The hydrological situation of the Gambia River basin, monitored by the Tambacounda-Kédougou Water Resources Brigade, reveals a general downward trend in water levels at most stations observed this Monday morning at 8 a.m.

According to the data collected, the decrease in the river level continues in the majority of stations, confirming the gradual end of the rainy season in the eastern region.

Tributaries of the Gambia River are receding

In Diaguiri, a tributary of the Gambia River located upstream of Mako, the water level recorded this morning was 2.00 meters, compared to 2.01 meters the day before, a slight decrease of 1 centimeter. At the same time last year, the level reached 2.65 meters, which illustrates a significant decrease over twelve months.

In Afia Pont (Thiokoye), this morning's data were not transmitted, but the previous day, the water level was 1.95 meters, compared to 2.08 meters on the same date in 2024.

The Niokolo Koba station also recorded a decrease: 5.32 meters on October 27, compared to 5.35 meters the day before, a drop of 3 centimeters. In 2024, on the same date, the river level there was 6.35 meters.

For the stations of Sinthiou Malème, Goumbayel and Diahra Pont, the water level remains below the measuring scale.

The Gambia River: stable to low levels depending on the area

In Kédougou, the water level was measured at 2.90 meters, compared to 3.00 meters on October 26, a decrease of 10 centimeters. Compared with the same date last year (3.30 meters), the trend confirms a normal decrease in the water level during this post-rainy period.

The alert level at this station is set at 7 meters, a threshold still far from the current level.

In Mako, the situation remains stable: 3.00 meters were recorded both yesterday and today. In 2024, the river level on the same date reached 3.26 meters.

The alert level there is 6 meters.

In Simenti, the decline continues with a water level measured at 4.63 meters, compared to 4.69 meters the day before, a decrease of 6 centimeters.

The alert level at the Simenti station is 13 metres, well above the observed level.

Finally, the Gouloumbou station shows a more marked drop: 5.25 meters this morning, compared to 5.46 meters yesterday, or 21 centimeters less. Last year at the same date, the river level there peaked at 12.91 meters, reflecting a spectacular decline.

The alert level is set at 12 meters.

A situation under control, despite the drop in levels

The hydrological services of the Tambacounda-Kédougou Water Resources Brigade, however, reassure that the current levels of the river and its tributaries remain well below the alert thresholds, and do not present any risk of flooding.

The observed trend is part of the natural cycle of receding water levels specific to the emerging dry season, heralding the transition to a period of low water across the entire Gambia River basin.