MICRO WATERSHED MANAGEMENT OF THE SAI RIVER-APPLICATIONS OF GEO-INFORMATICS (GIS)

Abstract

 Water is a primary component for the survival of every living being on the earth. Water management is a point of concern, especially in developing countries due to the lack of proper management and conservation of water. GIS is useful to analyze and evaluate the geomorphological features of any watershed. GIS has developed as a tool for data sharing and collaboration presently being used in its identification, mapping, monitoring, management, analyses, evaluation, strategies and planning in different areas such as alternate land use practices, selection of sites for water harvesting structures for a watershed by integrating thematic information (land use, slope, drainage and soil) with socio-economic and other collateral information (like population, depth of weathering, well and crop inventory). This paper discusses various aspects of GIS for watershed development mapping such as base map, geological map for the purpose of rock and soil type, rainfall data, elevation, interrelationships of physiography of the drainage basin with land use and population structure. Chemical concentrations, monitoring of main and sub-streams and some traditional water resources (such as Dhare, Naule, Kund, Taals and Chal-Khal), create the strategies for drinking water, hydro-power production, agriculture irrigation, fisheries and animal husbandry and water conservation in the Sai watershed area. The most important role of GIS in watershed management is identifying the spatial patterns and various changes within the watershed area. It is also used for crop classification, rainfall, surface water inventory, mapping, conservation, searching and monitoring of water percolation tanks, dug out ponds, check dams, rain water harvesting and strategies for watershed management.