Vulnerability Studies of Sensitive Watershed Areas of Owerri South East Nigeria Using Digital Elevation Models

The impact of human activities on sensitive watershed terrains is a critical consideration in the management of urban ecosystems. Degradation of sensitive ecosystem features such as watershed land areas is often irreversible due to the extent and intensity. The vulnerability of 150 m watershed management zone of Otamiri river Owerri Imo State, Nigeria was studied by topographic analysis using 1977 digital elevation model (DEM), 1977 aerial photos, Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission DEM of 2000, 2012 satellite imagery and the 2016 Master Plan of the study area. The impact of human activities in elevation change was observed in the parts of substantial human activities while topographical stability was recorded for areas of very low human activities.