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October 22, 2024

USGS visited Namibia and Botswana during September 10-27, 2024, to assess water security challenges as part of the U.S. Ambassador’s Water Experts Program. 

The USGS Office of International Programs’ Science Advisor for International Water John Lane and USGS Water Mission Area Hydrologic Networks Branch Chief Molly Wood visited Namibia and Botswana on an assignment of the U.S. Ambassador’s Water Experts Program (AWEP). AWEP is administered by the Department of Interior International Technical Assistance Program (DOI ITAP) with funding from the U.S. State Department, Bureau of Oceans and International Environment and Scientific Affairs. 

USGS scientists met with representatives of the water sector in both countries, including government ministries, bulk water suppliers, municipal utilities operators, multinational water commissions, private consultants, and U.S. Embassy staff. 

Namibia and Botswana have semi-arid to arid climates and are undergoing severe drought. Water resources for drinking water supply, livestock watering, mining, and industry are stretched thin. The Namibia and Botswana governments are seeking technical support for improved understanding and use of available water resources.

Discussions centered on potential USGS support to Namibia and Botswana agencies to

  • Leverage remote sensing datasets to improve understanding of water availability,
  • Improve hydrologic monitoring networks to increase access to hydrologic data to inform water resource management decisions, and
  • Collaboratively develop scientific solutions to better manage groundwater and surface water resources to address the ongoing drought.

DOI ITAP posted on Facebook about the visit.

 

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USGS employees with staff from different Namibia government ministries in a group photo
USGS employees Molly Wood (3rd from left) and John Lane (3rd from right) with staff from the Namibia Ministry of Mines and Energy and the Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform, after a workshop on geophysics data collection.

 

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Aerial photograph of the arid Namibian landscape
Aerial photograph of the arid Namibian landscape near Windhoek showing ephemeral streambeds. 
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Letsibogo Dam, Botswana
Letsibogo Dam, Botswana’s third largest dam based on capacity, currently at 40 percent capacity due to the drought.
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USGS employees visiting a managed aquifer recharge injection well in Botswana
USGS employees Molly Wood (L) and John Lane (R) visiting a managed aquifer recharge injection well pilot site operated by the Botswana government agencies.
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USGS employees at a streamgage on the Limpopo River, Botswana
USGS employees John Lane (L) and Molly Wood (R) learning about field processes conducted at a streamgage on the Limpopo River near Mahalapye, Botswana.
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Kolobeng River, Botswana
Kolobeng River, Botswana, downstream of a streamflow monitoring station currently recording zero streamflow. 
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Groundwater pump station in Mahalapye, Botswana
Calf drinking from an overflow point at a groundwater pump station in Mahalapye, Botswana. 

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