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Lake Beseka has been drastically expanding from its original size of about 3Km2 (in the year 1964) to its current size of 41 km2 (in the year 2006) in the last four decades. Equally, the lake level has been rising at an average annual increment rate of 0.28m. The expansion of the lake has imposed several impacts on the social and natural environment of the surrounding area. The continuing rise of the lake level resulted in inundation of valuable grazing and farmland and watering points. Further rise could result in a complete inundation of the road and railway line passing nearby and substantial amount of the farm and grazing land in the vicinity. The ultimate increase in size of the lake may lead to the spillover of lake water into the river Awash, which due to the highly alkaline and saline nature of the former may affect the hydrochemistry of the river and the ecosystems down stream.

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Fassika Abebe Beyene: Msc in Geo-Environmental System Analysis from Addis Ababa University.Currentlly working in Yeka SubCity Labour and Social Affair Department as Senior Labour Inspector, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

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