DAMS, FLOOD AND FISH PRODUCTION IN NIGERIA: THE CONNECTIVITY Introduction The current state of floods and its

attendant problems as occasioned by the high rate of rainfall this year as well as the release of water from Lagdo dam in Cameroon has necessitated the close look at the effects of dams and flooding on fish production. Nigeria has a vast number of water bodies that have impacted food production either through agriculture or aquaculture and fisheries. Ita (1993) reported that the major rivers make up about 11.5% (10,812,400 hectares) of Nigerias surface area and that inland lakes and reservoirs account for about 1% of the total area. The vast nature of Nigerias water bodies and resources has been well documented (Ita and Sado, 1985, Azionu et al 2005). The Niger-Benue river system and the Chad systems are the two major hydrological systems in Nigeria and according to Goldface Irokalibe (2008), Nigeria is divided into eight hydrological areas drained mainly by the River Niger and River Benue and their numerous minor tributaries as well as the Lake Chad and the Oguta Lake and the rivers that discharge into them. Nigeria experiences two distinct seasons - the dry and wet seasons. During the wet season, rainfall occurs with attendant runoff. According to Waziri et al (2012), surface runoff is the water flow which occurs when soil is infiltrated to full capacity and excess water from rain flows over the land. Total surface runoff is large with annual runoff on river Niger at Lokoja recorded as up to 165.80 billion cubic metres (Goldface-Irokalibe, 2008). The river Niger with a total length of about 4100 km, is the third-longest river in Africa, after the Nile and the Congo/Zaire Rivers, and the longest and largest river in West Africa (FAO 1997). It originates from the Fouta Djallon highland in Guinea at an approximate altitude of 800m before traversing over a distance of 4,200 km to empty into the Atlantic Ocean in Nigeria (Anderson et al 2005). The river Benue which is approximately 1,083 km in length (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2004) is a major tributary of the river Niger which enters into Nigeria across the border with Cameroon, and runs for a distance of about 900 km from the border to the confluence with the Niger River at Lokoja, Kogi state (FMWR 1994). It rises in the Adamawa Plateau of northern Cameroon, from where it flows west, and through the town of Garoua and Lagdo Reservoir, into Nigeria south of the Mandara mountains, and through Jimeta, Ibi and Makurdi before meeting the Niger at Lokoja (Wikipedia 2012). Being a country of rivers and floodplains with a high potential for production of aquatic resources, fish plays a very important role in daily life of many people in Nigeria. About 512,000 metric tonnes of fish can be produced from inland waters in Nigeria (Ita and Sado 1985). In terms of diversity, Ita (1993) reported an estimated total of about 230 fish species from the rivers of Nigeria. Dams and River Ecology Given the rich surface and underground water resources, exploitation has become inevitable. Rivers have evolved over the years with a balanced ecological structure where plants and animal life depend on each other and on the abiotic factors that shape the river. Anthropological activities in relation to riverine ecosystems depend on seasonal changes in river flows which are ultimately altered by storage dams by ironing out hydrological extremes by storing floods and increasing dry period flows (McCully, 2001). There is a delicate balance between the flora and fauna of every water body and the yearly cycle of water levels. This contributes to the water currents and speed of flow. Damming upsets this delicate balance. Dams can have the following effects on aquatic ecosystems: 1. Blocking migration of fish 2. Diverting water from the River 3. Sediments are removed from river beds 4. Large rocks and pebbles are exposed on the Riverbed 5. Natural sequence of activities on the water body is disrupted 6. Alteration of water temperature 7. Erosion 1

8. Starving the downstream portion of certain species of fish and other organisms Nigeria has over 20 dams (FMWR and FAO 2004) which are being used for irrigation, water storage and supply and hydro-electricity generation. Dams and Flooding The hydrological cycle is incomplete without rivers. Rivers carry water, sediments, and nutrients from distributed sources within a drainage basin to outlets or sinks downstream (Pitlick and Wilcock, 2001). Dams interrupt stream flow (Thompson 2012), and generate hydrological changes along the river ecosystems (Magilligana and Nislow, 2005). Excess rainfall and surface runoff causes increase in water volume of dams hence the need to release excess water. This was currently seen in Nigeria as both the River Niger and Benue received excess runoff this year and the subsequent report that the Lagdo Dam in the Republic of Cameroon is almost overflowing it banks due to excess rainfall and as a safety measure and to avert imminent danger to its citizens, the Government of the Republic of Cameroon did convey its intention to release the excess water from the dam (The Punch, 2012), which is on the River Benues axis. Also, excess water from the dams in Niger state was released within the country. The result is flooding of the rivers downstream and its attendant human and ecological problems. Early warning systems are now in place thanks to modern communications technology. The River Niger on the other hand has caused flooding and wrecked havoc in various states along its course. States affected by the floods include: Adamawa, Taraba, Cross River, Benue, Kogi, Niger, Anambra, Lagos, Edo, Delta, Ogun, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Gombe, Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, Zamfara and Jigawa. Floods and Fishing Fish production in Nigeria is linked with the hydrological features of the fishing areas. The wet season which occurs between April and September creates extensive seasonal flooding hence high water levels. The floodplains of the major rivers (Niger and Benue) are constantly changing with the level of rains and floods that occur annually hence a dynamic floodplain system. In the dry season (October to March), water recedes from these flood plains due to very low rainfall and high evaporation rates. This contraction and expansion of aquatic habitats greatly impacts fisheries production (de Graaf et al. 2001). Inland fish species in Nigeria are adapted to these variations, with their life cycles depending on the variation hence breeding and growth are strongly related to the sequence of flooding. The floodplains, which inundate during wet season, are rich in nutrients and plankton and play a significant role in feeding larvae, juveniles and adults. According to de Graaf et al. (2001), as water recedes, fish become concentrated in channels and are more vulnerable to fishing activities. There is a positive relationship between water level and fish catch. Catches in the Cross River are strongly related to the high water flood regime at the beginning of each season (Moses 1987). Baran et al (2001a) using models, predicted that fish catch will be nil if the October average water level does not exceed 5.1 m in the Tonle Sap River on the Mekong River Basin in China. Also, Rogers et al (2005) reported that spotted sunfish abundance was positively related to river levels in Florida and that low river levels negatively influenced fish abundance and fish communities. There is an inverse relationship between the amount of water remaining in the dry season and the catch the same year, due to increased vulnerability of fish (Vidy 1983). Duration of flooding is also essential for fish growth hence a longer period of flood allows a longer growth period for fishes, and therefore a higher yield (Baran et al 2001b). Impacts of Floods on the aquatic Ecosystem a). Positive Impacts 1. Nutrient Replenishment of Agricultural Land: Sediments and waste materials from rivers and streams are moved inland by flood waters and this can span over a large area. Nutrients are washed inland and this translates to increased soil fertility. 2. Erosion Control and Land Elevation Maintenance: Soil deposited by floodwaters prevents erosion and helps maintain the elevation of land masses above sea level.

