A group of people stands around a large inflatable bag connected to hoses outdoors, with trees and a hill in the background, observing the innovative mobile flood barrier—an essential tool in Kenya's efforts to combat seasonal flooding challenges.

WaveSave Integrated Flood Management Solutions

Isiolo River Basin, Kenya

Project Overview

Background & Goal

The Isiolo River Basin in Kenya faces significant flood risk challenges due to its geographical location and climate conditions. As an Arid and Semi-Arid Land (ASAL) region, Isiolo Town is particularly vulnerable to flash floods, receiving water from upstream mountainous areas with steep slopes. Climate change is expected to increase rainfall intensity and frequency in the region, with the Ewaso Ng’iro North basin projected to experience a 10.9% increase in precipitation by 2050. Additionally, rapid urbanization, inadequate drainage systems, and blocked culverts further compound the flooding issues facing this community where 65% of residents already live below the poverty line.

 

The goal was to assess and demonstrate the effectiveness of WaveDam as a mobile flood protection solution for the Isiolo River Basin and provide data-driven recommendations for strategic deployment locations and supporting warning systems.

Solution

Working in collaboration with TU Delft, we conducted a comprehensive flood risk assessment using advanced hydrodynamic modeling and benefit analysis tools. Our solution incorporated:

 

  • Deployment of WaveDam flood barriers
  • Integration Flood Early Warning System 
  • Community-based deployment protocols
  • Development water retention capabilities
  • Training for Water Resources Users Association (WRUA)

Clients and Donors

This research project was conducted in partnership with TU Delft’s Department of Civil Engineering as part of their Multidisciplinary Project. Additional partners included Nelen & Schuurmans, SNV Netherlands Development Organisation, and the Water Resources Authority of Kenya

.

Location

Location: Isiolo River Basin, Isiolo County, Kenya

Timeline: 2023

Project impact

  • Identified six flood protection locations
  • Demonstrated protection potential
  • Confirmed WaveDam ranked highest among evaluated flood mitigation measures
  • Established deployment protocols
  • Provided water retention capabilities
  • Solution with dual flood/drought benefits
  • Verified community engagement

Gallery

Map of Africa showing projected climate change impacts with a color-coded scale for percentage change, indicating levels of agreement among climate models.

Map showing rainfall gauging stations in Isiolo and Timau, labeled in red. Features include rivers and roads. Inset displays the synoptic map for the district. Scale is 1:300,000.

Map of Isiolo town showing land use classification with symbols for roads, rivers, various facilities, and areas like forest, agricultural, and residential zones. Includes a legend and scale.

Map showing rainfall interception in a region. Areas are color-coded from red (0 mm/d) to blue (100,000 mm/d), with labeled locations: Isiolo, Maili Saba, Lewa, Subuiga, Ruigu, Ntugi, and Timau.

Map of Isiolo River Catchment in the Ewaso Ng'iro North River Basin, Kenya, with elevation color gradient. Includes an inset map of Kenya and streams color-coded by Strahler order.

Map of Isiolo River Catchment showing soil classification: clayey, loamy, sandy, very clayey, and other soils. Includes river streams, a scale, inset map, and data source.

Map showing SLAMDAM locations with river streams, roads, and designated areas, including airport and residential zones. Inset highlights agricultural protection area. Scale provided.

Map showing SLAMDAM locations with flood depth from 0 to 4 meters. Includes roads, rivers, land use, and a close-up inset highlighting residential protection area.

Map showing SLAMDAM locations tested with the FIS Tool, featuring isolo town, roads, streams, airports, and flood depth zones, with a legend detailing different geographic areas.

Map depicting flood impact in Isiolo area with shaded zones indicating flood depth, land use types, roads, rivers, and an inset showing the location on a larger map.

Flood map indicating water depth in Isiolo with a return period of 5 years. Includes roads, rivers, residential areas, and agricultural land.

Three maps showing infiltration area boundary, infiltration rate (in green), and infiltration capacity (in red) for Isiolo Town.

Three maps of Isiolo Airport: left shows airport boundary, middle shows infiltration rate, and right shows infiltration capacity of a retarding basin.

A narrow, muddy stream flows between grassy banks, with a stone wall on the right and scattered trees. Overcast sky above.

A dry landscape with sparse trees under a cloudy sky. Rocky ground and scattered vegetation are visible.

Rural landscape with sparse greenery, a dry riverbed, and labeled areas indicating "Residential Area" and "Agricultural Field" under a partly cloudy sky.

Dry landscape with sparse trees and a small stream. Red text labels areas as "Agricultural land" on both sides.

Two women carrying hoses walk down a rocky slope, with a group of people gathered in the background under a clear blue sky.

