Assessing the Impact of Anthropogenic Activities on Manasbal Lake in Kashmir Himalayas

The present study was carried out to quantify various anthropogenic activities and their impact on the environmental quality of Manasbal Lake and its catchment. The datasets used in the study include IRS-LISS III bi-seasonal satellite data having a spatial resolution of 23.5 m, ground truth data, Digital Elevation Model (DEM). During the study, land use/land cover was mapped using on-screen image interpretation. A total of 12 land cover-land use classes were delineated from the given satellite data. The land use land cover statistics reveal that highest area is occupied by Barren Land (29.52%) followed by Agriculture (17.85%) and Plantation (13.39%). Moreover data pertaining to limestone quarrying in the catchment of Manasbal Lake was also analyzed and correlated with water quality. ASTER DEM with a spatial resolution of 30 m was also used to study the elevation and slope profile of the lake catchment. All the above parameters were incorporated into Leopold Matrix to predict the impact of various anthropogenic activities on the Manasbal Lake. It is concluded that the stone quarrying and subsequent land system changes observed in the catchment are the main causes responsible for the deteriorating health of the lake by adversely influencing the erosion and other land surface processes in its catchment.