Prioritization of Sub-Watersheds in Ruparel Watershed, Rajasthan Based on Morphometric and Land Use/Land Cover Analysis Using Remote Sensing and GIS

Munahzah Meraj,Akram Javed

doi:10.4236/ijg.2022.132008

Abstract

Watershed prioritization is considered as the most significant aspect in watershed resource management and development program. The present work attempts to prioritize seventeen sub-watersheds in Ruparel watershed of Alwar district of Rajasthan, India. For prioritization of sub-watersheds, morphometric and land use/land cover (LULC) analysis were performed using remote sensing and GIS. Base map of the study area has been derived from SOI toposheet on 1:50,000 scale whereas LULC mapping was done using IRS P6 LISS III data. Standard methods for drainage morphometry have been followed for computing morphometric parameters such as linear and shape for seventeen sub-watersheds and allotted ranks based on their relationship with erodibility and a compound value has been calculated for final ranking. Five main LULC categories were computed and were assigned priority ranks and subsequently a compound parameter was determined for final ranking. Integration of both morphometric and LULC results reveal that SBW5, SBW7, SBW12 and SBW16 are the common sub-watersheds that fall under high priority, SBW3 falls under Medium category and SBW11 comes under low priority. The results of the analysis can be used to identify the sub-watersheds which need immediate restoration and will eventually help in watershed resource management for sustainable development.

Highlights

Natural resources like land, forest and water are finite, their improper and uncontrolled consumption is posing a serious threat to the precious environment in developing countries like India, their conservation and proper management is essential for sustainable development
The results of the analysis show SBW8 and SBW13 fall in the Very High priority category, SBW1, SBW4, SBW5, SBW6, SBW7, SBW12, SBW14 and SBW16 in High priority, SBW2, SBW3, SBW9, SBW10 and SBW15 fall in medium priority whereas SBW11 and SBW17 fall under low priority category (Figure 4)
The current study illustrates the holistic approach of remote sensing and GIS techniques for the prioritization of sub-watersheds in Ruparel watershed based on drainage morphometry and LULC analysis

Summary

Introduction

Forest and water are finite, their improper and uncontrolled consumption is posing a serious threat to the precious environment in developing countries like India, their conservation and proper management is essential for sustainable development. Morphometric analysis with the help of remote sensing and GIS techniques is considered to be the most useful approach for prioritization of watersheds [2]-[10]. Sub-watersheds can be prioritized on the basis of a number of factors such as drainage basin morphometry, Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE), Sediment Yield Index (SYI), LULC analysis etc. Drainage basin morphometry together with soil and LULC analysis is very critical for developing a water resource action plan that includes locating recharge and discharge zones as well as for classification and prioritization of the watersheds [6]. The current study prioritizes seventeen sub-watersheds in Ruparel watershed of Alwar district of Rajasthan using techniques such as morphometric and LULC analysis with the help of remote sensing and GIS. The main objectives of this study are to identify and classify sub-watersheds in the Ruparel watershed for conservation of natural resources for ultimate sustainable development and to recommend watershed conservation measures for planning and resource development

Objectives

Results

Conclusion