Chapter: Civil : Water Resources and Irrigation Engineering

Basin wise water resource project development

The total land area that contributes water to a river is called a Watershed, also called differently as the Catchment, River basin, Drainage Basin, or simply a Basin.

Basin wise water resource project development

^ØThe total land area that contributes water to a river is called a Watershed, also called differently as the Catchment, River basin, Drainage Basin, or simply a Basin.

^ØA watershed may also be defined as a geographic area that drains to a common point, which makes it an attractive planning unit for technical efforts to conserve soil and maximize the utilization of surface and subsurface water for crop production.

Ø Thus, it is generally considered that water resources development and management schemes should be planned for a hydrological unit such as a Drainage Basin as a whole or for a Sub-Basin, multi-sectorially, taking into account surface and ground water for sustainable use incorporating quantity and quality aspects as well as environmental considerations.

Ø Let us look into the concept of watershed or basin-wise project development in some detail

^ØThe objective is to meet the demands of water within the Basin with the available water therein, which could be surface water, in the form of rivers, lakes, etc. or as groundwater

^ØThe source for all these water bodies is the rain occurring over the Watershed or perhaps the snowmelt of the glacier within it, and that varies both temporally and spatially.

^ØFurther due to the land surface variations the rain falling over land surface tries to follow the steepest gradient as overland flow and meets the rivers or drains into lakes and. ponds

^ØThe time for the overland flows to reach the rivers may be fast or slow depending on the obstructions and detentions it meet on the way.

^ØPart of the water from either overland flow or from the rivers and lakes penetrates into the ground and recharge the ground water.

^ØGround water is thus available almost throughout the watershed, in the underground aquifers. The variation of the water table is also fairly even, with some rise during rainfall and a gradual fall at other times.

The water in the rivers is mostly available during the rains. When the rain stops, part of the ground water comes out to recharge the rivers and that results in the dry season flows in rivers.

Study Material, Lecturing Notes, Assignment, Reference, Wiki description explanation, brief detail

Civil : Water Resources and Irrigation Engineering : Basin wise water resource project development |