Hydrogeomorphic Units Research Articles

Coastal wetland restoration framework based on hydrogeomorphic units of the coastal wetland of Yancheng, China

Effective implementation of restoration projects is essential to solving the degradation of coastal wetlands. Due to the lack of systematic guidance or unsuitable engineering measures, some coastal wetland restoration projects have suffered from lower-than-expected results and poor sustainability. Therefore, it is necessary to construct a regional-scale wetland restoration framework from a macro perspective prior to project implementation, which can guide pre-study and follow-up restoration practices. In this study, the hydrogeomorphic units (HGUs) of Yancheng coastal wetlands were delineated according to the regional hydrogeomorphic conditions, and the changes in land use/cover and hydrological connectivity of each HGU from 1980 to 2019 were analyzed. The results showed that the area of natural wetlands in the study area declined rapidly, with a decline of 48.38%, and was mainly converted to aquaculture ponds or farmland during the 40 years. The structural complexity and transport capacity of tidal creeks decreased significantly, which indicated that the hydrological connectivity decreased. The main problems of degradation in the region were the reduction of large areas of natural wetlands, the rapid expansion of exotic species, and the decline in hydrological connectivity, etc. Combining the degradation problems and the restoration objectives, feasible strategies and methods were selected for different types of HGUs from both active and passive restoration categories, thus forming a coastal wetland restoration framework for the Yancheng coastal wetlands based on HGUs. This study takes regional hydrogeomorphology as the antecedent context condition, and the idea of a systematic restoration framework constructed by combining landscape perspectives can provide scientific support for wetland restoration practice.

Dividing a wetland landscape into hydrogeomorphic units by using a hydrogeomorphic delineation approach: a case study in Tram Chim National Park, Vietnam

Wetlands account for about 41% of the total global ecosystem services value; therefore, they preserve a role as the most precious ecosystems on Earth. However, 35% of global wetland areas have been lost since 1970 as many wetlands have been exploited unsustainably. In this context, a hydrogeomorphic delineation approach has been developed to divide a wetland landscape into units which have homogeneous hydrological regime, geomorphology, and soil, named as hydrogeomorphic units (HGMUs). These units are fundamental units of a wetland for functional and resilience assessment of a wetland in different uses; then, to determine optimal management strategies for maintaining its complete ecosystem functions. This study used Tram Chim National Park for applying the hydrogeomorphic delineation approach for breaking a landscape of the park down into HGMUs. The findings showed that the park may be divided as three classes, including depression, riverine, and flat. Each class continued to be subdivided as subclasses. The results showed that there were six subclasses, i.e. six HGMUs, which identified in the park. Based on the results, the study described characteristics of HGMUs and created maps of HGMUs distribution of the park. These results will be a basis for next steps of applying functional assessment procedures for analyzing potential of the HGMUs to perform ecosystem functions in our upcoming study for preservation and management purposes in Tram Chim National Park.

Are active and former floodplain soils of the lower middle Elbe similar? A study of soil characteristics and possible implications for forest restoration

The analyses of soil properties and processes under the consideration of the spatial complexity of floodplains is a key step in the preparation of floodplain restoration measures. In that context, we analyzed how hydrogeomorphology influences soil physicochemical properties and formation processes in hardwood floodplain forests at the local scale. Our analyses are based on, 44 mixed topsoil samples, 135 soil drillings (2.0 m depth) and 18 reference pits (1.6 m depth) distributed in 44 hardwood floodplain forests along 150 km of the middle Elbe River. We considered four hydrogeomorphic units (HGUs) along a lateral floodplain gradient. Two HGUs located in the active floodplain and defined by their morphology Active High (AH), and Active Low (AL), and two located in the former floodplain: seepage water influenced (FS), and disconnected from the river hydrology (FD). Our results indicate that the HGUs in the active floodplain benefit from a stronger connection to the river hydrology. Higher pHCaCl2 values in the active HGUs as well as expected higher total P contents due to river deposition result in increased phosphorous availability. Physicochemical parameters as lower pHCaCl2 and predominance of iron mottling found in the FD indicate increased P sorption, therefore lower Psol availability. However, HGUs in the former floodplain, particularly those disconnected from the river hydrology, are characterized by higher total carbon and nitrogen content. These results improve our understanding of the soil physicochemical dynamics and their interactions in the different hydrogeomorphic units, and could allow the evaluation of floodplain restoration measures based on soil nutrient distribution to increase the potential of restored forests to develop on the selected geographic setting.

