Applications of advanced technology for Prioritization of Watershed

Abstract

Prioritization of sub-watersheds is critical in strategic planning for incorporating management practices in delicate semi-arid regions. Geomorphometric as well as land use/cover data sets are essential for determining subwatershed priorities for integrated watershed management. Prioritizing watersheds entails ranking of sub-watersheds according to their susceptibility based on several variables, including the average yearly soil loss, the depletion of water resources, and ecological deterioration. The sub-watershed prioritization for the study area Muzaffarpur district was done by combining Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Weighted Sum Approach (WSA). PCA was used to differentiate important parameters but WSA was used to measure compound values for priority ranking and determining weights for significant parameters. The PCA was effective in obtaining the most crucial values (i.e., WB, Dt, Re, and Rb). A load of each significant parameter was successfully defined by the WSA application. Traditional prioritizing procedures uses numerous criteria in a complex manner and presumptively contribute equally but PCA-WSA integration results in more dynamic, effective, and efficient solutions.