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Assessment and modelling of hydro-sedimentological flows of the eastern river Dhauliganga, north-western Himalaya, India

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Abstract

Assessment and modelling of hydro-sedimentological flows of a high-altitude river system is a critical step for developing and managing sustainable water resource projects and best management practices (BMPs) in the downslope regions of the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR). A field study was carried out to measure the hydraulic parameters such as water pressure, water flow rate, and stage of the 6th order glacier-fed river to quantify hydro-sedimentological flows using area-velocity and vacuum filtration method for 3 successive years during 2018–2020. Further, a process-based hydrological model: Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), is used to simulate the hydro-sedimentological flows. The statistical indices such as coefficient of determination (R2), Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE), and percentage bias (PBIAS) attain higher values during both calibration and validation periods. The snowmelt and rainfall contributions to the total streamflow range from 17–35 % and 27–34 %, respectively. The measured and modelled hydro-sedimentological flows show high variability with a high coefficient of variation (COV > 1). However, the mean suspended sediment load (SSL) carried by the river was low compared to the other glacier-fed rivers. The physical weathering rate (PWR) dominates the chemical weathering rate (CWR) for the study years. This might be due to higher crushing of the region and weathering of base rock materials. The PWR and CWR of the basin are less than that of the western Himalayan regions. This study also underscores the necessity of basin management plans in the Himalaya, emphasizing erosion identification, snowmelt and glacier melt in streamflow, and customized groundwater recharge strategies through GIS mapping, providing essential insights for sustainable land and water resource management in changing climatic conditions.

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Acknowledgements

The authors heartily thank the Director, Govind Ballabh Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment (NIHE), Kosi-Katarmal, Almora 263 643, Uttarakhand for providing facilities in the Institute which could make the present study possible. The authors also thank the Head, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Indore, for providing facilities in the Department to make possible the present study. The research work was conducted as a part of research project entitled, "Anthropogenic impacts and their management options in different ecosystems of the Indian Himalayan Region" sponsored and funded by the National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS) under the aegis of the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Govt. of India, New Delhi, is thankfully acknowledged. The authors express their thanks to Mr. Dilip Kumar and Mr. Rajendra Prasad for their continuous field support, measurement of field data, and assistance during the fieldwork.

Funding

National Mission on the Himalayan Studies (NMHS), Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Government of India, New Delhi, provided financial support for this study. The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the study sponsors.

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  1. G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment (NIHE), Kosi-Katarmal, Almora, Uttarakhand, 263643, India

    Kuldeep Singh Rautela, Jagdish Chandra Kuniyal, Nidhi Kanwar & Ajay Singh Bhoj

  2. Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Indore, Simrol, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, 453552, India

    Kuldeep Singh Rautela & Manish Kumar Goyal

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  1. Kuldeep Singh Rautela
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Contributions

JCK and KSR helped in conceptualization, KSR and JCK helped in methodology, KSR, ASB, and NK helped in formal analysis and investigation, KSR contributed to writing—original draft preparation, JCK, KSR, and MKG contributed to writing—review and editing, and JCK and MKG supervised the work. JCK finalised the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Jagdish Chandra Kuniyal.

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Rautela, K.S., Kuniyal, J.C., Goyal, M.K. et al. Assessment and modelling of hydro-sedimentological flows of the eastern river Dhauliganga, north-western Himalaya, India. Nat Hazards 120, 5385–5409 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-024-06413-7

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