USUAL Watershed Tools: A new geospatial toolkit for hydro-geomorphic delineation

Watershed and hydro-geomorphic delineation is a critical first step in most environmental and natural resource assessments, analyses, and research. While existing geospatial tools have provided exceptional advances, less attention has been put toward developing fully automated tools for subdividing landscapes into their constituent hydro-geomorphic units or discretizing river corridor features. Here, we present a new, open-source ArcGIS toolbox, called the Utah State University AppLied (USUAL) Watershed Tools. The USUAL Tools are a set of streamlined, easy-to-use ArcGIS toolboxes that automate the delineation of watersheds, sub-catchments, river-adjacent interfluves, and discretized river networks with the topological structure and feature attributes necessary for one-dimensional source-to-sink transport modeling through large watersheds. This novel geospatial toolset replaces the need for extensive delineation workflows, providing the Earth science, environmental science, and natural resources communities with the ability to rapidly and easily automate necessary but often time-intensive tasks in a format familiar to ArcGIS users.

Determining the distribution of wetlands across Eswatini

ABSTRACT Eswatini became a signatory to the Ramsar Convention on the 15th of June, 2013. To date, the country does not have a national wetland inventory. This study applies a newly developed wetland mapping technique (produced in South Africa) to Eswatini, to provide baseline information on the potential distribution of wetlands across the country. Results of this study show that when applying the mapping technique as it was applied in South Africa, watercourses (rivers, drainage lines, and riparian zones) are more frequently mapped than true wetlands. Given that Eswatini currently uses the broad Ramsar definition of a wetland, the potential wetland map produced in this study is well suited to identify wetlands falling under such definition. However, the technique does not suffice where a more specific definition for wetlands is used. To improve the initial potential wetland map, this study made use of data, obtained from 2 000 points distributed across the initial wetland map, by classifying areas with the highest potential of being wetlands into hydrogeomorphic units. Results indicate that the methods used to improve the initial map areable to distinguish watercourses with a higher potential of being a true wetland and identify certain hydrogeomorphic units. This method can therefore be used to provide baseline data of potential wetland distribution for countries that do not possess the means, or attribute data to produce a comprehensive wetland map.

WET-EcoServices Version 2: A revised ecosystem services assessment technique, and its application to selected wetland and riparian areas

A rapid assessment technique, termed WET-EcoServices, was developed 10 years ago to help assess the ecosystem services that individual wetland hydrogeomorphic units supply. The technique requires the assessor to consider and score a suite of indicators (e.g., hydraulic roughness of the vegetation) which are then used to rate the ability of the wetland to provide 16 different ecosystem services. WET-EcoServices has become well entrenched in the South African context, with wetland specialists routinely using the technique to inform development planning, whilst it has also been used extensively in the wetland rehabilitation context. The technique has recently been revised, including the following key changes: (i) the technique is now more explicit in terms of distinguishing both ecosystem services’ supply and the demand for all ecosystem services assessed; (ii) the technique has been expanded to include non-wetland riparian areas; (iii) several of the indicators have been refined or replaced with indicators more relevant or appropriate for informing the rating of the ecosystem service or for which information is more readily available at a national level; and (iv) the algorithms used to integrate scores for the relevant indicators have been comprehensively refined so as to better account for the relative importance of the respective indicators. The aim of this paper is to present an overview of Version 2 of the technique and its underlying approach and then to demonstrate its application to 6 selected cases representing contrasting contexts, with a particular focus on the graphical representation of ecosystem service supply and demand for each case. Some of the key emphases and approaches applied by WET-EcoServices are then discussed in relation to other published techniques widely used for assessing wetland ecosystem services. After reflecting on some key limitations of WET-EcoServices, the paper concludes with recommendations on the technique’s potential contributions to operationalizing key broad imperatives of government.

