2. Objective
The objective of this paper is to review and explore watershed and sedimentation characteristics in the context of
integrated watershed management approach that will help the promotion of sustained agricultural production.
3. Methodology
For the compilation of this paper, different literatures on integrated watershed management and sedimentation
were reviewed from books, journals and proceedings. Practical field level observations were also captured in the
synthesis of the paper. The paper also identified the major factors that have been observed in the extension of
integrated watershed management approach.
4. Results and Discussion
4.1. Definition and Scope of Integrated Watershed Management
For the term watershed, different names has been adopted which includes watershed (USA), drainage basin
(USA), catchments (British), and in some other places drainage area. However, these all would agree that watershed/
drainage basin/is an area drained by a stream of /or a system of connecting streams in such a way that all
flow originating in that area is discharged through a single outlet. According to Chow cited by Nigussie [1] the
watershed is a divide separating one drainage basin from another. Others have defined it as a geographical unit
in which the hydrological cycle is complete and its components can be analyzed.
Nigusse [1] mentioned that according to their size watersheds may be classified into: Major watersheds, Medium
watersheds, and Sub-watersheds.
The major watersheds are tributaries to river basins and they may cover an area of land which range from
20,000 to 500,000 hectares of land. In this category, there can be a variety of ecosystems and agro-ecological
zones.
The medium watersheds are areas of land which exhibits a similar ecological setting with in it and the size