I - 1

CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION

The Study Area includes Tempe Lake, Walanae Cenranae and Gilirang River Basin and has an
area of about 7,900 Km2. It is often referred to as the Wal-Cen River Basin and is situated in the
centre of South Sulawesi Province. The Study Area belongs administratively to six districts (Maros,
Bone, Soppeng, Wajo, Sidenreng Rappang, and Enrekang). The biggest town in the Study Area is
Sengkang, located near Tempe Lake about 210 Km of northwest of the provincial capital Makassar.
The other bigger towns in the study area are Watan Soppeng and Pankajene.
The rivers flowing into Tempe Lake are Bila River in the north and some small rivers around the
lake. The Tempe Lake outlet is the Cenranae River, which flows from Tempe Lake into the Bone
Bay (Gulf of Bone). Walanae River only adds water to Tempe Lake in times the water lever of the
lake is lower than that of the river. Normally the water of Walanae River joins Cenranae River a
few kilometers from the lakes outlet.
In the wide alluvial plains of the Tempe lake basin (existing of the Tempe, Sidenreng and Buaya
Lake), the silt soils having less infiltration and rich humus are well suited for paddy cultivation.
However the high groundwater table and less drainable conditions in the area cause severe damages
in case of flood.
According to field investigation and information from interviews with farmers, the plains less than
6 m in elevation are not being used for agriculture. Plains with elevation between 6 m and 10 m.
are in many areas used for rice and palawija
1
cultivation, particularly along the Tempe Lake and
the Sidenreng Lake.
1.1 Climate
The climate in the Study Area is characterized by tropical monsoons, having distinct rainy
and dry seasons. The rainy season is from March to July, while the dry season is from
August to February, although September and October are the only really dry months. For
Tempe Lake basin, the dry season varies from year to year.
There are six meteorological stations, namely Ujung Lamuru, Ponre-ponre, Malanroe,
Kanyuara, Sengkang, and Tanru Tedong.
The meteorological data, such as temperature, relative humidity, sunshine, wind velocity
and evaporation were reviewed and analyzed on a mean monthly basis. The general
climatic characteristics are as follows:

1
Common Indonesian name for rotation crops planted after rice. These are usually bean species and maize.



I - 2

(1) Temperature
The temperature is relatively high from March to May and from September to
November, while that from June to August and from December to February is
relatively low. The maximum temperature (28.6C) occurs at Station Kanyuara in
November and the minimum (21.4C) does at Station Malanroe in July. The annual
mean temperature is 25.9C with little seasonal variation.
(2) Relative Humidity
The mean relative humidity is fairly high throughout the year, ranging from 75 % to
90 %. The monthly average is 84.2 %. The maximum monthly relative humidity
reaches its maximum of 90.0 % in April at Station Ponre-ponre, and the minimum
of about 75.4% occurs at Station Sengkang in September.
(3) Sunshine Duration
The sunshine duration from August to October is relatively high, and that from
November to July is relatively low. The annual average sunshine duration is 5.9
hrs/day. The maximum sunshine duration (8.8 hrs/day) occurs at Station Malanroe
in September and the minimum (2.3 hrs/day) at Station Ponre-ponre in January.
(4) Wind Velocity
The monthly wind velocity is generally low ranging from 0.7 m/s to 1.0 m/s. The
annual wind velocity is 0.9 m/s on the average.
(5) Evaporation
The monthly evaporation is relatively high from July to October, and relatively low
from November to June. The maximum monthly evaporation is 314 mm and occurs
at Station Malanroe in October. The minimum is 100 mm and occurs at Station
Tanru Tedong in June. The average annual evaporation is 2010 mm.
(6) Rainfall
The general characteristics of the typical spatial rainfall patterns in the study area
are as follows:
The average annual rainfall ranges from 4,853 mm 1,265 mm. The highest
rainfall of 4,853 mm is observed in rainfall station Waladuapitu, and the lowest
of 1,265 mm is observed in Ugi Sabangparu in the middle stretch of the
Walanae River.



I - 3

The annual rainfall in the mountains in the north and south of the study area
with EL 2,000 m and more has a rainfall of 2,000 mm to 4,000 mm. Rainfall
decreases together with decrease in height to about 1,500 mm in and around the
Tempe Lake basin.
Calculations give an average annual rainfall of 2,144 mm for the Walanae River
System, 2,625 mm for the Bila River System, 1,823 mm for the Cenranae River
System, and 3,020 mm for the Gilirang River system.

