Estimation of Sediment Yield of Govindsagar Catchment, Lalitpur District, (U.P.), India, Using Remote Sensing and GIS Techniques

Abstract

Soil erosion is a global phenomenon, which results in sedimentation and siltation of reservoirs of major rivers. Remote sensing data provide a synoptic view from which several surface parameters can be derived to assess the sedimentation yield in the re-servoirs. Hence estimation of sediment yield has become one of the important tasks for planners, engineers and decision makers. The present study in Govindsagar cat-chment, Lalitpur District, Uttar Pradesh (India), has been carried out using IRS LISS III data to analyse land use/cover characteristics besides drainage basin characters-tics. Subsequently, Sediment Yield Index (SYI) of Govindsagar catchment has been estimated using surface derivatives and morphometric parameters using empirical formulae. Integration of results obtained from satellite data and morphometric anal-ysis suggests that the Govindsagar catchment has very low rate of sediment yield i.e. 0.07 ha·m/year indicating a gentle slope and sustainable land use practices in the catchment. Low sediment yield also suggests less erosion in the catchment areas and healthy land use/cover scenario.