Impact of Land Use Change on Sediment Production, in the Upper Part of the Pixcayá River Basin, Using the MUSLE Equation, for the Years 2003 and 2012

Increased sediment production in Pixcayá River Basin was estimated at more than 60% between 2003 and 2012, from 200 000 MT/year to 365 000 MT/year respectively. This is correlated with erosion-sedimentation process due to changing land use. In the basin for the same period in agricultural areas 6.90 km² and 4.87 km² in urban areas increased. The estimation of the sediment production is based on the modified equation of loss of soil MUSLE, applying Geographic Information Systems -SIG-. It was observed that land use has a significant effect, since it directly influences the determination of the Curve Number –CN- (the increases in the 18 micro-basins show values of 2.14 φ2.20) and in the factor C (Increases in the 18 micro-basins show values of μ 0.106 φ 0.062). The increase in the amount of sediment has direct effects on the quality of the water due to the entrainment of substances adhered to these, the basin of the Pixcaya river, is strategic for the water supply in the city of Guatemala, since it forms part of the Xaya-Pixcaya project.