Geomorphic control on wetland classification: a case study in Himalayan Floodplain region

Wetland classification is the primary tool to identify and determine wetland landscapes, but it seems to be very difficult as wetlands are the transitional zone between aquatic boundary and terrestrial boundary. Wetlands are also found in different hydroclimatic and topographic settings. Recently ecological wetland classification focuses on hydrogeomorphic unit to know the physical background of the wetland. In most of the cases, the topographic terms like slopes, flats have been given more importance than the geomorphological terms like ox-bow, floodplain. Floodplain wetlands in the Himalayan foothill region are very dynamic in nature. In Tufanganj C.D Blocks of Coochbehar district, many floodplain wetlands are evolved in the form of ox-bow lakes, meander scrolls and paleochannels. These wetland landform adjustments have been taking place as a result of spatio-temporal changes of rivers. The study focuses on the process–landform relationships and timescales of landform adjustments which is helpful for further wetland classification and management. In collaboration with both the participation of geomorphology community in wetland science and awareness by ecology community, characterizing wetlands as dynamic landscapes will be more eminent for wetland research and management.

The Impact of Wastewater Discharge and Agriculture on Water Quality and Nutrient Retention of Namatala Wetland, Eastern Uganda

The Namatala Wetland in Uganda faces severe degradation from agricultural development and urbanization. Besides the Namatala River and tributary rural streams, the wetland receives surface water from Mbale town and wastewater from two sets of wastewater stabilization ponds. The objective of this study was to examine water quality, and sediment and nutrient retention in different land use zones. Five hydrogeomorphic units (HGMUs) were distinguished on the basis of soil, hydrology and land use. HGMUs 1 and 2 in the upstream part of the wetland are characterized by drainage channels and mixed agriculture. HGMU 3 is a wet floodplain with intensive rice farming. HGMU 4 and 5 are permanently wet units in the downstream part of the wetland with moderate rice farming and partly intact papyrus (Cyperus papyrus L.) vegetation. Stream discharge was measured, and surface water samples collected, monthly from the river channel, the tributaries, and the five HGMUs from April 2015 to October 2016. Significant differences in total nitrogen (TN), phosphorus (TP) and total suspended solids (TSS) were observed among the streams and among the five HGMUs, with highest concentrations in urban streams and lowest in the main river channel and rural streams. Among the HGMUs, nutrients and TSS were highest within HGMU 3 and lowest in HGMU 1 and 5. Loads of nutrients and sediment into the wetland were greater from the main river channel compared with urban and rural streams. Regressions of net TN, TP and TSS yields for each HGMU against river discharge showed a net loss of nutrients and sediments in HGMU 3 with the most intensive agriculture, and net retention in HGMUs 4 and 5 which mostly maintain their wetland character. This study shows that sediment and nutrient retention in the downstream part of the wetland compensate for increased export caused by agricultural and urban land use in the middle and upper zones of the wetland, thus maintaining net nutrient retention of Namatala Wetland. However, there is a trade-off between economic development and wetland protection and future management planning should incorporate more sustainable farming practices and improved wastewater treatment.

Remote Sensing and GIS for Integrated Modeling and Analysis for Mapping of Groundwater Potential Zones in Sarada River Basin, Visakhapatnam, India

The study aimed at identifying and mapping groundwater potential zones in agricultural intensive Sarada river basin using Remote sensing and GIS technology. Zones of water potentiality were mapped integrating various information layers in GIS environment which eventually helped weighted modeling to arrive at the final outcome. Hydrogeomorphic units such as alluvial plains, valley fills, shallow weathered pediplains and deeply weathered pediplainswere mapped. Eventually water potential zones in the basin were mapped and categorised them in to ‘excellent’, ‘good’, ‘moderate’ and ‘poor’. The study highlighted the effective use of Remote sensing and GIS technology for integrated analysis, identification and mapping of the groundwater potential zones in the Sarada river basin.

