Prioritization and groundwater potential zones mapping of Nanak Sagar catchment using GIS and remote sensing
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Date
2021-09
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G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar - 263145 (Uttarakhand)
Abstract
Natural resources such as land and water are extremely valuable. For the hill agrarians, water shortage is a major issue. Growing population and industrial growth have created a need for land for food and fodder, posing a challenge to the trade in land and water resources. Water is a valuable resource for food production for the world's population, which is further hampered by climate change. There is an immediate necessity to keep attention on increasing productivity of land. Land and water resource management is the wise use of natural resources including soil, water, plants and animals to improve the quality of life for current and future generations. With this approach in view, the present study of Nanak Sagar catchment of Udham Singh Nagar district of Uttarakhand state in India, was undertaken with the objectives to study morphometric parameters of watershed and their PCA (Principal Component Analysis), prioritization of sub-watershed using MCDM methods (AHP and Fuzzy AHP) and identification of groundwater potential zones. ArcGIS software was used for preparation of various thematic maps of the study area by using toposheets, DEM data and satellite images. The Nanak Sagar catchment was sub-divided into 13 sub-watersheds, SW1-SW13 and 14 morphometric parameters under three aspects were computed PCA was performed and 9 morphometric parameters with variance contribution greater than 8.33 % were identified to perform prioritization using MCDM methods for erosion susceptibility assessment. The AHP and Fuzzy AHP methods were worked out for watershed prioritization. In AHP method, criteria were ranked using significant positive correlation values while, in FAHP, extension analysis method was used. Out of 13 sub-watersheds, SW6, SW7, SW8 and SW10 with an area of 104.96 km2, were identified as most vulnerable to erosion due to steep physiography, high drainage densities and stream frequencies. So, the soil conservation measures can first be applied to these sub-watersheds and then for others depending upon the priority.
With the help of ArcGIS software, 6 thematic layers viz., lithology, geomorphology, soil, LULC, slope and drainage density, were prepared. There was a lot of variation in Tarai and Bhabhar zones as depicted by lithology, geomorphology, LULC, and slope map. The weighted overlay method of MIF technique was used to combine these layers. From the results it was concluded that morphometric analysis could be an effective methodology for identifying the erosion susceptible regions. Results indicated that, out of total 407.20 km2 area, 108.66 km2 area have very good potential of groundwater.