Community-driven assessment of springs and ponds: Status, dependency, and utilization in Kavre district, central Nepal

This study applies a community-based, citizen science approach to map spring water sources across seven municipalities in central Nepal. Using mobile data collection by trained Community Resource Persons, 5,689 springs and ponds were documented, revealing that 27% have dried due to climate stress, earthquakes, and development pressures. While springs remain vital for water security and livelihoods, limited formal management highlights the need for inclusive local governance. The findings directly informed municipal springshed planning and provide a scalable evidence base to support sustainable water management and policy action in mountain regions.

Highlights

• Mapped 5,689 water sources in Kavre.

• One-quarter of springs and nearly half of ponds are disappearing.

• Community-based science enables resilient water management.