WATERSHED

MANAGEMENT
Submitted to;
Dr. D. Nagaraju
Professor
DOS in Earth Science
University of Mysore.

Submitted by:
SHASINLO KENT
M.Sc Geology, IV Sem.
DOS in Earth Science,
University Of Mysore.

CONTENTS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

INTRODUCTION
TYPES OF WATERSHED MANAGEMENT
PRINCIPLES OF WATERSHED MANAGEMENT
OBJECTIVES OF WATERSHED MANAGEMENT
COMPONENTS OF WATERSHED MANAGEMENT
WATER MANAGEMENT MEASURES
FACTORS AFFECTING WATERSHED MANAGEMENT
USE OF REMOTE SENSING AND GIS IN
WATERSHED MANAGEMENT
9. WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN
KARNATAKA
10.CONCLUSION
11.REFERENCES

INTRODUCTION

Watershed is a geohydrological
unit or piece of land that drain at a
common point. It is defined as the
any spatial area from which rain
or irrigation water is collected and
drained through a common point.
It is a geographic region which
hydrological conditions are such
that water becomes concentrated
within a particular location, eg: a
river or reservoir, by which the
watershed is drained. The
watershed is important sources of
drinking water.

Watershed management is a
form meant to capture the sum
of the action taken to preserve
and maintain watersheds. It is
the process of guiding and coordinating use of land and water
resources in a watershed.
The management of watershed
includes all measurements that
can be taken to protect,
manage, and conserve water
and related land resources.
It comprise of a catchment area
(recharge zone), command area
(transition zone) and a delta
area (discharge zone).

TYPES OF WATERSHED
Based on size ;
1.Microwatersheds
2. Small watersheds
3. Large watersheds
Small watersheds are those
where the overland flow is the
main contributor to peak
runoff / flow and channel
characteristic do not affect
the overland flow.
Large watersheds are those
give peak flows are greatly
influenced
by
channel
characteristics
and
basin
storage.

Watersheds is also classified into different categories

based on area that the watersheds contain:

Other types include;

Gully plugs

Lift irrigation scheme

Check Dam

Percolation Pond

PRINCIPLES OF WATERSHED
MANAGEMENT
Utilizing the land based on its capability.
Protecting fertile top layer soil.
Protecting vegetative cover throughout the
year.
In situ conservation of rainwater.
Safe diversion of gullies and construction of
check dams for increasing ground water
recharge.
Water harvesting for supplemental irrigation.

OBJECTIVES OF WATERSHED
MANAGEMENT
The watershed aims, ultimately at improving standard of
living of common people in the basin by increasing their
earning capacity, by offering facilities such as electricity,
drinking water, irrigation water, freedom from fears, floods
etc.
Recognition of watershed
Adequate water supply for domestic , agricultural and
industrial needs.
Abatement of organic, inorganic and soil pollution.
To protect and enhance the water resource originating in
the watershed.
To increase infiltration of rainwater.

COMPONENT OF WATERSHED
MANAGEMENT
THREE COMPONENTS:
1. Land management
2. Water management
3. Biomass management.

1. Land management
Structural
measures
Vegetative
measures
Production
measures
Protection
measures

2. Water management

Rainwater harvesting
Groundwater recharge
Maintenance of water balance
Prevention of water pollution
Economic use of water.

3. Biomass management.
Eco preservation
Biomass
regeneration
Forest
management and
conservation
Plant protection
Increased
productivity of
animals etc.

PEOPLES PARTICIPATION
Sustainability conservation and
enhancement.
Equity Equatable access to
livelihood resources for the
watershed community.
Participation Ensuring sustainability
of the ecological, economic and
social exchanges.

FACTORS AFFECTING WATERSHED MANAGEMENT

a) Watershed characters
i) Size and shape
ii) Topography
iii) Soils
iv) Relief
b) Climatic characteristic
i) Precipitation
ii) Amount and intensity of rainfall
c) Watershed operation
d) Land use pattern
i) Vegetative cover
ii) Density
e) Social status of inhability
f) Water resource and their capabilities

USE OF REMOTE SENSING AND GIS

IN WATERSHED MANAGEMENT
Remote sensing finds its way to use in faster
assessment of natural resources such as soil,
geology, drainage etc. Aerial photographs and
satellites images convey important information
on land use, vegetation, slope ingredient,
erosion etc. It also find its use in assessment of
economic activities through land use and
infrastructure of land use.
GIS is an important tool for tracking spatial
data. GIS give clear perspective for analysis
various level to different patterns of watershed.

ROLE OF REMOTE SENSING

Timely and accurate information on spatial
distribution landuse, soil, vegetation density,
forest, geology, water resources etc.
Synoptic view, Multi-resolution, multi-spectral,
repetitive offers appropriate method for quick,
unbiased mapping and monitoring of natural
resources both in space and time domain.
- RS data in conjunction with collateral data
helps in delineation of ridge line,
characterization, prioritization, erosion prone
areas, etc.

Watershed management satellite

imagery

GIS application in Watershed

management

Watershed management practices

in Karnataka

Karnataka is one of the driest state in India. Large state of

the area are prone to recurrent droughts. Around of all
farmland is rain-fed and there is still little scope to expand
irrigation. As a result, farm productivity is low and water is
available only 3 to 4 months within a year.

Groundwater tables are falling and most wells run dry in

the long summer months. Because of water scarcity, farmers
are only able to grow a narrow range of 1 or 2 dry land crops.
The growing population is increasing the pressure on land.
Forest has been cut down to make way for agriculture. This
caused rapid soil erosion, and use of more fertilizer and
pesticides reduced soil fertility. There is an urgent need to
conserve both soil and water to raise farm productivity.
Therefore rise of watershed development is necessary.

Photo taken during watershed management programme under sir

D.Nagaraju and students.

CONCLUSION
Watershed is a geohydrological unit draining to a
common point by a system of drains.
It is classified into different types based on
different creteria like size, area, structure etc.
It is an essential in day to day life .
The management of watershed provides a means
to achieve sustainable land and water
management. poor watershed management is a
major cause of land and water degradation rural
proverty in the world.
Therefore watershed management is very
important for each and everyone of us to
conserve, protect and maintain our resources.

REFERENCES
WATERSHED MANAGEMENT- Dr. Archana misra
Authors press publishers of scholarity books, New Delhi edition 2005,
Page- 1 to 16.
WATERSHED MANAGEMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
-K.Gopal Iyer and Upendra Nath Roy, Kanishka publishers
New Delhi edition 2005, page-105,106,109,110,111
WATERSHED DEVELOPMENT, MANAGEMENT AND TECHNOLOGY
-Suresh Lal, Mangal deep publication, Jaipur edition 2004, Page- 1 to 27.
PRINCIPLES OF WATERSHED MANAGEMENT US Environmental
protection agency.
WATERSHED MANAGEMENT - INTEGRATING PEOPLE, LAND AND WATER.
Copyright 2008 by Dr. Steve Weber and Larry McKenney, RBF Consulting .
WATERSHED MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES Improving productivity,
resources and livelihood by Bharat R. Sharma, J.S Samra, C.A. Scott and
Suhas p. Wani.
Remote sensing and GIS application in watershed management by Dr. Y.V.N
Krishna Murthy (IIRS, 2013).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watershed_management
http://www.agriinfo.in/?page=topic&superid=8&topicid=76

THANK YOU

SAVE WATER
SAVE LIFE