WATERSHED MANAGMENT

MUHAMMAD QASIM AROOJ BASHIR

Objectives

Importance of Water Importance of Water in Pakistan Overview of Watershed Types of Watersheds Key Features of a Watershed Human Impacts on Watersheds Watershed Management Improving Sub-Watershed

Management and Environmental Awareness in the Ayubia National Park

Objectives

Future wars may be fought over water but that doesn`t mean they will be without precedent

Control over this vital resource is an age-old issue with the earliest water-related conflicts dating back to at least 2,500 BC

Today it is estimated that over 50 countries in five continents could soon be in conflict if they do not agree on a framework for sharing rivers, aquifers and other sources of water.

Importance of Water

In South Asia Pakistan is crying foul over India`s construction of dams which have drastically reduced flows downstream

And then there is the history of conflict between the two countries

Add climate change and shifting weather patterns to the mix and we are faced with a particularly bleak scenario if mitigating measures are not taken at the earliest

, Pakistan, India and other South Asian countries that depend on Himalayan waters must set aside political disputes and at least begin discussions on joint watershed management.

Importance of Water for Pakistan

Reasons of nationalism and past or current disputes must not prevail over the future of a region already beset by poverty

Our current profligacy coupled with the growing pollution of watercourses and aquifers is simply not sustainable

The effects of acute water scarcity are already visible across the land and a concerted effort is required to meet the greater challenges that lie ahead

Importance of Water for Pakistan

A watershed, also called a "drainage basin“

It is an area in which all water flowing into it goes to a common outlet, such as the same estuary or reservoir

It is consist of all surface water and include lakes, streams, reservoirs and wetlands, as well as all groundwater and aquifers

The water in a watershed originates via precipitation that is collected on the surface and groundwater

At the boundaries of watersheds there are drainage divides usually in the form of ridges or hills.

Overview of Watershed

Three different classifications used to describe watersheds 1st  Continental Divide: Water on each side of these flows into

different oceans 2nd Drainage Divide: It is a major type of watersheds.

In this situation, waters on each side of the boundaries do not meet via the same river or stream, but they do reach the same ocean

Types of Watersheds

For example, there is a drainage divide between the Yellow River (Huang He) basin and the Yangtze River in China but both have the same outlet.

3rd Minor Drainage Divide:

In this, waters separate at the divide but later rejoin

An example of this situation is shown with the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers

Types of Watersheds

 Several key features that are important when studying watersheds.

1st Size: watersheds vary in size but larger watersheds have

different characteristics than smaller ones because they drain a bigger area.

2nd Drainage Divide or Watershed Boundary:

Key Features of a Watershed

such as a mountain range

This plays a role because it helps in determining whether the water in the watershed is flowing toward or away from an area

3rd  Topography or Terrain of the Watershed's Land:

4th Physical Landscape is its Soil Type:

Key Features of a Watershed

If the area is steep, the water there is likely to flow quickly and cause flooding and erosion, whereas flat watersheds have often have slower flowing rivers

 Sandy soils for example absorb water quickly, while hard, clay soils are less permeable.

 Both of these have implications for runoff, erosion and ground water.

Everyday human activities impact watersheds like pollution of watersheds

Watershed pollution occurs in Point Source

Non point source In Pakistan the major problems of

the watershed areas are over-population, over-grazing, illegal tree cutting and cultivation of land without considering the soil conservation principles

Human Impacts on Watersheds

Watershed management is the organization and planning of human activities on a watershed and recognizes the links between these activities and the watershed's health

The monitoring of pollution and regulations to reduce pollution

Watershed management is very important in Pakistan as the country has 2 large reservoirs (Terbela & Mangla) and several small ones like Warsak,Rawal and Khanpur dams etc

These dams have vast catchment areas in north of the country that drains water into these dams for irrigation and power generation

Watershed Management

Background ANP is one of the most popular tourist hill

resorts in Pakistan with approximately 250,000 tourists visiting annually. 

The Project will focus on the following 3 areas: 

1. Sub-watershed management 2. Awareness raising and capacity building 3. Community development through introduction of alternate sources of energy, rainwater harvesting, crop diversification, habitat restoration and water filtration.

Improving Sub-Watershed Management and Environmental Awareness in the

Ayubia National Park

Sub-watershed management 

The Project will also contribute to sustainable flow of water for a sub-watershed area through different techniques such as plantation and loose stone check-damming of the streams at different points. Rainwater harvesting will be tested at the hamlet to provide the residents with a direct supply of water. Solid waste management activities will be carried out for segregation of the waste (for composting of organic material) and its collection

An Environmental Education and Awareness Strategy will be developed and implemented for the area.

WWF Pakistan will engage students, and others interested groups in cleaning up activities at Saif ul Maluk Lake and exposure visits to ANP. The lake is at an altitude of 3,224m above sea level in NWFP, Pakistan

Improving Sub-Watershed Management and Environmental Awareness in the

Ayubia National Park

Objectives Contribute to sustainable water flows through watershed management in Ayubia

National Park and enhance environmental conservation through awareness raising Solution

1. Water availability to the communities has been improved through watershed management. 

2. One hamlet, Kundla, tested to reduce the dependence on ANP resources. 

3. Tourists educated about nature conservation. 

4. Liaison established with schools near ANP to organise environmental conservation education programme. 

5. Schools and interested groups engaged to improve cleanliness of Lake Saif ul Maluk

Improving Sub-Watershed Management and Environmental Awareness in the

Ayubia National Park

1- http://geography.about.com/od/physicalgeography/a/watersheds.htm

2- http://archives.dawn.com/archives/32603

3- http://www.cssforum.com.pk/css-optional-subjects/group-b/forestry/33450-watershed-management.html

4- http://wwf.panda.org/who_we_are/wwf_offices/pakistan/index.cfm?uProjectID=PK0115

References