Flood Control Project in Salalah, Oman

Flood Control Project in Salalah, Oman

By
Ahmed Majid Al-Hakmani*
Technical Coordinator, Dhofar Municipality
Abstract

Sultanate of Oman, located in Arabian Peninsula, has a magnificent coast line of about

1700 Km on the eastern and northern sides. The capital city of Sultanate of Oman is

Muscat, located on the northern coast of Oman.

Salalah is the largest city in the

southern region of the country

known as Dhofar region.

Salalah Structure Plan 1995-2015

SULTANATE
OF OMAN
has been prepared by the Ministry of

Housing, Sultanate of Oman and is

Dhofar
presently guiding the development of
SALALAH
the city. The Dhofar Municipality is

responsible for the planning, development and maintenance of the city’s infrastructure.

The city of Salalah had a long history of Cyclonic Storms causing extensive disruption

of life and infrastructure in the city. The brief History of Cyclonic Storms in Salalah

Plain is given below:

* BSc (Soil & Water), MSc (Water &Environmental Eng), Technical Coordinator, Chairman Office
Dhofar Municipality, P.O.Box:50, P.C.: 211, Salalah, Oman
Tel: +968 23 290782, Fax: +968 23 295525
e-mail: hakmany@yahoo.com
Flood Control Project in Salalah, Oman

Sr. No. Period Total Rainfall Max 12 Hr Rainfall

1 October 1948 156.8mm 33.0mm
2 May 1959 117.2mm 81.8mm
3 May 1963 236.1mm 134.0mm
4 November 1966 202.3mm 178.1mm
5 June 1977 122.7mm 70.3mm
6 April 1983 Not Available 127.0mm
7 May 1996 98.0mm Not Available
8 May 2002 191.8mm 145.6mm

The May 2002 cyclonic storm was very severe and resulted in very extensive damage

to the city’s infrastructure. Taking cognisance of problems due to this storm and the

need for a long term plan, the Dhofar Municipality had, in June 2002, initiated a Study

for formulating Flood Control Measures in Salalah.

The study was completed and made the following major recommendations:

Construction of Dams on Wadi Jarjees, Wadi Nahiz & Wadi Arzat;

Extension & Raising of Wadi Interceptor Guard Dam;

Construction of Diversion Channel for Interceptor Guard Dam;

Wadi Protection Works requiring Re-sectioning, Levee Construction,

Reconstruction of Bridges with increased Waterway & Construction of

Bridges in Place of Existing Irish Crossings.

The objective of this paper is to discuss the flood phenomenon in Salalah and the proposed

solutions.

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Flood Control Project in Salalah, Oman

Introduction:

The Salalah Plain is a broad flat coastal plain bounded on the north by a chain of

mountains. The three geomorphic divisions defined between the top of the divide and

the coastline are:

• The Jabel, which is the mountainous terrain forming the catchment for the

southward and northward flowing streams.

• The Jerbeeb, which is the intermediate zone at the foot of the Jabel on the

south side.

• The Plain.

In the Dhofar region the surface geology is dominated by a broad gently dipping belt

of Tertiary limestones which extends from the Jabel Al Qamar and Jabel Al Qara

northwards beneath the Nejd and into the Rub Al Khali Basin.

The Tertiary sequence in southern Dhofar is affected by a combination of anticlinal

folding and block faulting. Uplifting, faulting and gentle folding have elevated early

Tertiary sediments at least 1000 metres, creating the Jabel mountains and the Nejd.

Downfaulting to the south of the Jabel Al Qara has resulted in the formation of the

Salalah Plain.

On the plain, Upper Tertiary deposits of limestones deposited under shallow water

marine conditions are overlain by, and in part interbedded with, terrestrial alluvial and

colluvial deposits. These limestones form the major aquifer systems on the Salalah

Plain.

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Flood Control Project in Salalah, Oman

Rainfall & Cyclonic Storms at Salalah

During the period from January to March and November to December, the controlling

features of rainfall occurrence over the area are mainly due to the middle latitude low

pressure systems moving from west to east with thunderstorm activities. During the

months of May and October rainfall activities over the area is mainly due to cyclonic

storms and depressions. During September, the area gets rain partly due to monsoon

and partly due to cyclones and depressions. During the months of June, July and

August, the monsoon season, the local climate is more or less continuously saturated;

the vertical surfaces such as trees and rocks encourage coalescence of moisture

particles which increases the effective precipitation.

