Spring cleaning and creating a water point
Type: Technologies
Creation: 2012-04-10 16:45 Updated: 2019-05-09 11:59
Compilers: Abdybek Asanaliev
Reviewers: Deborah Niggli, Alexandra Gavilano
Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment
- Country: Kyrgyzstan
- Region/ State/ Province: Kyrgyz Republic
- Further specification of location (e.g. municipality, town, etc.), if relevant: Sokuluk
- Map: View Map
Description of the SLM Technology
Short description of the Technology
Cleaning the spring and creating an animal watering point to reduce livestock trampling and erosion
Detailed description of the Technology
Saz village has 4,000 ha of a pasture land area, which is divided into close to village, intensive, and far away pastures. 30% of the pastures are close to village, and used in spring, autumn and winter. In summer and autumn livestock is grazed on intensive and far away pastures.
One of the disadvantages of the close to village pastures is the lack of water for livestock consumption. Daily at noon, shepherds bring their livestock to the Sokuluk river to water it. As a result livestock has to range between village, pasture and river four times per day, which led to the creation of numerous trails on the pastures contributing to soil erosion. Pasture erosion is obviously visible near the river and around the village.
At the same time, there was a spring in one of the canyons clogged up with stones and mud. As the stream of water was not sufficient to quench livestock's thirst, the herders used to direct it straight to the river.
Aytkulov Duyshon, a resident of Saz village, cleaned this spring and built a watering point for animals with support of the CAMP "Alatoo" and the local administration. First, the exact effluence of the spring was determined and cleaned from mud. Then, 15 meters below this spot three interlinked troughs were constructed. These throughs were 1,8 m long, 0,5 m wide and 0,5 m deep. Each following trough was located below the previous one and water could flow through in form of a cascade. Below these troughs a pool (2 m diameter) was built. The edges of the troughs were set 0,2 m above the soil to prevent clogging up of water with stones and soil. At the end of the construction the troughs were connected with pipes to the place the water was coming out. This place was edged with stones and a tube was placed into a small 0,30 m trench. At this water point, 15-17 animals (depending on their size) can drink water simultaneously. As a result of this work livestock had to move twice per day - in the morning and in the evening. On the eroded pathways non palatable plants began to grow.
The purpose of this technology is the provision of safe drinking water for livestock and to prevent pasture erosion.
Realization of the technology became possible after the workshop on "Sustainable use of natural resources through soil and water conservation technologies" organized by CAMP "Alatoo". During this workshop villagers developed a project using the CAMP "Alatoo"'s collection of technologies on soil and water conservation. Aytkulov Duyshon (the leader) and his team developed a project on cleaning the spring and creating a water point. The group contributed to the introduction of the technology and CAMP "Alatoo" financed part of the cost.
The spring is located at 1,600 m asl. in the Sary Koo canyon. The area is covered with different types of grass and with a shrubby vegetation (spirea, barberry, hawthorn and wold rose) on the north slope. Eroded pathways are visible on the slopes and at the bottom of the canyon a gully is developing. People use the three types of pastures (close to village, intensive and far away pastures) under "the pasture law of KR". A pasture committee has not yet been established. The village does not practice pasture rotation and a pasture use plan does not exist. But local administration has issued a decision on dates when livestock should be grazed on intensive and on far away pastures in order to protect crops from livestock damages.
Photos of the Technology
- 📍 пастбище села Саз, Чуйская область, Сокулукский район
- 📷 Асаналиев А.Ж (село Саз)
- 📍 пастбище села Саз, Чуйская область, Сокулукский район
- 📷 Асаналиев А.Ж. (г.Бишкек ул. Медерова 68)