Water Storage Assessment of Khapri Watershed through Geospatial Techniques

Abstract

Khapri watershed is mountainous region having average 2255 mm rainfall every year. In the last few months of hydrological year i.e. April & May, there is an acute shortage of drinking water. To overcome this short fall, it is necessary to manage natural watersheds available in the region. water harvesting is a system that collects rainwater from where it falls around its periphery rather than allowing it to go as runoff. The strategy of “Think Globally, Act Locally” should be used in this area for management of water. Local water that is rainwater stored using Rainwater Harvesting Structure and Conservation used optimally before it goes in drain or river.The subsurface reservoirs are very attractive and technically feasible alternatives for storing surplus monsoon runoff. But in the study region, this is not possible as there is a basalt rock. Recharging is not advisable as water table in post monsoon just touches ground level. So, Rainwater harvesting structures for direct use of water may be the possibly best solution.For community requirement rainwater may be stored in checkdams or depressed area naturally available. Construction of small barriers across small streams to check and store the running water also can be considered as water harvesting structure. This may fulfil the drinking water requirement of their cattles. Check dams in the watershed has been ascertain using Geospatial techniques and few of them verified by visiting the sites. In site visit it is found that open wells near the stream has water level above stream water level. At few places farming is done in check dam reservoir or in stream itself.