Development of a comprehensive model for erosion and sediment control towards good water governance: UKM campus as a watershed model

Abstract

This study was carried out to develop a whole ecosystem-based erosion and sediment transport control management system of UKM Campus Watershed which is a sub-basin of Langat River Basin catchment. This is done through the development of an Erosion and Sediment Control (ESC) model for the UKM campus watershed that includes localised technology, information and communication system, as well as awareness and community participation for the greening and rehabilitation of UKM Campus. The management system was developed to give a strong participatory element and to ensure that the model will be placed into a user friendly context to make data input and model operation simple for stakeholders with limited resources and training in the use of the models. The application of hydromulching (bioengineering technology) is adopted as part of the ESC study by using the local components to recover most landslides occurred in UKM Campus. It is also as an option where the post-landslide restoration works involving conventional civil designs are costly and sometimes not practical at remote sites. Therefore (due to cost constraints), the remoteness of the sites and low risk to lives and property, bioengineering was the option taken for erosion control, slope stabilization and vegetation establishment. The study successfully developed the local hydro mulching (bio engineering technology) product for erosion and sediment control of UKM campus watershed by using the local components to recover most landslides issues in UKM Bangi Campus. The study also developed the integrated information and communication system for the campus community of UKM in order to raise awareness and to increase participation of UKM Campus stakeholders in minimising the erosion and sedimentation issues. The integrated information and communication system is coordinated under the Integtrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) Research Group of UKM, which also monitor and evaluate the erosion and sediment transport within the UKM campus.