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The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of soil and water conservation measures by estimating the sedimentation and the volumes of water in arid regions in the Sahel of Mauritania. The conservation measures applied in the pilot site of Kiffa in the Sahel region of Mauritania are of different types and tend to be site-specific and tailored to fit in with the local farming systems, customs and environmental conditions. We considered 20 stone ridges, five individual basins, two terraces, one derivation structure and a small farm dam. The evaluation of the soil and water conservation techniques for a period of 18 months shows the important role they have played to limit erosion and to harvest rainwater. The stone cordons have been able to catch significant quantities of sediments varying from 775 to 2932 m(3)/ha, depending on the objective; and terracing works permitted the mobilization of large volumes of rain water to be exploited. The small farm dam at Essoufi, can provide up to 45 000 m(3) of surface water to be used for different purposes: domestic use, livestock watering, micro-irrigation, etc.