Impact of Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) Changes on the Watersheds of Three Lakes in the Central Middle Atlas, (Morocco)

Many areas in Morocco are experiencing dramatic changes in Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) at various spatial and temporal scales due to climate change and human activities. Information on these changes are often required for natural resources planning, management and conservation. The three lakes under study are part of the central Middle Atlas, which is made up of limestone, volcanic plateaus and karstic causes. Several Land Use/Land Cover detection methods using Landsat 8 imagery were used for the study area. The analysis of changes in the watershed of Aoua lake in terms of gain and loss of areas for each Land Use/Land Cover for the period 2006–2019 shows that the different classes have clearly evolved. Over a 32-year period, the area occupied by Aoua Lake decreased by 85 ha between the two defined dates (1987–2019) until it completely dried up. The Ifrah watershed has experienced a regressive dynamic for some classes and progressive for others. The changes in Iffer lake watershed classes are not linked to any other factor, manifested by the absence of any anthropic action as well as any agricultural practice.