Articles | Volume 18, issue 10
https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-18-7227-2026
https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-18-7227-2026
Data description article
 | 
01 Oct 2026
Data description article |  | 01 Oct 2026

A harmonized dataset for dams and reservoirs in West Africa

Valery Bessely Stanislas Kouassi, Blé Anouma Fhorest Yao, Gneneyougo Emile Soro, Bi Tié Albert Goula, Nelly Carine Kelome, and Julian Klaus

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Cited articles

Abobi, S. M. and Wolff, M.: West African reservoirs and their fisheries: An assessment of harvest potential, Ecohydrol. Hydrobiol., 20, 183–195, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecohyd.2019.11.004, 2020. 
Anghileri, D., Pastori, M., Marcos-Garcia, P., Umlauf, G., Crestaz, E., Seliger, R., Iervolino, A., Cordano, E., Cattaneo, L., and Carmona-Moreno, C.: Global Water Challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa and how to strengthen science-policy dialogues on transboundary governance and cooperation, J. Environ. Manage., 365, 121417, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121417, 2024. 
Bai, B., Mu, L., and Tan, Y.: A Global Lakes/Reservoirs Surface Extent Dataset (GLRSED ): An Integration of Multi‐Source Data, Geosci. Data J., 12, https://doi.org/10.1002/gdj3.285, 2025. 
Beck, H. E., McVicar, T. R., Vergopolan, N., Berg, A., Lutsko, N. J., Dufour, A., Zeng, Z., Jiang, X., van Dijk, A. I. J. M., and Miralles, D. G.: High-resolution (1 km) Köppen-Geiger maps for 1901–2099 based on constrained CMIP6 projections, Sci. Data, 10, 724, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-023-02549-6, 2023. 
Bernacsek, G. M.: Dam design and operation to optimize fish production in impounded river basins, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy, CIFAA Technical Paper (Committee of Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture for Africa), 0379-5616 – CIFA/T11, ISBN 92-5-101485-X, https://www.fao.org/4/ac675e/AC675E00.htm (last access: 7 September 2026), 1984. 
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Short summary
Dams and reservoirs are crucial for water supply, energy, and farming in West Africa, but information about them is often inaccessible, incomplete, or inconsistent. We combined existing records with field observations to create the a harmonized dataset to date, with quality verified at the watershed scale. This work improves access to dam and reservoir information in West Africa, supporting research and investment planning for water, food and energy security across the region.
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