People standing near a large black water storage bag with a hose, in a dry, rural landscape. Some are working, others are observing.

A group of people outdoors gathered around large containers and equipment, with trees and cloudy sky in the background.

Group of people standing near a small river, observing a demonstration involving water pumps and hoses in a rural landscape with trees.

A group of people are gathered outdoors, assembling a large black sheet on the ground. They appear to be working collaboratively in a natural, dry environment with a stream nearby.

A group of people gathers around a man demonstrating equipment on the ground in an outdoor setting with trees in the background.

A group of people spread a large black tarp on the ground near a dry riverbed in a rural setting, surrounded by trees and bushes.

A group of people, including children, observe a person in a blue shirt working with a large hose outdoors in a rural setting.

A group of people stand around an agricultural setup with pipes and equipment outdoors in a rural area. Trees and hills are in the background.

People setting up an inflatable barrier in a dry, rural landscape, with trees and a cloudy sky in the background.

A diverse group of people standing together outdoors on a dirt ground, with trees and a cloudy sky in the background.

Key highlights

WaveDam is a mobile flood barrier designed to provide rapid and effective flood protection.
Unlike traditional flood defenses, WaveDam can be deployed quickly.

Rapid deployment

Deployed 200 m of SLAMDAM in less than 2 hours to prevent glacier-melt flooding.

Community training

Local teams were trained in deploying and managing SLAMDAM and the early warning system.

Early warning system

Enhanced early flood warning with integrated monitoring and communication tools.

Resilience building

Reduced flood damage to homes and protected 250 hectares of farmland.

Early warning system

Enhanced early flood warning with integrated monitoring and communication tools.

Sustainable impact

Increased long-term flood resilience through community empowerment and scalable technology

Testimonials

What our clients say

The SLAMDAM project has successfully demonstrated how innovative flood barriers can protect vulnerable areas in Gilgit-Baltistan, offering a sustainable solution for flood management..

Dr. Muhammad Zia ur Rahman
Hashmi

Head of Water Resources & Glaciology, Islamabad,
Pakistan

SLAMDAM has transformed our community’s resilience to floods. With the technology and training, we now feel empowered to protect our homes and livelihoods.

Naveed Alam

Community Leader Passu
Community

The SLAMDAM project has successfully demonstrated how innovative flood barriers can protect vulnerable areas in Gilgit-Baltistan, offering a sustainable solution for flood management..

Dr. Muhammad Zia ur Rahman
Hashmi

Head of Water Resources & Glaciology, Islamabad,
Pakistan

The SLAMDAM project has successfully demonstrated how innovative flood barriers can protect vulnerable areas in Gilgit-Baltistan, offering a sustainable solution for flood management..

Dr. Muhammad Zia ur Rahman
Hashmi

Head of Water Resources & Glaciology, Islamabad,
Pakistan

SLAMDAM has transformed our community’s resilience to floods. With the technology and training, we now feel empowered to protect our homes and livelihoods.

Naveed Alam

Community Leader Passu
Community

The SLAMDAM project has successfully demonstrated how innovative flood barriers can protect vulnerable areas in Gilgit-Baltistan, offering a sustainable solution for flood management..

Dr. Muhammad Zia ur Rahman
Hashmi

Head of Water Resources & Glaciology, Islamabad,
Pakistan

The SLAMDAM project has successfully demonstrated how innovative flood barriers can protect vulnerable areas in Gilgit-Baltistan, offering a sustainable solution for flood management..

Dr. Muhammad Zia ur Rahman
Hashmi

Head of Water Resources & Glaciology, Islamabad,
Pakistan

SLAMDAM has transformed our community’s resilience to floods. With the technology and training, we now feel empowered to protect our homes and livelihoods.

Naveed Alam

Community Leader Passu
Community

SLAMDAM has transformed our community’s resilience to floods. With the technology and training, we now feel empowered to protect our homes and livelihoods.

Naveed Alam

Community Leader Passu
Community

The SLAMDAM project has successfully demonstrated how innovative flood barriers can protect vulnerable areas in Gilgit-Baltistan, offering a sustainable solution for flood management..

Dr. Muhammad Zia ur Rahman
Hashmi

Head of Water Resources & Glaciology, Islamabad,
Pakistan

The SLAMDAM project has successfully demonstrated how innovative flood barriers can protect vulnerable areas in Gilgit-Baltistan, offering a sustainable solution for flood management..

Dr. Muhammad Zia ur Rahman
Hashmi

Head of Water Resources & Glaciology, Islamabad,
Pakistan

Want to learn more about this project or how WaveSave can bring flood protection to your community?.

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