Evaluation of land denudation and Rivulets water quality in the Gomti Basin of Indian Central Himalayas – A case study

A study was conducted to estimate the rate of solid and dissolved mass denudation from six prominent landuse systems of Bhetagad micro watershed, Gomti basin of Indian Central Himalaya. An investigation was also conducted to assess the seasonal variation in water quality parameters such as TSS, TDS, pH, EC, DO, NO₃⁻PO₄³⁻ and E. Coli influenced by rainwater in the four sub-catchments of Gomti basin i.e. Bhetagad, Garurganga, Gomti and Ghanghali. The rate of land denudation for prominent landuse systems of the Bhetagad micro watershed was estimated during the period April 15, 2002 to August 31, 2002 (16 rain events), while water quality monitoring was done for four selected rivulets of the Gomti basin same rain events and period. The results revealed that rate of soil loss from prominent landuse systems influenced to the soil chemical constituents dynamics of the different land uses and simultaneously altering the water quality parameters of the all rivulets water. Results exhibited that the concentration of suspended solids, nitrate ion and phosphate ion were found higher compared to permissible limits as recommended by WHO (1993). However the dissolved oxygen concentration was found less than permissible limit. Study indicated that the there was an urgent need for an appropriate surface water and land resources management plan in the study area.