As per record (IMD 1979, 1996), 17 cyclonic storms/depressions crossed south central

coast during the 100 year period 1891-1990 (Refer Table1), once in 5 years on

average. Most of these cyclones occurred during May, September & October with

maximum frequency in May.

Table 1: Storms & depressions crossing South Oman Coast during 1891-1990:

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec

- - - - 8 1 - - 3 3 - 2

Ref: IMD 1979, 1996, Traces of Depressions in the Bay of Bengal. The Arabian Sea

1891-1970 and 1970-1990.

As per available records, the Dhofar region had experienced the following cyclonic

storms which are presented in Table 2.

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Flood Control Project in Salalah, Oman

Table 2: List of Cyclonic Storms experienced in Salalah Plain

Period Total Precipitation Max. 12 hr. Precipitation

(mm) (mm)
23-26 October, 1948 156.8 33.0
23-26 May, 1959 117.2 81.8
26-29 May, 1963 236.1 134.0
12-13 November, 1966 202.3 178.1
14-18 June, 1977 122.7 70.3
4 April, 1983 N.A. 127.0
11-13 May, 1996 98.0 N.A.
9-12 May, 2002 191.8 145.6
29-30 September,2004 116.2 116.2

It may be mentioned that rainfall associated with low pressure system like depressions

and cyclones are dependent on its intensity, direction of movement, size and speed of

movement. Slow moving cyclones produce more rain than the fast moving ones.

Intense cyclones produce more rains than less intense ones. The rainfall increases

with the increase in intensity. Most of the heavy rains which can cause flood in case

of cyclones and depressions are concentrated within the area of 200 Km radius from

centre of the system. On an average 8 to 10 cm of rainfall occurs during 24 hours over

an area of about 100 Km radius from its centre in association with depression. The

rainfall increases as the intensity of the system increases from depression to higher

category storms like cyclonic storms, severe cyclonic storm, very severe cyclonic

storm and super cyclonic storm. There is, however, no history of super cyclonic storm

(wind speed more than 120 KTS) striking the Oman coast in the past.

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Flood Control Project in Salalah, Oman

The data collected at various wadi gauge discharge stations during the recent May

2002 flood are given in Table 3.

Table 3: Peak Discharges of Major Wadis During Cyclone of May 2002

Station Name Station ID Location Discharge

Wadi Nar ZU178755AD Salalah 1146 m3/s
Wadi Jarsis AD980966AD Salalah 1015 m3/s
Wadi Nahiz AD995532AD Salalah 275 m3/s
Wadi Sumr AD887655AD Salalah 235 m3/s
Wadi Sahalnaut AD997284AD Salalah 22 m3/s

One day peak rainfall in Salalah Airport recorded is 186 mm. Monthly mean rainfall

(in mm) on the basis of records of 1943 to 2004 are indicated Table 4.

Table 4: Mean Monthly Rainfall in the Salalah Plains

(Unit mm)
Mean J F M A M J J A S O N D Annual
Monthly
Rainfall
Min 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 6 0 0 0 0 21
Max. 25 77 91 151 269 123 61 63 15 157 203 98 509
Monthly 106.40

The above Table indicates vast variations in the rainfall in all the months except

during months of July to September when the variation between minimum and

maximum is not as significant. Thus most of cyclonic storms occur during May-June

and October-November months.

Cyclonic storms originate in the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea. Cyclonic storms

usually occur before or after monsoon season.

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Flood Control Project in Salalah, Oman

Analysis of Rainfall Data

Based on rainfall data, the average annual rainfall of the area works out to be about

200 mm by simple Arithmetic Mean Method and 250 mm by Isohyetal Method By

taking the mean of these two values, the average rainfall for the area under study

works out to be about 225 mm.

Variation of the annual rainfall in the Salalah area was examined with respect to

elevation of the rain gauges established at different locations in the plain. It is seen

that minimum annual rainfall of around 100mm is experienced near the sea coast

increasing to around 400mm, at elevation of 800mm, in the Jabel area. The

relationship indicating above trend is given in Fig 1 which is only indicative of the

trend.

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Flood Control Project in Salalah, Oman

Also relationship was attempted on the basis of data of recent heavy storm of May

2002 and September 2004 with respect to elevations of rain gauge station (Fig 2). It is

seen that while storm of May 2002 was centred near the Jabel area, the same of

September 2004 did not have similar trend. In this case the recorded storm in the

Plains is higher than that of the Jabel area. As such no definite relationship could be

established between the storm values vs. the elevations of rain gauge stations, on the

basis of the only two storms data available.

