Abstract
Improper utilization of natural resources without any conservation work is the prime cause of the watershed deterioration. Fast developmental activities and population pressure in the hills of Khanapara–Bornihat area near Guwahati city (about 10 km east of Guwahati) results rapid alteration of the land use/land cover in the recent times. This also causes the growth of land use over the unsuitable topography. As a result, there is a general degradation of the natural resources within the area. So, urgent measures have to be adopted to take up the conservation measure for the management of natural resources. Watershed wise conservation is considered to be the most acceptable and convenient approach. In the context of watershed management, watershed prioritization gained importance in natural resource management. The present study makes an attempt to prioritize the sub-watersheds for adopting the conservation measure. The prioritization is based on land use and slope analysis using Remote Sensing and GIS techniques in Khanapara–Bornihat area of Assam and Meghalaya state (India). The study area of 323.17 sq. km is divided into three 5th order, four 4th order and two 3rd order sub-watersheds. Land use/Land cover change analysis of the sub-watersheds has been carried out using multi temporal data of SOI toposheets of 1972 and IRS LISS III imagery of 2006. The study shows the significance changes in land use pattern especially in settlement and forest lands from 1972 to 2006. Slope map of the sub-watersheds prepared from the contour values in the toposheets show the wide variation of slope in the area ranging from 0° to 87°. Based on the extent/nature of land use/land cover changes over time and land use/land cover—slope relationship analysis, the sub-watersheds are classified into three categories as high, medium and low in terms of priority for conservation and management of natural resources.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arun, P. S., Jana, R., & Nathawar, M. S. (2005). A rule based physiographic characterization of a drought prone watershed applying remote sensing and GIS. Journal of Indian Society of Remote Sensing, 33(2), 189–201.
Biswas, S., Sudhakar, S., & Desai, V. R. (1999). Prioritization of sub-watersheds based on morphometric analysis of Drainage Basin. District Minapore, West Bengal. Journal of Indian Society of Remote Sensing, 27(3), 155–166.
Chakraborti, A. K. (1991). Sediment yield prediction and prioritization of watersheds using remote sensing data. Proc. 12th Asian Conference on Remote Sensing, Singapore (pp.Q-3-1 to Q-3-6).
Chauhan, H. B., & Nayak, S. (2005). Land Use/Land Cover Changes Near Hazira Region, Gujarat using Remote Sensing Satellite Data. Journal of Indian Society of Remote Sensing, 33(3), 413–420.
Javed, A., Khandy, M. Y., & Ahmed, R. (2009). Prioritization of sub-watersheds based on morphometric and land use analysis using remote sensing and GIS techniques. Journal of Indian Society of Remote Sensing, 37, 261–274.
Mahajan, S., Panwar, A., & Kaundal, D. (2001). GIS application to determine the effect of topography on landuse in Ashwani Khad Watershed. Journal of Indian Society of Remote Sensing, 29(4), 243–248.
Nooka Ratnam, K., Srivastava, Y. K., Venkateshwara Rao, V., Amminedu, E., & Murthy, K. S. R. (2005). Check dam positioning by prioritization of micro-watersheds using SYI model and morphometric analysis—remote sensing and GIS prospective. Journal of Indian Society of Remote Sensing, 33(1), 25–38.
Shetty, A., Nandagiri, L., Thokchom, S., & Rajesh, M. V. S. (2005). Land use - Land Cover Mapping using Satellite Data for a Forested Watershed, Udupi District, Karnataka State, India. Journal of Indian Society of Remote Sensing, 33(2), 233–238.
Strahler, A. (1952). Dynamic basis of geomorphology. Bulletin of the Geological Society of America, 67, 571–596.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
About this article
Cite this article
Sarma, S., Saikia, T. Prioritization of Sub-watersheds in Khanapara–Bornihat Area of Assam–Meghalaya (India) Based on Land Use and Slope Analysis Using Remote Sensing and GIS. J Indian Soc Remote Sens 40, 435–446 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12524-011-0163-6
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12524-011-0163-6