Abstract
Relationship between rainfall and spring discharge study is important to understand hydrological behaviour of springs and water resources management. In the Himalayan mountains springs are the freshwater sources for household consumption. We studied six springs of different recharge area characteristics in two micro-watersheds in western Himalayan mountains in India. Based on the recharge area geology these springs were divided into fracture/joint (FR/JT) and fracture/joint/colluvium (FR/JT/COLL). We found a strong positive relationship between rainfall and spring discharge. Peak spring discharge coincided with peak rainfall in two FR/JT/COLL springs, which was delayed by about one month in FR/JT springs. Mean annual discharge was about two times greater for FR/JT/COLL springs than the FR/JT springs (6.47 vs. 3.94 liter per minute). But spring discharge per 1000 L of rainfall in spring recharge area for FR/JT springs was about 2.3 times greater than the FR/JT/COLL springs (49 vs. 21 liter per minute). In the FR/JT springs, rainfall in spring recharge area and spring discharge were weakly related (r=0.174), while they were strongly related in FR/JT/COLL springs (r=0.595). In the former category of springs decline in discharge was gradual, while it was rapid in the latter category of springs. Therefore, with regard to sustained supply of water for household consumption FR/JT springs can be considered more suitable. Land use and land cover such as moderately grazed pasture, abandoned agricultural terraces and few trees but dense growth of bushes and oak forest in the spring recharge area were found conducive for spring discharge and may be promoted for long-term water resource conservation in this region.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bisht, N.S. and Srivastava, A.C.: 1995, 'Sustainable Management and Conservation of Drinking Water Sources in Himalaya,' Indian Forester 7, 608-612.
Bruijnzeel, L.A.: 1989, '(De)forestation and Dry Season Flow in the Tropics: A Closer Look,' J. Trop. For. Sci.1(3), 229-243.
Jenkins, A., Sloan, W.T. and Cosby, B.J.: 1995, 'Stream Chemistry in the Hills and High Mountains of the Himalayas, Nepal,' J. Hydrol. 166, 61-79.
Joshi, B.K. and Kothyari, B.P.: 2003, 'Chemistry of Perennial Springs of Bhteagad Watershed: A Case Study from Central Himalayas, India,' Environm. Geol. 44, 572-578.
Kumar, K., Rawat, D.S. and Joshi, R.: 1997, 'Chemistry of Spring Water in Almora, Central Himalaya, India,' Environm. Geol. 31(3/4), 150-156.
Negi, G.C.S. and Joshi, V.: 1996, 'Geohydrology of Springs in a Mountain Watershed: The Need for Problem Solving Research,' Curr. Sci. 71(10), 772-776.
Negi, G.C.S., Rikhari, H.C. and Garkoti, S.C.: 1998, 'The Hydrology of Three High-Altitude Forests in Central Himalaya, India: A Reconnaissance Study,' Hydrol. Processes 12, 343-350.
Negi, G.C.S., Kumar, K., Panda, Y.S. and Satyal, G.S.: 2001, 'Water Yield and Water Quality of some Aquifers in the Himalaya,' Int. J. Ecol. and Environm. Sci. 27, 55-59.
Negi, G.C.S. and Joshi, V.: 2002, 'Drinking Water Issues and Development of Spring Sanctuaries in a Mountain Watershed in the Indian Himalaya,' Mountain Res. Dev. 22(1), 29-31.
Rai, R.N., Singh, K.A. and Solanki, R.C.: 1998, 'A Case Study of Water Flows of Some Hill Springs of Sikkim,' Indian J. Soil Cons. 16(1), 52-56.
Rai, S.P., Valdiya, K.S. and Rawat, J.S.: 1998, 'Management of Water Resources: Spring Sanctuaries,' in K.S. Valdiya (ed.), The Khulgad Project: An Experiment in Sustainable Development, Gyanodaya Prakashan, Nainital, India, pp. 41-60.
Sahin, V. and Hall, M.J.: 1996, 'The Effects of Afforestation and Deforestation on Water Yields,' J. Hydrol. 178, 293-309.
Singh, A.K. and Pande, R.K.: 1989, 'Changes in the Spring Activity: Experiences of Kumaun Himalaya, India,' The Environmentalist 9(1), 75-79.
Singh, A.K. and Rawat, D.S.: 1985, 'Depletion of Oak Forests Threatening Springs: An Exploratory Study,' The National Geog. J. India 31(1), 44-48.
Snedecor, G.W. and Cochran, W.G.: 1967, Statistical Methods, Oxford University Press and IBH Publishing Co., New Delhi, 507 pp.
Valdiya, K.S. and Bartarya, S.K.: 1989, Diminishing Discharges of Mountain Springs in a Part of Kumaun Himalaya,' Current Science 58(8), 417-426.
Valdiya, K.S. and Bartarya, S.K.: 1991, 'Hydrological Studies of Springs in the Catchment of the Gaula River, Kumaun Lesser Himalaya, India,' Mountain Res. and Dev. 11(3), 239-258.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Negi, G.C., Joshi, V. Rainfall and Spring Discharge Patterns in Two Small Drainage Catchments in the Western Himalayan Mountains, India. The Environmentalist 24, 19–28 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:ENVR.0000046343.45118.78
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:ENVR.0000046343.45118.78