R. P. Singh, N.C. Ghosh, Lekhraj and Ravikalyan Bussa Protection of Water Augmenting Gola River Flood Plain Deposits is an Environmental Imperative, Haldwani Area, District Nainital (Uttarakhand) Authors R. P. Singh, N.C. Ghosh, Lekhraj and Ravikalyan Bussa Presenter: Dr. R. P. Singh

Location Attributes

Locational Attributes Ranibagh Gola River Bhakhara River Haldwani Fan Kathgodam Sukhi Nadi Flood Plain Deposits Agricultural Fields Haldwani

Focus of the study The study is focused on: Mapping of Flood Plain Deposits(FPDs) Role of the Flood Plain Deposits in augmenting the surface and groundwater resources Geological, geomorphological and hydrogeological aspects of FPDs Effect of erosion on FPDs Protection measures Conclusions

Contrasting Locational Features Siwaliks Gola River Flood Plain Deposits

Geomorphic Features Gola River Ranibagh Bhakhara River Kathgodam Haldwani Fan Kathgodam Sukhi Nadi Flood Plain Deposits Agricultural Fields Haldwani

Mapping of FPDs and Haldwani Fan IRS 1C LISS III Satellite Image has been processed using ERDAS Imagine Software 8.5 Haldwani Fan Extends between Bhakhara and Sukhi Rivers N-S extension: 20km E-W extension: 22km Contd.

Contd... The width of Gola River is 90m close to Siwalik Hills The with of Gola River and FPDs increases downwards. The Channel section and FPDs width together is about 1km near Haldwani. The thickness of the FPDs varies up to 12.0m.

Contd… Flood Plain Deposits three level of terraces on which agricultural and developmental activities are going on T1 T 2 T 3

Geological Formations Age Geological Formation Lithology Quaternary and Recent Flood Plain Deposits/Terrace Alluvium and Channel   Bhabhar Cyclic sequence of grey micaceous sand, silt and clay. Sand and gravel with boulders. Piedmont deposits comprising of boulders and pebbles with gravel and sand Pliocene to Early Pleistocene Upper Siwaliks Coarse sandstone, claystone becoming pebbly and conglomeratic towards the top Late Miocene to Pliocene Middle Siwaliks Micaceous, calcareous, lithic arenite and sub-litharenite

Geological Formations Flood Plain Deposits Sivaliks

Hydrogeology FPDs Very porous and permeable transmits water to Bhabhars Bhabhar Very porous and permeable and forms productive aquifers. Acts as the recharge zone for Gangetic Plain Aquifers  Siwaliks Don’t form productive aquifers Bhabhars

Groundwater Conditions in Bhabhar Groundwater occurs under phreatic conditions DTW water as measured in a bore hole on the left bank of Gola River is 125 m (Period:February, 2016). Water quality is potable.

Augmentation of Groundwater and Surface Water Groundwater: FPDs overlay the Bhabhars which form the potential repository of groundwater and recharges the aquifers down the hydraulic gradient. Both are boulder formations. The FPDs add to the thickness of the porous mass and transmit water to Bhabhars and augment the groundwater resource. Surface Water: The bank storage contributes to river flow subsequent to floods.

Erosion of Flood Plains Unconsolidated formation prone to erosion Erosion, more intensive along the left bank Gola River has made passages through FPDs FPDs occur as isolated masses in the river course The face of FPDs has become vertical at places.

River passage through FPDs

FPDs left as isolated masses in river course

Vertical face of FPDs Vertical Phase of Eroded River Bank

Outward erosive action of Gola River

Protection Measures of Flood Plain Deposits Along the River Bank Rock boulder Gabions Erosion mats Construction of spurs Bioengineering measures Across the River Bank Vegetative barriers on the boundary of the terraces Flora such as Nappier, Munja and vetever

Conclusions The FPDs are valuable natural resources. Their erosion results in the loss of environmental components such as Soil, Water and Forest. Thus it becomes an environmental imperative to protect the Flood Plain Deposits by using Bio-engineering measures.

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