Dambo hydrology in southern Africa—review and reassessment

A review is presented of dambo properties and hydrological data relevant to the determination of runoff response. The review focuses upon dambo distribution, topographic location, soil water regime, vegetation and channel characteristics, and the hydrological mechanisms reported to be operating within dambos. Collated statements on the influence of dambos on river flow regimes from 25 reports in seven different countries illustrate an absence of consensus on the influence of dambos on flood flows, low flows and total catchment runoff. A case has been established for dambos to be considered to reduce low flows in certain regions of Africa, by combining results from regional flow regime analysis and regional evaporation data from Zimbabwe, and by reassesing past studies of dambo hydrology in Malawi and Zambia.