International Journal of Advances in Science and Technology
Vol 2, Num 3, 2011
Distribution of Lakes and Ponds in
Bhadravathi Taluk with Reference to
Geographical Features
Ajayan K.V1 and Parameswara Naik T2.
Department of Botany and Environmental Science
Sahyadri Science College (Autonomous) Kuvempu University.Shivamogga- 577203-Karnataka, India.
[email protected]
Abstract
The present investigation revealed that there are 225 lakes and ponds distributed within 69010X104
Sqm of Bhadravathi taluk boundaries. The Size of lakes and ponds decrease and number of
occurrence is more but increase in size decrease in their occurrence. Taluk is an agro based system,
out of 50% of total area, lakes and ponds covered only 3.847% and 2.4089% its catchment area;
30% area under agriculture; 13% covered by forest land; 6% under non-agriculture and 1% as a
barren land .Only 4% people used for drinking and most them used for irrigation 18%, fishing 17%;
18% respondents said that it was good habitat for aquatic birds. The intense study revealed that
encroachment, dumping of waste a serious threat of lentic water bodies in this taluk. The result
indicated that conservation of lake and pond to be essentional task for future generation.The aim of
present study was how the water bodies distributed and their decency on local community.
Keywords: Bhadravathi Taluk, lakes, ponds, geographical features
1. Introduction
Limnology is the science that can provide improved understanding of Lake Ecosystem
dynamics and information that can lead to sound management policies. As more studies are conducted
on variety of lakes systems, the accumulated information leads to the development of general concepts
about how lakes function and respond to environmental changes. One of the major impediments to the
integration of lentic ecosystems into global environmental analysis has been fragmentary data on the
extant and size distribution of lakes, ponds. Although lakes are of global importance, most analyses of
functional processes in freshwater ecosystems have either emphasized regional similarities [10] or have
adopted an ecosystem specific emphasis. The few global analyses of lacustrine process have been
limited because knowledge of the number and size distribution of lakes has been incomplete [1]: [6]
further, fresh water ecosystems are generally considered to cover only a small portion of the earth ’s
surface. The condition of a lake at a given time is the result of the interaction of many factors-its
watershed, climate, geology human influence, and characteristics of lake itself. While the development
of a limnological database and knowledge is important, no amount of generalization can provide a full
understanding or predict conditions of any particular lake. Each lake ecosystem is unique, and its
dynamics can be understood only to a limited degree based on information from other lakes. Urban
environments are generally characterized as areas with high density of buildings exposed to constant
and intense human activity [7] This ongoing growth of urban agglomerations leads to far reaching
changes in biodiversity, including the loss of forests and other natural areas [11],[12]
lakes and ponds have played an important role in the water history of Karnataka .As a
major part of Karnataka is in the rain shadow region of the Deccan plateau, ponds and lakes were the
primary sources of drinking water and irrigation Lakes are also natural habitats for a characteristic flora
and fauna including birds, fish and other aquatic life [3]. Aquatic ecosystems are dynamic systems, in
which several biotic and a biotic variables change in space and time due to different processes. Lentic
water bodies have tremendous importance, as they are recharging reservoirs for drinking water
domestic use and as infrastructure for pisciculture [5]. The realization of the causal changes in time of
these complex systems is very restricted. Recent activities such as illegal lake encroachment,
agricultural activities and other unsustainable developments have taken place in the areas premises of
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Bhadravathi taluk. The impact of these activities may have caused environmental degradation to lentic
water bodies and its adjacent areas by changing the water system’s hydrological characteristics, with
prospects of possible long term deterioration.
2. Materials and methods
Study area: Bhadravathi taluk is one of the famous industrial taluk of shimoga district. It lies in the
south-east part of the district. Historically, the name Bhadravathi derives from the Bhadra River which
flow the heart of city. It was earlier known as Benkipura (or Venkipura), which in English means city
of fire. In the history, Bhadravathi rose into prominence with the establishment of Mysore Iron and
Steel Limited in 1918(it is also known as industrial town by them).Geographically, Bhadravathi taluk
lies in the central parts of the Karnataka state ,in the south-east corner of the shimoga district. The
latitude and longitude coordinates of Bhadravathi town are 13° 50' N and 75° 42'E.Bhadravathi taluk
borders, shimoga taluk of Shimoga district of the west, Honnali taluk of Devangare district of the
north, Channagiri taluk of Devangare district of the east and Tarikare taluk of Chikmagalure district to
the south. The total area taluk is around 69010X104sqmand it’s at an altitude of around 580m above sea
level (Fig.1).