1.2 Geological Condition
The study area is mostly located on the alluvial flat plains including the flood plains of the
lakes, which area has been created by the mainstreams of the Walanae, the Bila and
Cenranae rivers and numerous small rivers and tributaries. The alluvial plains in the study
area are densely covered with rain fed paddy fields and palawija crops. In the lakes both
intensive and extensive fishery activities exist.
The northern part of the Wal-Cen River Basin is covered with relatively high and steep
mountain ranges with elevation of up to 3,000 m. The Bila river originates from these
ranges and flows down in south direction with remarkable meanders in the flat alluvial area
lower than 40 m in elevation. The lower area of the Bila River is annually inundated during
the high water season of the lake. The southern part of the study area is also a mountainous
area with elevations between 1,000 and 2,000 m. From here the Walanae River flows down
to the north, collecting the flows of small streams from eastern and western slopes.
Downstream from the confluence of the Mario and Walanae rivers, a flat area extends about
10 km on both sides of the river. After traveling about 25 km in the flat area, the Walanae
rivers meanders and joins with the Cenranae river at Sengkang.
The Cenranae River originates from the Tempe Lake and flows across the east coastal area
with flat topography. The average slope is about 1 to 20,000. It flows towards southeast and
discharges itself into Bone Bay meandering with very mild slope, bringing about swampy
area on its midway.
The study areas can be divided in to 5 physiographic units, as follows:
1. The northern part of Tempe Lake depression. This is the Bila watershed.
2. The Tempe Lake depression, with a general northwest to southeast orientation.
3. This area consists of Tempe Lake, the Buaya Lake and the Sidenreng Lake and the
Cenrana River flowing to Gulf of Bone in the east.



I - 4

4. The southern part of the WalCen basin, that can be divided into three topographic
areas:
5. Western mountain range of Walanae river.
6. Eastern mountain range of Walanae river.
7. Walanae valley (containing the Walanae river)
8. The part northeast of the Bila Walanae watershed, close to the Gulf of Bone. This
includes the Gilirang Watershed.
9. The large volcanic cone of the Lompobatang or peak of Bonthain mountain (elevation
2,871 m), which still has a recognizable crater rim. The Walanae River flows
northwards from this geomorphological feature.

(1) Landform

The relatively flat areas cover 25 % or 197,648 Ha of the study area. This area is
subject to sedimentation. The remaining 75 % of the area has rough topography of
steep slopes with high altitudes. A significant portion of the WalCen basin (38 %) is
mountainous with rugged topography and the very steep slopes. A noteworthy part of
the area classified as critical land is being cultivated by the local people adding
considerably to erosion. This condition especially occurs at the west side of the
Walanae river basin, in the Minraleng and Sanrego sub-watershed.

The following table shows the areas according slope categories per watershed.

Slope Conditions in the Study Area (extend in hectare)
No Watershed/Depression A B C D E F
1
2
3
4
5
Bila
Walanae
Tempe Depression
Gilirang
Cenranae
8,630
5,780
25,000
2,900
28,900

25,300
17,400
41,600
9,900
33,200
42,100
75,700
2,000
590
0

0
74,800
0
29,300
49,200
0
4,100
0
2,800
0
85,700
191,200
0
6,200
7,100




I - 5

Remark :
Slope categories are as follows:

A = 0-3% D = 16-25% C = 9-15%
B = 4-8% E = 26-45% F = > 45%


Areas with slope exceeding 45 % cover the following surface areas in the sub-river
basins of the WalCen basin.

Bila river basin 85,700 ha
Walanae river basin 191,200 ha
Gilirang river basin 6,200 ha
Cenranae river basin 7,100 ha

(2) Soil Condition
In the study area six soil types with soil series are found. Next to that there are five
complex soil types. They each have their own sensitivity to erosion. The soil types and
their sensitivity to erosion are shown in the following table:

Soil type and sensitivity to erosion in Walcen MP
No Name of soil type Grade of erosion sensitively
1
2
3
4
5
6
Alluvial
Mediteran
Lithosol
Podzolic
Regosol
Grumosol
Not sensitive
Rather sensitive
Very sensitive
Sensitive
Very sensitive
Sensitive
Source: Geomorphology Sectoral Report



I - 6
Distribution of the soil types in the study area is shown below:
No Soil Type Soil series Area/ha %
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