Remote Sensing and GIS for Integrated Modeling and Analysis for Mapping of Groundwater Potential Zones in Sarada River Basin, Visakhapatnam, India

The study aimed at identifying and mapping groundwater potential zones in agricultural intensive Sarada river basin using Remote sensing and GIS technology. Zones of water potentiality were mapped integrating various information layers in GIS environment which eventually helped weighted modeling to arrive at the final outcome. Hydrogeomorphic units such as alluvial plains, valley fills, shallow weathered pediplains and deeply weathered pediplainswere mapped. Eventually water potential zones in the basin were mapped and categorised them in to ‘excellent’, ‘good’, ‘moderate’ and ‘poor’. The study highlighted the effective use of Remote sensing and GIS technology for integrated analysis, identification and mapping of the groundwater potential zones in the Sarada river basin.

National Wetland Map 5: An improved spatial extent and representation of inland aquatic and estuarine ecosystems in South Africa

The improved representation of freshwater and estuarine ecosystems and associated data was a key component of the 2018 National Biodiversity Assessment, and is an essential step in enhancing defensible land use planning and decision making. This paper reports on the enhancement of the National Wetland Map (NWM) version 5 for South Africa and other data layers associated with the South African Inventory of Inland Aquatic Ecosystems. Detail is provided on (i) the extent of wetlands mapped in NWM5, compared to previous versions of the NWMs; (ii) the improved extent of inland wetlands mapped in focus areas in NWM5 relative to NWM4; (iii) the type of cover associated with the wetlands (inundated, vegetated or arid); (iv) the ecotone between rivers and estuaries; and (v) level of confidence for the inland wetlands in terms of how well the extent and hydrogeomorphic units were captured for each sub-quaternary catchment of South Africa. A total of 4 596 509 ha (3.8% of South Africa) of inland aquatic ecosystems and artificial wetlands have now been mapped, with NWM5 delineating 23% more inland wetlands (2 650 509 ha or 2.2% of SA) compared with NWM4. The estuarine functional zone, which encapsulates all estuarine processes, and associated habitats and biota, was refined for 290 systems totalling 200 739 ha, with the addition of 42 micro-estuaries totalling 340 ha. Nearly 600 000 ha (0.5% of SA) of artificial wetlands were mapped in SA. Inland wetlands are predominantly palustrine (55%), with some arid (34%) and a few inundated systems (11%). Ecotones between rivers and estuaries, ecotones where biota and processes continuously vary from freshwater to estuarine, formed a small fraction (<1.5%) of river total extent (164 018 km). Most inland wetlands (~70%) had a low confidence ranking for designation of extent and typing, because they were not mapped by a wetland specialist and not verified in the field. Future improvements of the map should be focused on catchment-based improvements, particularly in strategic water-source areas, areas of high development pressure and those with low confidence designation.

Use of remote sensing and GIS techniques for groundwater exploration in the basement complex terrain of Ado-Ekiti, SW Nigeria

Integrated investigations involving remote sensing and GIS have been conducted with the objective of achieving optimal results in sustainable groundwater development in Ado-Ekiti, south-western Nigeria. The hard rock terrain in the region presents challenges in groundwater exploration. Landsat imageries were used for landuse/landcover mapping and lineament analysis for groundwater prospecting. Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission Digital Elevation Model was used for drainage network extraction, slope and geomorphological analysis. Thematic maps were generated, analysed in terms of hydrogeological importance and reclassified for integration using appropriate software. The groundwater potential maps generated were validated against the existing groundwater yield data. The light vegetation and bare soil area cover was 110.9 km2, with the rock outcrops covering a total area of 14.9 km2. Hydrogeomorphic units delineated included hills, pediments, pediplains, alluvium and valley fills. The lineaments showed predominantly NNW–SSE, ENE–WSW and NNE–SSW orientations and subsidiary NW–SE and W–E trends. Application of geospatial techniques has been recognized. The methodology provides improvements in the understanding of the hydrogeological characteristics of the basement terrain. These will aid planning and management of groundwater resources in the crystalline basement terrain.