Figure 1. Study area of Bhadravathi taluk of Shimoga district
Sampling: Global positioning system (GPS) was used to determine the actual coordinates of the
sampling stations and to reconfirm the location of stations during the subsequent sampling period. For
distribution status of lakes and ponds in 69010X104Sqm of geographical area of Taluk sand for
adapted land survey methods( report of irrigation and Fisheries departments) and Natural Resource
Data management System (NRDMS) Centre Shimoga for assigning aerial mapping(GPS-GIS ) of fresh
water particularly lakes and ponds. In the present investigation, the satellite images from IRS-1c (multi
dated i.e. PAN+LISS merged data), false colour composite (FCC, Geo-coded) products along with
other collateral data viz., Survey of India (SOI) topographical maps, other available maps etc., have
been used. Land use land cover studies were performed by collecting IRS Data. These data were
analyzed through Geographic Information System (GIS) software. Various maps such as, forest cover,
soil types, erosion, vegetation, agricultural land, watershed and other related maps were scanned to
understand the land use and land cover changes and distribution of lakes and ponds. The classification
techniques followed are; Unsupervised classification and supervised classification
Unsupervised classification is an automatic classification method to delineate the land cover features
present in the scene and spectral characteristics of the study area are correctly identified and labeled. In
supervised classification the classification approach is done by training data inputs. The training data is
used to extract properties of each individual class based on the ground reference data derived from
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intensive field work is available in the maps. Consequently the accuracy of the results obtained is
presented. These data were analyzed through GIS software. Output of this analysis is shown in the
form of thematic maps. Software package used :in the present study, PC-based user-friendly image
analysis & GIS packages like, ERDAS Imagine 8.6, Map Info Professional 10.0, Arc view GIS 3.2 and
ARC GIS 8.3 GIS Soft wares have been used.ERDAS 8.6 image processing software has been used to
perform registration/geometric correction of scanned raster images and subsequently mosaic the
multiply images for the preparation of thematic layers (ERDAS, 2009).Map Info professional 10.0 GIS
software is used for digitization of various thematic layers from raster images and for building geo data
base. Arc view GIS 3.2 software has the capacity to handle both vector and raster data. The thematic
maps created in Map Info are converted to shape files and coverages to use in Arc View 3.2 and Arc
GIS software respectively for analyzing data by arithmetic and logical operations, interpolation and
overlay analysis.
3. Results and Discussion
Uncertainty of define the lakes and ponds in modern scientific communities:
The word lake comes from Middle English Lake. There is considerable uncertainty about defining the
difference between lakes and ponds, and no current internationally accepted definition of either term
across scientific disciplines or political boundaries exists. Limnologists have defined lakes as water
bodies which are simply a larger version of a pond, which have wave action on the shoreline or where
wind-induced turbulence plays a major role in mixing the water column. None of these definitions
completely excludes ponds and all are difficult to measure. For this reason there has been increasing
use made of simple size-based definitions to separate ponds and lakes. One definition of lake is a body
of water of 2 hectares (5 acres) or more in area, others have defined lakes as water bodies of 5 hectares
(12 acres) and above or 8 hectares (20 acres) and above[see also the). Charles Elton, one of the
founders of ecology, regarded lakes as water bodies of 40 hectares (99 acres) or more. The term lake is
also used to describe a feature such as Lake Eyre, which is a dry basin most of the time but may
become filled under seasonal conditions of heavy rainfall. In common usage many lakes bear names
ending with the word pond, and a lesser number of names ending with lake are in quasi-technical fact,
ponds.