3. Re-invigorate Ground Water: Many population centers depend upon ground water and underground aquifers for fresh water. The earths surface absorb flood water and this moves downwards to renew water beds or aquifers which in turn serves as water source for various freshwater bodies. 4. Re-conditioning Wetlands: Wetlands are very important for conservation hence they hold a very key position in conservation efforts. Wetlands that are in good condition provide the human kind with good quality water and even mitigate air pollution. Unwanted wastes are usually deposited in wetlands by flood waters hence floods are significant events in wetlands. 5. Clear Pollution: There are also positive effects or benefits of flood in aquatic ecosystems. Flood can wash away waste products dumped inland and within water bodies and this ensures the health of the ecosystem hence allowing life to thrive. Flood water movement can also wash off any debris dumped or accumulated near or inside rivers and other water bodies. b). Negative Effects 1. Aquatic Ecosystem Disruption: The balance between the abiotic and biotic factors in the aquatic ecosystem can be upset by sudden floods leading to devastation. The aquatic ecosystems are particularly at risk from the runoff. These changes in the very nature of the water can affect every part of the ecosystem and habitats may be destroyed which endangers both animal and plant life. The sediment may obscure the sunlight which aquatic plants need to survive photosynthesis will cease and plants may die. 2. Pollution: The spread of chemical pollutants, sediments and debris is an ever present risk with flood waters. Agricultural chemicals such as pesticides and fertilizers can be washed from the land into the aquatic ecosystem to cause pollution. The result of this can include but not limited to: reduced water quality, reduced primary and secondary productivity as well as contamination of aquatic food resources and bioaccumulation of hazardous materials. 3. Death of Fry and Fingerlings: Fry and fingerlings have delicate gills that are affected by sediments and pollutants that clog the gills as a result of flood and runoff. Changes in stream flow and volume can also impact survival directly leading to decreased survival during early life history stages and also exert physiological stresses on adult fishes (Bain and Boltz, 1989, Hicks et al 1991, Harvey et al 2006). Mitigating Flood Disasters Flood risk is a combination of the chance of a flood occurring and the consequences of the flood for people, property, infrastructure as well as the environment while the level of exposure of the community to flooding determines the consequences of the flooding as well as vulnerability of the people and the ecosystem (Queensland Government, 2011). Mitigating and reducing flood risk depends on the location. Flood risk management should be a partnership between government and the community using a range of measures to reduce the risks to the ecosystem as well as people. Communities that are prone to flooding must be carried along in the planning and execution of flood control and mitigation. References Andersen, I, Dione O, Jarosewich-Holder, M. and Olivry, J. (2005). The Niger River Basin AVision for Sustainable Management. The World Bank Washington, DC 144pp. http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTWAT/Resources/46021141206643460526/Niger_River_Basin_Vision_Sustainable_Management.pdf Azionu, B.C. and Ovie, S.I. and Okongwu, I.O. and Adegun, B. and Ajayi, O.T. (2005). Salvaging the freshwater ecosystems in Nigeria: great threat to sustainable fisheries and aquaculture development. In: 19th Annual Conference of the Fisheries Society of Nigeria (FISON) , 29 Nov - 03 Dec 2004 , Ilorin, Nigeria. Bain M. B., and Boltz, J. M. (1989). Regulated streamflow and warmwater stream fish: a general hypothesis and research agenda. U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Biological Report 89(18). 28 pp.

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The Punch (2012). Water from Cameroons Lagdo dam may cause flood in Cross River Commissioner. September 9, 2012. http://www.punchng.com/news/water-from-cameroons-lagdo-dam-may-causeflood-in-cross-river-commissioner/ Thompson, J.C. (2012). Impact and Management of Small Farm Dams in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. Ph.D thesis submitted to the Victoria University of Wellington. 215pp http://researcharchive.vuw.ac.nz/bitstream/handle/10063/2142/thesis.pdf?sequence=2 Vidy G. (1983). Pche traditionnelle en bordure du Grand Yaere nord-camerounais : le logomatia. Rev. Hydrobiol. trop. 16 (4): 353-372 Waziri, M, Akinniyi, J.A. and Ogbodo, O.U. (2012). Assessment of the physicochemical characteristics of rain and runoff water in University of MaiduguriNigeria staff quarters. American Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research 3(2): 99-102. http://www.scihub.org/AJSIRISSN:2153-649X Wikipedia (2012). Benue River. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Available online at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benue_River