Watershed prioritization for soil conservation in a drought prone watershed of Eastern India: Tel River Basin, Odisha

Abstract

In this research paper a detailed study of the morphometry of Tel River watershed to understand its hydrological behaviour and characteristics. The morphometric parameters derived are further used for prioritization of the sub-watersheds based on weighted sum analysis for planning and management. A total of 26 parameters covering linear, areal and relief aspects have been considered. These parameters are computed using standard formulae available from literature. Streams, watershed and sub-watersheds have been delineated from freely available 30 metres resolution SRTM Dem using automated processes in Arc GIS. The results show that Tel River is a seventh order stream having five sixth-order and one seventh-order sub-watershed, having a total drainage area of 22,815 km2. It is a normal watershed, slightly elongated, characterized by low relief, gentle slope and permeable sub-surface. Prioritization results show that sub-watersheds SW-6 and SW4 covering 58.41% watershed area are the most susceptible sub-watersheds to erosion, sub-watersheds SW-1, SW-2 and SW-3 covering 32.38% watershed area are moderately susceptible and sub-watershed SW-5 covering 9.21% watershed area is least susceptible to erosion. The weighted sum analysis is a robust method which can be useful for evolving strategies to manage and conserve resources at micro level.

Keywords

• compactness coefficient
• drainage density
• morphometry