Ecosystem services provided by South African palmiet wetlands: A case for investment in strategic water source areas

Wetlands globally are highly threatened by agriculture, and damage associated with it, such as invasion by alien species and the impacts of fertilizers and pesticides. South African palmiet wetlands make an interesting case study to investigate this, as they are valuable valley-bottom, peat-forming systems, highly threatened by agricultural development. Currently most agriculture in these palmiet wetlands is marginal (low agricultural productivity) due to the challenges of farming a system that experiences severe floods and erodes rapidly, forming gullies, when wetland vegetation is disturbed. The current situation seems to be a lose-lose situation for nature and society. We aimed to assess this conflict between water-related services and agriculture objectively by comparing provision of fifteen ecosystem services by degraded and pristine sections of three palmiet wetlands using a rapid ecosystem service assessment tool (WET-Ecoservices). To validate this technique, we compared results to those obtained from examining three key ecosystem service complexes in slightly more detail. We found that pristine palmiet wetlands provide valuable ecosystem services to society, which are currently being compromised for private, marginal agricultural gain. These pristine wetlands sequester between 21 and 41 g.m−2 of carbon per year, have nitrogen and phosphorus uptake efficiencies of 62–85% and 16–89% respectively, and provide about 16 times more flood attenuation relative to degraded ones. The full impact of degradation on wetland ecosystem services was not entirely captured by the rapid ecosystem service assessment tool: WET-Ecoservices. We suggest some adaptations to this tool for the valley-bottom wetland hydro-geomorphic unit. Overall, these wetlands have high potential for incorporation into a Payments for Ecosystem Services scheme, due to the ecosystem services provided and their position above important municipal dams. We recommend collaboration between private landowners struggling with marginal agriculture, and decision makers in cities dealing with water shortages and debt to ensure the most efficient and judicious use of these palmiet wetland ecosystem services.

Assessing, with limited resources, the ecological outcomes of wetland restoration: a South African case

Resources for evaluating the ecological outcomes of ecosystem restoration projects are often limited, especially within government‐funded programs. In order to rapidly assess the ecological outcomes of wetland restoration, an improved approach has been developed, which was applied in the assessment of the ecological outcomes at nine restoration sites of South Africa's Working for Wetlands program. The sites encompass a diversity of restoration problems and land use contexts. The approach begins by distinguishing hydrogeomorphic (HGM) units, for which ecological condition is assessed and reported for hydrology, geomorphology, and vegetation pre‐ and post‐restoration. These three components are closely linked but, as demonstrated at some of the sites, may respond differentially to restoration interventions. For most HGM units, overall ecological condition was improved by between 10 and 30%, with the greatest contribution of restoration generally being to the hydrology component. Having determined the integrity and costs of the interventions, cost‐effectiveness is then reported in South African Rands per hectare equivalent restored, which was found to vary by more than an order of magnitude across the HGM units assessed. Cost‐effectiveness must be interpreted in the light of the long‐term integrity of the interventions, the site's landscape context, and the contribution of restoration to ecosystem services provision. Some sites may be considerably less cost‐effective than others, but the cost may nonetheless be justified if the sites make key contributions to ecosystem services provision. The study was conducted in the context of a formative evaluation and the findings are envisaged to improve wetland restoration practice.

Livin' on the edge: the importance of adjacent intermittent habitats in maintaining macroinvertebrate diversity of permanent freshwater marsh systems

ABSTRACTTaxonomic and functional patterns of macroinvertebrate communities were investigated to reveal the importance of different habitat units within a marsh system in maintaining its macroinvertebrate diversity. Hydrogeomorphic units based on their functional characteristics were used to distinguish 3 types of aquatic habitats within the marsh system: (1) Core Unit (CU), a permanent inundation of a wetland in the central position of a marsh system; (2) Transitional Unit (TU), a seasonal to intermittent inundation of a wetland, with seasonal saturation; and (3) Satellite Unit (SU), seasonal depression wetlands with ephemeral to intermittent saturation. We hypothesized that communities in each Unit would have specific taxonomic and functional features. Species richness was highest in the TU, with unique community composition in the SU, and moderately high species richness characterized by a stable community with high taxonomic distinctness in the CU. The metacommunity of the entire marsh was nearly random with a substantial equilibrium between beta-diversity features: replacement and dissimilarity. Our results suggest that the combination of directly connected or isolated waterbodies in close proximity to a large core waterbody is likely to maintain the highest level of diversity. Each Unit has unique characteristics and provides habitats for species with different ecological traits; thus, different aquatic habitats of a marsh system should be considered together as one meaningful ecological entity.

