Mouza based mapping and quantitative analysis of small Water bodies using GIS in a flood prone area of Bangladesh

This study is concerned with the distribution and mapping of small water bodies (SWBs), its size, shape and depth, differential uses, changes of water bodies over time and the factors associated with the changes. Manikganj is a low-lying flood prone area where flood brings a huge quantity of sand, silt and clay and infill the floodplains and associated water bodies including Khals, Canals etc. In spite of the importance of small water bodies to the local economy there is no up-to-date inventory. In view of the above, this paper attempts to address the spatial distribution pattern, characteristics and uses, management systems and related problems of SWBs at a local scale of small water bodies in the Gangaprasad and Bara Boinnya mouza of Daulatpur upazila in Manikganj district. The trend of distribution pattern of small water bodies have changed in the recent decades radically. Attempts have also been made to analyze its problems at the mouza level using both secondary data and a structured questionnaire survey. It is expected that the study will help understanding the magnitude of the problems and also will provide guidelines and strategies to address the said problems in the context of respondents’ perceptions.