Flood Pulsing in Restoration : A Feasible Alternative for India?

Abstract

The full restoration of natural flood pulsed conditions has only been attempted in a few places in the world because the politics behind the original destruction of the wetland generally impedes full restoration. Often the desire to restore wetlands for wildlife and other purposes is not strong enough to alter or eliminate the engineering projects such as embankment, diversion, interbasin water transfer and hydroelectric dams for water, irrigation and electricity that destroyed the original wetland. Unfortunately, we must find ways to provide plant and animal species flood pulsed habitats because many of these are not only adapted to, but dependent on this environment for their continued survival.The restoration of flood pulsing has been accomplished only in a handful of places such as the Kissimmee River (Florida U.S.A.) and the Lodi Wildlife Area (Wisconsin U.S.A.). At the same time, many partial restorations have been successful removing or working with engineering projects. After the floods of the Mississippi River (U.S.A.), many people moved off the flood plain with the blessing of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Now, several embankments (levees or bunds) have been removed, and areas are reverting to natural vegetation. Downstream from hydroelectric dams in the Cameroon (Africa) and near Pune (India), impounded borrow areas with bunds have created fisheries/vegetable gardens and wildlife habitat, respectively. Restoration of spring habitats in arid and montane regions can be as simple as removing cattle from the banks of streams as in the case of the Magic Spring near Cartago (Costa Rica). The inclusion of flood pulsing in riverine restoration in India is a new idea as it is everywhere, but we must give serious consideration to recreating the original conditions of the habitat for the benefit of the animals and plants that utilize these wetlands.