Remote sensing based innovative solution of river morphology for better flood management

Abstract

• Difference among Spatio-temporal Morphological patterns is significant in Chenab River. • Slope Gradient and Water Discharge Boundary Conditions significantly affect the channel migration. • Amalgamation of IUC and PCA provide effective baseline to delineate Channel Patterns in Landsat MS Wavelengths. • Forest Stands and the banks almost equally vulnerable due to erosion in high sinuousity conditions. • Unpredictable flood conditions cause ponding effects to the riparian zones in the absence of River Training Works. Land and existing resources in the riparian zone of the river are largely affected by the changing morphology. An efficient and sustainable disaster management and planning could not be possible without the knowledge of river morphology. The present study employed GIS&RS based approach to investigate river morphology of Chenab River from headworks Qadirabad to Talibwala Bridge. The study area is divided into seven sections based upon the heuristic approach. Temporal Statistics have revealed that the reach faced abrupt changes at sections 1, 2, 3 and 6 after 1979 due to high flood. The sinuosity of the reach ranges between 1.01 minimum to 1.57 maximum. Identified critical sections has highlighted the abrupt changes observed in the river with reference to the 1952 condition as base line of the river. Abrupt changes in the sinuosity index have indicated that the river topography is incised by the widening, shifting and migration of channels. Section-wise sinuosity and migration of the channels could help to the disaster managers to understand future planning and sustainable river training works. This research also provides basis for the feasibility study of storage dam at Chiniot which is being planned downstream to Talibwala Bridge on Chenab River.