Determination of the Connectedness of Land Use, Land Cover Change to Water Quality Status of a Shallow Lake: A Case of Lake Kyoga Basin, Uganda

Abstract

Catchments for aquatic ecosystems connect to the water quality of those waterbodies. Land use land cover change activities in the catchments, therefore, play a significant role in determining the water quality of the waterbodies. Research on the relationship between land use and land cover changes and water quality has gained global prominence. Therefore, this study aimed at determining land use, land cover changes in the catchments of L. Kyoga basin, and assessing their connectedness to the lake’s water quality. The GIS software was used to determine eight major land use and land cover changes for 2000, 2010, and 2020. Meanwhile, water quality data was obtained through both secondary and primary sources. Spearman correlation statistical tool in SPSS was used to correlate the land use, land cover changes, and water quality changes over the two-decade study period. The results showed that different land use and land cover activities strongly correlated with particular water quality parameters. For example, agriculture correlated strongly with nutrients like TP, TN, and nitrates and turbidity, TSS, BOD, and temp. The correlation with nitrates was statistically significant at 0.01 confidence limit. The findings of this study agreed with what other authors had found in different parts of the world. The results show that to manage the water quality of L. Kyoga, management of land use, land cover activities in the catchment should be prioritized. Therefore, the results are helpful to decision and policy makers and relevant stakeholders responsible for water management.