CHAPTER ONE: Introduction                                                                               1

1.1       Background to the Study                                                                                1

1.2       Statement of the Problem                                                                               3

1.3       Aim and Objectives of the Study                                                                   4

1.4       Research Hypotheses                                                                                      4

1.5       Significance of the Study                                                                               4

1.6       Scope and Limitations of the Study                                                               5

1.7       Study Area                                                                                                      5

1.8       Methodology                                                                                                  7

1.8.1    Method of Data Collection                                                                             7

1.8.2    Research Design                                                                                             7

1.8.3    Method of Data Analysis                                                                                7

CHAPTER TWO: Conceptual Framework and Literature Review                        8

2.1       Conceptual Review                                                                                         8

2.1.1    Water Resources in Nigeria                                                                            8

2.1.2    Surface Water Potential                                                                                  9

2.1.3    Availability of Surface Water Resources                                                       10

2.1.4    Driving Forces for Water Movement                                                             11

2.1.5    Water Resources Assessment Models                                                            12

2.1.6    Climatic Change                                                                                             14

2.1.7    Water Balance Versus Land Model                                                                15

2.1.8    Hydrologic Models                                                                                         17

2.2       Literature Review                                                                                           19

CHAPTER THREE: Data Presentation and Interetation                                   26

3.1       Introduction                                                                                                    26

3.1.1    Analysis of Data                                                                                             26

3.1.2    Research Hypotheses                                                                                      37

3.1.2.1 January                                                                                                           37

3.1.2.2 February                                                                                                          38

3.1.2.3 March                                                                                                              38

3.1.2.4 April                                                                                                                39

3.1.2.5 May                                                                                                                 39

3.1.2.6 June                                                                                                                 40

3.1.2.7 July                                                                                                                 40

3.1.2.8 August                                                                                                             41

3.1.2.9 September                                                                                                       41

3.1.2.10 October                                                                                                         42

3.1.2.11 November                                                                                                     42

3.1.2.12 December                                                                                                     43

CHAPTER FOUR: Summary of Findings, Conclusion and Recommendations      44

4.1       Summary of Findings                                                                                     47

4.2       Conclusion                                                                                                      46

4.3       Recommendations                                                                                          47

References                                                                                                                 49

Appendix: Daily Stream Level Observation for the Month of January to December, 2009            54

LIST OF TABLES

Table  Title                                                                                                                Page

3.1       Showing a One Sample T-test of the Rate of Flow of River 

            for the Month of  January                                                                               26

3.2       Showing a One Sample T-test of the Rate of Flow of River for the

            Month of February                                                                                          38

3.3       Showing a One Sample T-test of the Rate of Flow of River

            for the Month of March                                                                                  38

3.4       Showing a One Sample T-test of the Rate of Flow of River for the

            Month of April                                                                                                39

3.5       Showing a One Sample T-test of the Rate of Flow of River for the

            Month of May                                                                                                 39

3.6       Showing a One Sample T-test of the Rate of Flow of River for the 

            Month of June                                                                                                 40

3.7       Showing a One Sample T-test of the Rate of Flow of River for the

            Month of July                                                                                                 40

3.8       Showing a One Sample T-test of the Rate of Flow of River for the

            Month of August                                                                                             41

3.9       Showing a One Sample T-test of the Rate of Flow of River for

            the Month of September                                                                                 41

3.10     Showing a One Sample T-test of the Rate of Flow of River for the

            Month of October                                                                                           42

3.11:    Showing a One Sample T-test of the Rate of Flow of River for the

            Month of November                                                                                       42

3.12     Showing a One Sample T-test of the Rate of Flow of River for the

            Month of December                                                                                       43

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure             Title                                                                                                    Page

1.1                   Land Use map of Ogun and Oshun Basins.                                        6

3.1                   Showing the Rate of Flow of River for the Month of January           26

3.2                   Showing the Rate of Flow of River for the Month of February          27

3.3                   Showing the Rate of Flow of River for the Month of March              27

3.4                   Showing the Rate of Flow of River for the Month of April                28

3.5                   Showing the Rate of Flow of River for the Month of May                 29

3.6                   Showing the Rate of Flow of River for the Month of June                 30

3.7                   Showing the Rate of Flow of River for the Month of July                        31

3.8                   Showing the Rate of Flow of River for the Month of August 32

3.9                   Showing the Rate of Flow of River for the Month of September       33

3.10                 Showing the Rate of Flow of River for the Month of October           35

3.11                 Showing the Rate of Flow of River for the Month of November       36

3.12                 Showing the Rate of Flow of River for the Month of November       37

The aim of this study was to assess the surface water potentials of Ogun-Oshun river at Southwest Nigeria. It also examine the monthly flow characteristics of the river, determine the stream power and irrigation of the river and also suggest the best policy measures for management of the river.

            The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. Secondary data was used to source for information. The data is a daily stream level observation from Ogun-Oshun basin development authority. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS).

            The findings of the study revealed that a steady velocity of 1.7 m/s  was recorded in the month of January due to the absence of rainfall and the time of the recording, the highest velocity 1.72 m/s  was recorded between day 1 to day10 in February,the highest velocity of  1.89 m/s  was recorded on day 30 and 31 in the month of March, the highest velocity of 2.06 m/s  was recorded from day 28 to day 30 in the month of April, the highest velocity of 2.77 m/s  was recorded on day 27 and day 28 in the month of May, highest velocity of 3 m/s  was recorded on day 29 and day 30 in the month of June, highest velocity of 4.92m/s was recorded on day 30 in the month of July, highest velocity of 4.66m/s was recorded on day 6 in the month of August, highest velocity of 3.16m/s was recorded on day 2 and day 3 respectively in the month of September, the highest velocity of 1.94m/s was recorded on day 31 in the month of October, highest velocity that was recorded was 1.9m/s which was recorded from day 1 to day 5 in the month of November and a velocity of  1.7 m/s  was recorded from Day 1 to Day 31 in the month of December. It was also discovered that  there is a is a significant difference in the rate of flow of river for the month of January,  there is a is a significant difference in the rate of flow of river for the month of February, there is a is a significant difference in the rate of flow of river for the month of March, there is a is a significant difference in the rate of flow of river for the month of April, there is a is a significant difference in the rate of flow of river for the month of May, there is a is a significant difference in the rate of flow of river for the month of June, there is a is a significant difference in the rate of flow of river for the month of July, there is a is a significant difference in the rate of flow of river for the month of August, there is a is a significant difference in the rate of flow of river for the month of September, there is a is a significant difference in the rate of flow of river for the month of October, there is a is a significant difference in the rate of flow of river for the month of November and there is a is a significant difference in the rate of flow of river for the month of December.

            There is need for the determination of the frequency (recurrence interval) and duration (number of days) that flows need to exceed ½ bankfull and bankfull discharge to maintain the suite of habitats required by the endangered fishes.