Story by: U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Richard Simonsen
NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Representatives from the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team and the United States Agency for International Development visited a watershed management project in the Nurgaram District of Nuristan Jan. 23.
The USAID project is part of an Afghan Water and Technology Transfer effort and is the most labor-intensive public works project ever undertaken in the Nuristan province. The project employs 400 men from the local area and is designed to slow monsoonal rain runoff that causes topsoil erosion every summer.
The communities in the area petitioned the Nurgaram District government for help because the unmanaged slopes continually caused problems for people living along the river.
“It is wonderful how the people got involved and to see how their appeals to the government were answered,” said Marc Bender, USAID representative from Woodside, Calif. “This project has the potential to improve the quality of life here.”
The project began last fall on the western bank of the Alingar River, but the construction of a temporary bridge was required for work to continue. The PRT and USAID physically checked the bridge and the work on the eastern bank.
“The project trains the local people in watershed management,” said Bender. “They are digging trenches to intercept the flow of water down the mountainsides and will be planting seeds in those trenches. When the plants grow, the root systems will also help stop soil erosion.”
The workers will plant indigenous plants like acacia from seeds gathered from trees in the area. Using indigenous plants is important because they will be able to grow in the native soil and will not need to be irrigated.
“The workers are very enthusiastic about this project,” said Malik Sabeer, the deputy project manager from nearby Nangaresh Village. “They hope the project will be extended.”
The project also calls for a series of check dams. Check dams are low dams built where water typically runs down the mountain. As these dams fill up, the pooling slows down the rushing water and gives it a chance to be absorbed back into the underground water table.
“This is an important demonstration project,” said Bender. “Slowing down the flow of water will also help reduce silting in the Alingar River and will help return green to this valley.”
The project is scheduled to run through at least February. Besides benefitting the watershed, it gives the workers a source of income during the winter months.