Hydro Geomorphological Characteristics and Delineation of Ground Water Potential Zone - A Case Study of Rushikulya and Bahuda Basin, Ganjam Odisha

The present study attempts to delineate different groundwater potential zones using remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS) in Rushikulaya Bahuada Basin of Ganjam district, Orissa. Thematic maps of Geology, Hydrology, geomorphology, land use and land cover, drainage density, were prepared using the Landsat Thematic Mapper data. Relationship of each layer to the groundwater regime has been evaluated. The major hydro geomorphic units identified in the area are, weathered denudation hills, residual hills, Pediments, spit, Valley Fills, beach ridges, Alluvial Palin, flood plain. Most part of the study area is occupied by alluvial plains with various thicknesses and the ground water potential is directly related to thickness of alluvial plain. Field observations showed that ground water occurs under unconfined conditions with water table at shallow to deep depth. From the lineament map, the lineament density and lineament intersection maps prepared to understand the impacts on groundwater percolation. Finally, the hydrogeomorphology and Lineament maps are overlaid following the weighted index overlay method, which delineates groundwater potential zones. An integrated remote sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) based approach has been used for demarcating groundwater potential zones in the study area.

The classification of wetlands: integration of top-down and bottom-up approaches and their significance for ecosystem service determination

The typology of wetlands provides important information for both water resource managers and conservation planners. One of the most important aims of allocating wetlands to a certain type or class is to provide information about the ecosystem services that the wetland provides. There are two main approaches towards wetland classification. Firstly, there are top-down approaches whereby wetlands are divided into several categories based on a conceptual understanding of how the wetland functions (mostly with regards to water flows). Secondly there are bottom-up approaches whereby the classification of wetlands is based on the collection of data in the wetland that is then subjected to various clustering techniques (mostly with regards to biodiversity). The most utilized system of top-down classification assigns wetlands into hydrogeomorphic units, which function as a single unit in terms of hydrology and geomorphology. This type of classification is most useful for water resource planning, as it provides information about how the wetland is connected to the drainage network and what are the water inflows, throughflows and outflows of the wetland. The bottom-up classification approach typically focusses on the classification of wetland habitats rather than complete wetlands, where wetland habitat represents a spatial unit delineated on the basis of vegetation, embedded within the (complete) hydrogeomorphic unit, and defined as an area of wetland that is homogeneous in terms of opportunities for plant growth. At a broad scale, most ecosystem services can be superficially derived from the hydrogeomorphic unit type and the way water moves through a wetland, but habitat units and the plant species that define them would have a specific effect on the delivery of ecosystem services, for example, with different assemblages providing different resistance to flow. Some types of ecosystem services are exclusively linked to specific wetland habitats, especially provisioning services. For this reason, it is proposed that a combined approach of hydrogeomorphic classification together with a vegetation map, offers the maximum information value for ecosystem service determination. In order to account for the potential pitfall of “double counting” when combining the top-down and bottom-up approaches, each service needs to be considered individually with reference to the degree to which a service is either: (a) primarily determined by HGM class/attributes and modified by the vegetation class/attributes; or (b) primarily determined by the vegetation class/attributes.

Delineation of groundwater potential zone in hard rock terrain in Gangajalghati block, Bankura district, India using remote sensing and GIS techniques

