifying areas susceptible to flood disasters is an inclusive step in flood hazard control and management. This research analyzed the spatial variability of rainfall and physiographical attributes of the main tributaries of River Benue in Taraba with the aim of identifying areas susceptible to flooding on the basins. The spatial data subjected to WLC approach for reclassification were annual rainfall, digital elevation model, basin slope, land use, soil types, drainage density, and catchment area. The clincher to flooding in the state favors land use. The composite map of flood vulnerability revealed that vulnerable areas occupied 48.6% while highly vulnerable occupied 0.9% of the entire study area of 44,359.2 km². In terms of the area extent, the highly vulnerable region covers 410.6 km²; the vulnerable area covers 21,576.6 km^2, and the areas that are not vulnerable cover 64.9 km². The towns that are at risk of a high vulnerability to flooding within the study area are Karim Lamido, Gassol, Ibi, Lau, Donga, Wukari, parts of Takum, Ardo Kola, Kurmi, Bali, and Jalingo. It was recommended among others that as the region’s status is vulnerable to climate change and that this has a strong association with land use and land cover change, development along the floodplain should be discontinued.

Key words: Flood vulnerability; land use change; river catchment area; rank-sum method; river Lamurde, Taraba and Donga.