1994
  • Non-ICIMOD publication

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The Nana Kosi Watershed, Central Himalaya, India: part II: human impacts on stream runoff

  • Rawat, J. S.
  • Rawat, M. S.
  • Summary

This report is a follow-up to the paper with a similar title, Part I: Sediment Load, published in Volume 14, No. 1 of this journal. The two-year reconnaissance study in the Nana Kosi watershed in the Indian Kumaun Himalaya determined that in the most disturbed agricultural land 60% of the annual runoff occurred in July, the month of heaviest rainfall. However, under natural conditions in the oak and pine forest only about 23% of the total annual flow occurs in July. In April, the driest, hottest month, measurements indicate high amounts of runoff (308 m3 km−2 yr−1308 m3 km−2 yr−1) in the least disturbed oak and pine forest, while runoff amounts were low (108 m3 km−2 yr−1108 m3 km−2 yr−1) in the most disturbed agricultural land. The seasonal budget has also changed due to human impact: in the agricultural area, 81% of the total annual runoff occurs in the rainy season, compared to 53% in the forest. Measurements suggest that the annual runoff has been reduced by about 50% due to anthropogenic change.

  • Published in:
    Mountain Research and Development, Vol.14, No. 3
  • Language:
    English
  • Published Year:
    1994
  • External Link:
    External link