This study employed with the integration of remote sensing (RS) and geographical information system (GIS) techniques to delineate ground water potential zones for ground water management of Gangajalghati block, Bankura district, West Bengal and is located on the eastern slope of Chotanagpur plateau and area belongs to predominantly Precambrian gneissic terrain, and small area belongs to Gondwana deposits and quaternary sediments. The groundwater in this region is confined within the weathered residuum and fracture zones in pediment region. Survey of India topographical maps and satellite imageries along with other data and field observation data have been utilized to prepare various thematic layers viz. drainage, slope, lineament, geology, hydrogeomorphic units, land-use/land cover, soil, and depth to water level map of this hard rock terrain. All the thematic map that influence ground water occurrences have been analyzed and integrated through GIS analysis based on weights assignment. The weighted index overlay method has been followed to delineate ground water potential zones. The result revealed that the study area can be categorized into four different ground water potential zones viz., very good, good, moderate, and poor zones. The bore well yield data reveals that medium yielding wells (50–100 L per min) are in and around the moderate to high lineament density zone and buried pediment medium region. Afterward validation with well yield data revealed a good correlation with respect to the observed ground water potential zonation. This study is useful for better planning and management of ground water resources as well as providing quick prospective guides for ground water exploration in hard rock aquifer system.

Evaluation of Hydrogeomorphological Landforms and Lineaments using Remote Sensing and GIS Techniques in Ramannapet Mandal, Musi River basin, Nalgonda District, Telangana

The IRS -P6 LISS-IV satellite data is used to demarcate Hydrogeomorphology land forms and lineaments on 1;10000 scale to evaluate groundwater potential of the study area. The Ramannapet Mandal area of Musi river basin is occupied mostly by hard rock they are granites and gneisses of Archaean age with intrusive bodies of dolerites, and of the portion of the study area is covered mainly by both wet and dry cultivation. The major geomorphic unit identified in the area are, Denudational hills, Residual hills, Inselbergs, Dykes, Pediment inselberg complex, Pediment, Pediplain and valleys. Most part of the study area is occupied by Pediplain with various thickness and the groundwater potential is directly related to thickness of Pediplain. The object of the study is Remote Sensing imagery with its synoptic coverage acts as a tool for finding suitable solution when combined with conventional data. Hydro-geomorphic maps were prepared by integrating the Lithology, landforms, and structural fabric and hydrology layers and drainage layers using Remote Sensing and GIS techniques, the scale range of 1: 10,000. The lineament density map was generated in GIS software using Kriging method (Sabins, F. F., (1997). Outcomes of the study Based on visual interpretation and field investigations the different types of hydro geomorphic units observed in the study area. The recent alluvium deposits are present along the stream courses. Field observations shows that groundwater occurs under unconfined conditions with water table shallow to deep depth. from the lineament density and lineament intersection maps prepared to understand the impact on groundwater percolation. Finally, Hydrogeomorphology and lineament maps area overlaid following the weighted index overlay method, which delineate groundwater potential zones. an integrated Remote sensing and GIS based approach has been used for demarcating groundwater potential zones in the study area. The study area Ramannapet Mandal is in northern part of the district of Nalgonda, Telangana State, India. The study area people occupation is agricultural, and poultry, 80 percent of the people depending only agricultural activity

Mapping wetland functions using Earth observation data and multi-criteria analysis.

Wetland functional assessment is commonly conducted based on field observations, and thus, is generally limited to small areas. However, there is often a need for wetland managers to obtain information on wetland functional performance over larger areas. For this purpose, we are proposing a new field-based functional assessment procedure in which wetland functions are evaluated and classified into hydrogeomorphic units according to a multi-criteria analysis approach. Wetland-related geographic information system layers derived from Earth observation data (LiDAR, multispectral and radar data) are used in this study for a large-scale functional evaluation. These include maps of a hydrogeomorphic units, ditches, vegetation, annual flood duration, biomass, meadows management, and wetland boundaries. To demonstrate the feasibility of this approach, a 132km2 international long-term ecological research site located in the west of France was assessed. Four wetland functions were evaluated: flood peak attenuation, low water attenuation, denitrification, and habitat. A spatial distribution map of the individual wetland functions was generated, and the intensity levels of the functions were highlighted. Antagonisms between functions within individual hydrogeomorphic units were also identified. Mapping of hydrological, biogeochemical, and ecological wetland functions over large areas can provide an efficient tool for policy makers and other stakeholders including water authorities, nature conservation agencies, and farmers. Specifically, this tool has the potential to provide a mapping of ecosystem services, conservation management priorities, and possible improvements in water resources management.