Abstract
Morphologic parameters of a watershed could help in segregating critical sub-watersheds for taking up conservation practices and mitigation interventions. Determination of critical watersheds or prioritization of sub-watersheds is inevitable for efficient and sustainable watershed management programs and allocation of its natural resources. The traditional methods of determination of morphologic parameters are time consuming, expensive and requires huge labor. However, the process becomes easier, cheaper and faster with the advent of Geographical Information System (GIS) and remote sensing technologies. In the present study, a combined approach of using toposheet, remotely sensed digital elevation model and morphometric ArcGIS toolbox has been adopted to determine morphometric parameters in Dudhnai river basin, a sub-basin of river Brahmaputra which is prone to both erosion and sedimentation. Seven sub-watersheds of Dudhnai have been prioritized by using the morphometric parameters and ranked them according to its vulnerability to soil erosion. The results of bifurcation ratio, drainage density, drainage intensity and constant of channel maintenance showed that Dudhnai watershed is a well-dissected watershed with less risk to flooding and soil erosion. However, significantly high values of infiltration number and ruggedness number obtained are indicative of very low infiltration which may result in high surface runoff and soil erosion. The study also revealed that channel erosion is stronger than sheet erosion in the basin. The prioritization of the sub-watersheds implied that Chil sub-watershed is the most susceptible sub-watershed that needs greater attention for soil and water conservation measures. The results of the present study could aid various stakeholders who are involved in the watershed development and management programs.
Highlights
Drainage networks are one of the most sensitive elements of landscape, and topography plays an important role in shaping its form and fluvial dynamics
Drainage networks and flowing pattern of a river are dynamic in nature which vary over both time and space, and are influenced by several factors such as geology, structural components, geomorphology, vegetation and soils of the area (Rekha et al 2011)
Other basin characteristics such as travel time, time to peak and intensity of erosional processes can be predicted with better insight and accuracy through morphometric analysis (Altaf et al 2013), and it could be a good alternative in ungauged watersheds where information on hydrology, geology, geomorphology and soil are scarce (Romshoo et al 2012; Puno and Puno 2019)
Summary
Drainage networks are one of the most sensitive elements of landscape, and topography plays an important role in shaping its form and fluvial dynamics. Morphometric analysis gives a comprehensive interpretation about the hydrologic response such as surface runoff generation, infiltration capacity and even groundwater potential Other basin characteristics such as travel time, time to peak and intensity of erosional processes can be predicted with better insight and accuracy through morphometric analysis (Altaf et al 2013), and it could be a good alternative in ungauged watersheds where information on hydrology, geology, geomorphology and soil are scarce (Romshoo et al 2012; Puno and Puno 2019). The information as a result of morphometric analysis of watersheds could be used as decisive tool in water resource management, conservation of soil erosion, landslide susceptibility mapping, evaluation of groundwater potential, and prioritization of watersheds (Sreedevi et al 2009; Sujatha et al 2013; Salvi et al 2017; Jena and Dandabat 2019). Studies which used satellite data and GIS tools in morphometrics for developing watershed management studies include Nag (1998); Das and Mukherjee (2005); Das et al, (2016) and Senthamizhan et al (2016)
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