Studies were conducted over the entire flood-prone areas, valleys, natural watercourses, swamps, and rivers, including existing drains in Asaba, Warri, Effurun, and environs. The studies showed that:

i. There were no previous records of survey data and maps for the cities;

ii. While Warri had an old Master plan, Asaba had none;

iii. A large part of the flooding noticed in Asaba, Warri, Effurun and environs could be attributed to blocked drainage channels with waste materials (decomposable and non-decomposable), silts, overgrown weeds etc. The result is that the flow discharge into the drainage channels is disturbed and hence could not be evacuated from the environment;

iv. Most of the existing drains do not have discharge points as they were constructed without design specifications;

v. The rapid urban development in Asaba, Warri, Effurun, and environs have caused the stripping of the vegetative covering, leaving the soil surface exposed to the damaging effect of erosion. This has created serious silt deposit inside the existing channels, thereby reducing the design flow volume;

vi. Serious flooding noticed in many parts of Asaba, Warri, Effurun, and environs is a result of non-functioning drains that have been filled with silt deposits over the years thereby reducing the original flow section as designed;

vii. Most developers have encroached into the streets’ right-of-way and in some cases completely blocked the natural waterways. These are more noticeable in Okpanam area of the Capital Territory, Effurun, Warri GRAs and Ugbogboro creek in Ugborikoko, Sokoh Estate, Bendel Estate, Lower and Upper Erejuwa;

viii. All the natural watercourses are overgrown with weeds and a large amount of silt deposits, and in some cases have become refuse dumps, especially in Tori Creek, Crawford Creek, and Ugbogboro Creek/River;

Read about more of the observations and findings in my article, FINDINGS AND OBSERVATIONS IN FLOOD-PRONE AREAS OF DELTA STATE -2