8

9

10

11

12
Alluvial
Mediteran
Lithosol
Podzolic
Regosol
Grumusol
Mediteran, Greyish brown,
and Regosol
Rendzina complex and
Lithosol
Podzolic yellowish brown
and Regosol
Podzolic grayish brown
and regosol
Mediteran brown,
regosol and Lithosol
Gley Humus
Hidromorf, grey brown
Brown, grey, red
-
Brown, Violet, red
grey brown
Old grey
-

-

-

-
-

-

122,700
86,700
46,100
128,100
8,600
77,400
29,300

27,700

21,800

48,300

163,400

29,800
16
11
6
16
2
10
4

4

3

6

21

4 %
Source: Geomorphology Sectoral Report

Based on soil characteristics and area distribution, the extent of soils not sensitive to
erosion in the Walanae-Cenranae River Basin is only 16 %. The remaining part of the
area has an erosion sensitivity varying from rather sensitive to very sensitive.

1.3 Water Level and Water Area
(1) Main River
The Bila River
For Bila river high water flow appears from March to August, and low water flow
appears from September to February. The average monthly flow is about 55 m
3
/s at
Tanru Tedong Gauging Station. The average maximum monthly flow is 146 m
3
/s
and the minimum is 12.3 m
3
/s.
The Walanae River
The Walanae River has generally two high water flow seasons in a year: from
November to March and from April to July. The average monthly flow is 85.2 m
3
/s
the average maximum flow is about 234.8 m
3
/s and the minimum is 16.5 m
3
/s at
Cabenge gauging station.



I - 7

The Cenranae River
The discharge of the Cenranae River is largely related to the water level of Tempe
Lake. The high water flow appears from November to July, and the low water flow
appears from August to October. The average monthly flow is about 205.4 m
3
/s at
Tampangeng gauging station. The average maximum monthly flow is 472.2 m
3
/s
and the minimum is 75.8 m
3
/s.
The Gilirang River
The Gilirang River has one high water flow seasons in a year; from in May to
September. The average monthly flow is 9.20 m
3
/s, the average maximum flow is
about 36.10 m
3
/s, and the minimum is 0.90 m
3
/s.

(2) Tempe Lake
The Tempe Lake area is a valley encircled by mountainous. The lake water area
exists of three lakes, these are: Tempe, Sidenreng, and Buaya Lake, and have basic
elevation of about 3.00 m; 4.50 m; and 6.50 m above sea level repectively.
Sidenreng and Tempe lake are connected by a water way with a basic elevation of
6.50 m. Buaya and Tempe lake are connected by the Bila river with a basic
elevation of about 8.00 m above sea level. The outlet of Tempe Lake, Cenranae
River, has a basic elevation of about 3.00 m in the upstream area.
In the rainy season the water level of Tempe Lake can reach the elevation of 7.80 m
(above mean sea level) with total water area of 14,500 ha. In long dry seasons the
water level can become as low as 3.50 m (above mean sea level) with total water
area of 1,000 ha. In normal dry seasons the water level usually is about 4.50 m
(above mean sea level) covering an area of 10.000 ha.

1.4 Water Quality
Many previous studies, including the original JICA Master Plan (JICA 1980), the
conservation/land use project conducted by the Asian Wetlands Bureau (Giesen et al 1991)
and the more recent integrated study of Lake Tempe water resources (Nippon Koei 1997),
have analyzed the water quality in the rivers and the Tempe Lake system. Further new data
were collected during the present project, from surveys conducted in November 2002. The
data from these various studies and the surveys from this project are shown in the
Environmental Sectoral Report.




I - 8
The main conclusions from the various data sets are as follows:
In general, over the past 25 years, the water in Lake Tempe and the surrounding rivers
has remained broadly suitable for fisheries production, and for use in agriculture and
irrigation;
Certain parameters have been above Health Ministry standards at certain locations in
both rivers and the lake, including Manganese, Iron, Lead, Copper and Arsenic;
The AWB study found an (unexplained) extremely high level of Aluminums in the lake
and in the lower reaches of the Bila River, but this may be discounted as it has not been
recorded subsequently;
The rivers are high in suspended solids, organic matter and total nitrogen, except in the
upper reaches, indicating that much of this material enters in the populated areas, where
the rivers are used to dispose of raw sewage and domestic solid and liquid waste, by a
population lacking in basic sanitary provision;
The lakes are eutrophic, high in suspended solids and phosphorus, and sediment
concentrations (which restrict light penetration) are probably limiting to plant growth;
Lake Buaya is much clearer than the other lakes, and this is the only area where
macrophytes are found in abundance;

Well water, sampled in 1996 was suitable for drinking; however river water is not, because
of the high concentration of iron, and the presence of sewage bacteria.