From the analysis of long term series of annual rainfall data of Salalah, the following

features emerge:

(i) During the period 1943-2004, the annual rainfall varied from a maximum of

509 mm (in 1963) to only 21 mm (in 1974). The Figure 3 depicts graphical

representation of the annual rainfall variation of Salalah. It may be mentioned

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Flood Control Project in Salalah, Oman

here that the monsoon in 1963 was good and that in 1979 was highly deficient.

This indicates that variability of monsoon affects the rainfall variation in

Oman.

The sample statistics for 62 years of annual rainfall shows very high

coefficient of Skewness and Kurtosis of 2.61 and 7.38 respectively due to large

variation of rainfall from year to year. That further indicates less dependability

on average rainfall. The mean of annual rainfall is 106.38mm.

(ii) During the period of 62 years the rainfall was above 200 mm (above long time

average value of the area) on 7 occasions, above 150 mm on 9 occasions and

more than mean value for 17 occasions and less than 100mm on 41 occasions

(60 % of the occasions).

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Flood Control Project in Salalah, Oman

(iii) In most of the occasions, the most of yearly rainfall occurred from June to

August. Only on 9 occasions, the maximum rainfall had occurred in other than

these three months. About 68% of its average annual rainfall falls during the

three months of monsoon season (June to August).

(iv) May & September are the other two months having significant rainfall, mostly

associated with monsoon & depressions and cyclonic storms affecting the area.

(v) The highest 1-day and 2-day rainfall in Salalah were 186 mm and 203 mm

respectively recorded in 1966 and 3-day rainfall of 230 mm recorded in 1963.

Study Proposals:

The preliminary proposals for flood protection works in various wadis outlined and

approved during the feasibility study. Preliminary Design Report has been detailed

based on site condition, detailed topographical survey, geo technical investigations,

availability of construction materials, updating of hydrological studies incorporating

Review Consultant’s observations and detailed hydraulic analysis for each wadis

keeping in view social acceptability, environmental and economic viability. The

detailed design and layout for various components of flood protection works under

scope of present study prepared based on the results of topographical survey,

hydrological & hydraulic analysis, field investigation works and discussions with the

Officials of Dhofar Municipality.

Fig 4 shows the main components of Salalah Flood Control Project.

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Flood Control Project in Salalah, Oman

Fig 4: Main Flood Control Project Components, Salalah

Tangible Benefits:

- Savings from agricultural land damage

- Savings from property damage (housing)

- Savings from roads and communication infrastructure damage

- Savings from industrial and commercial establishment damages

- Savings from power house and other electrical installation damage

Intangible Benefits:

Almost every developmental project like the ‘Flood Control’ has a series of benefits

which are intangible. These may include just a better life for people in and around the

flood prone areas; among others. Such intangibles are real and reflect true values.

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Flood Control Project in Salalah, Oman

They do not lend themselves well to valuation, although an attempt is sometimes made

in this direction. In most cases, however, it would seem economic analysis is an

inappropriate tool to use for dealing with intangible effects.

Implementation Plan

For implementation of the above project, it is proposed to divide whole works in three

packages as mentioned below

Package I: Wadi Sahalnawt, Wadi Nahiz, Wadi Sumr & Wadi Salawt Adawt,

Wadi East of Thimrin, Thimrin, Difar, Dahaq and Nar

Package II: Diversion Channel for Interceptor Guard Dam

Package III: Proposed drain PD1 & PD2 for the new residential area at Sahalnawt

and Eastern Tributaries of Wadi Sahalnawt, Bridges on Al Farooq

street across wadi Sahalnawt

The above suggested division of works into different packages are based on the requirement of

the project, cost of works, priority and locations. Diversion Channel has been kept in separate

package as the construction of Diversion Channel would be based on the construction

schedule of extension of Wadi Interceptor Guard Dam. Before construction of Diversion

Channel, implementation of Flood Protection works of Wadi sahalnawt should be considered.

Package wise suggested implementation schedule and their costs are given in Table 5.

Table 5: Package wise Implementation Schedule

Sl No Package Cost Project Schedule

(million OR)

1 Package I 4.50 2007- 2008

2 Package II 5.50 2009-2010

3 Package III 2.00 -----

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Flood Control Project in Salalah, Oman

References:

1. Groundwater Recharge Schemes for Salalah plain.

- Feasibility Report prepared by Sir M. Macdonald & Partners
- Final Report – Volume 1B, July 1990
2. Groundwater Recharge Schemes for Salalah plain.
- Feasibility Report prepared by Sir M. Macdonald & Partners
- Final Report – Volume 2B, July 1990
3. Groundwater Recharge Schemes for Salalah plain.
- Feasibility Report prepared by Sir M. Macdonald & Partners
- Final Report – Volume 3B, July 1990
4. Appendix C – Water Resources and Ground Water Modelling, by Dames & Moore
5. Flooding at Diwan Properties, May 1996 Cyclone
-Initial Situation Report – Ministry of Water Resources, Surface Water Dept.,
Hydrological Data Analysis Section
6. Rainguages in Sultanate of Oman – Ministry of Water Resources, Surface Water Dept.,
Data Processing section
7. Gauge Discharge Data – Wadi Jarsis
8. Dam site screening for large and small catchment by Directorate General of Water
Resources Department
9. Flood study programme – Delineation of High, Medium, Low & Index – Flood risk zones
of Salalah Area by Ministry of Water Resources – Surface Water Department.
10. Catchment Water Conservation and Recharge Schemes for Irrigation, 1965
Final Report Volume 3 Part II by Hydroconsult
11. Report on Flood Protection Works – Salalah, 1987 – by CES
12. Report on Flood Protection to Palace and Diwan Properties, 1999 – by CES
13. Report on Groundwater Recharge Schemes in Sultanate of Oman, 1996 by Euroconsult,
TNO.
14. Self recording daily data of the following storms 23-26 October 1948, 23-26 May 1959,
26-29 May 1963, 12-13 November 1966, 14-18 June, 1977, 1-5 April 1983, June 1997, 1-
5 April 1983 and 9-12 May 2002
15. Preliminary Design Report for By pass Road
16. Tender for dualization of As Sultan Qaboos Street
17. Soil Investigation Report for the improvement of Razat Farm Road Junction
18. Survey & Soil Investigation report for the dualization of 23rd July road in Salalah

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Flood Control Project in Salalah, Oman

Maps
1. Salalah City Map (latest)
2. Map of Sultanate of Oman
3. Base map of Salalah Plain
4. Proposed Salalah By-pass Layout & Sections (phase I) – Hard & Soft copy
5. Proposed Salalah By-pass Layout (Phase II) - Awaited
6. Base map of Salalah urban areas
7. Proposed Landuse Plan (1:50,000)
8. Soft copy containing 74 maps of 2 m contour map of Salalah city
9. Toposheet map of Salalah in scale 1:100,000 (No. NE 40-9D)
10. Sewer Network layout Map in Salalah (Soft copy)
11. Water Supply pipe Network Map in Salalah (Soft copy)
12. Telephone cable layout Map in Salalah (Soft copy)
13. Gas pipe Details of Sahalnawt Dam

Meteorological Data

• Latest index map of wadi gauging stations in Salalah showing locations, type
of observations date of installation & Code No.
• Latest map of Raingauge stations in Salalah catchments including Jabel areas
with date of installation, type of observation, code No. etc.
• Details of cyclonic storm in Salalah Region
• Details of storm track and spread of May 2002 and storms of 1963, 1977, 1983
and 1996.
• Data of wadi gauge.
• Annual 1-day, 2-day, 3-day peak rainfall series of Salalah Air Port (1943-
2004).
• Proposals of Dr. Robert Kale and Keith Kennedy following heavy floods of
1983, made in 1984.
• Salient features and performance report of Sahalnawt dam during floods of
May 2002.
• Monthly rainfall series for stations in hilly areas for period of 15-20 years like
Quiroon, Hairithi, Ghadow, Hajeet, Zeek stations as available.
• 1 hr, 2 hr, 3 hr breakup of Daily rainfall for Tawi Attair, Hajeef, Zeek and
Ghadow during cyclone of May 2002.
• Daily rainfall value of raingauge station in Salalah Plain for storm of 10 – 12
May 2002
• Wadi Flow data for wadi Nar, Jarziz, Razat, Nahiz, Sumr, Haran and
Sahalnawt during cyclone of May 2002
• Short term rainfall record of automatic raingauge stations Gadow, Hajeef &
Tawi Attair during storm of 29 – 30 September 2004
• Daily rainfall value of raingauge stations in Salalah Plain for storm of 29 – 30th
September 2004
• Daily rainfall value of raingauge stations in Salalah for 24th September 2004
• Annual 1-day maximum rainfall value for raingauge stations Huqum, Alop
Garzais and Kanzeer from 1996 to 2003

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