Distribution of lakes: The distribution status of lakes and ponds in Bhadravathi taluk is 225
within 69010x104sqm (Fig.1.) which belongs to one of the taluk of Shimoga district. Size and
distribution patters anonymous due to land use and land cover features of taluk and also geographical
features. (Table.1.) Lake size varies from 1200 to 951000Sqm and their attachment area 1672 to
2480000Sqm; the catchment comprises agricultural fields such as paddy, Area nut, sugarcane which
has the capacity to hold maximum water during rainy and withdraw on winter and summer seasons for
regains the water table in lake but also in ground water. The average surface area of lake is
117990.3111 Sqm and their catchment area is 100143.2048 Sqm. lakes and ponds class frequency
shows that decreases in size, number of lakes/ponds are increase but in increases in size but number of
lake and ponds decreases it means inversely propositional. Lake Area classes (x10²Sq/m) 1-1000 has
133 lakes and ponds but 9000- 10000(x10²Sq/m) has only one lake (Fig.2.)
Figure 2.Distributed lakes and ponds class
Frequency in Bhadravathi Taluk 2010
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Figure3.Surface area and attachment
area of lakes and ponds.
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One of the first attempts to characterize the global abundance and frequency distribution of lentic water
bodies (lakes and ponds) was performed by [8]. inventoried the most complete list of large lakes
available[4], supplementing it with 800 plan metered lake maps, to determine the number of lakes in
Europe and the world within size ranges of area. This size–frequency approach significantly under
sampled lake areas less than3 km2 for the European lakes and 800 km2 for world lakes. The percentage
of lakes/ponds area is 3.847 and catchment area is 2.4089 sqm; the estimated wetland global area5.3
106 Km2 with a large uncertainty. Globally, the total surface area of open lakes is estimated at 1.106
Km2 in fresh water and1.5 1012 Km2 in brackish or salty water (The Dams News letter July 2010International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD).
Table.1Physical features of lakes and ponds of Bhadravathi Taluk-Shimoga district
Natural lakes and ponds are estimated to cover about 4.2 million km2 of the earth’s surface and farm
ponds (ponds) cover about77, 000 km2. These data, taken together, indicate that lakes, ponds, and
impoundments cover .3% of the earth’s surface. This is more than twice as much as indicated by
previous inventories because small lakes have been undercensused.The data collected from the remote
sensing technique and also land survey because small ponds(ponds) would not captured the satellite
image as their sizes below the resolution. From this inventory 225 lakes and ponds were mapped and
collected information with regards to size, lakes and ponds area, catchment area and water holding
capacity. Here most of the lakes and ponds have fewer surfaces but have more numbers and dominant
133 numbers has within 1-1000 X102 Sqm whereas increase the size class decrease frequency of
occurrence lakes and ponds.[6] have recently used GIS analysis to develop and validate a global lake
database. They combined analog and digital maps with databases, registers, and inventories of lakes to
present a list of >250,000 waterbodies.The most of the water bodies located in vicinity of agricultural
landscape as the intense pressure on encroachment to expanse agricultural activity consequently
decreases the surface area. Other possible reason all water bodies belongs to public property so weak
laws of local governance for favors the encroacher. Catchment area drained by a stream or other body
of water. The amount of water reaching the river, reservoir, or lake from its catchment area depends on
the size of the area, the amount of precipitation, and the loss through evaporation (determined by
temperature, winds, and other factors and varying with the season) and through absorption by the earth
or by vegetation; absorption is greater when the soil or rock is permeable than when it is
impermeable.Fig.3. The catchment area act as water collecting pouch when high amount of water from
rain or tributary of river systems. The catchment areas of lakes has two systems high landscape(inlet)
with natural vegetation or agrifield region to drain water and other systems has low landscape for drain
water from the lakes when dry seasons(outlet). A permeable layer over an impermeable layer may act
as a natural reservoir, supplying the river or lake in very dry seasons. The catchment area is one of the
primary considerations in the planning of a reservoir for water-supply purposes. Bhadravathi taluk is
agricultural feed (Fig.4.) systems so undulating landscape and also river Bhadra flow the heart of taluk
those favored enriched water to lake by catchment area.
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Figure4. Physical features of Bhadravathi Taluk of Shimoga district (by remote sensing)
According to survey report, the taluk comprises about 151villages within69010X104 Sqm and 225 lakes
and ponds are distributed and those facilitate for multipurpose. Out of 151villages only 40 villages in
vicinity of Bhadra River and 26 villages do not have any lentic water sources. These water bodies are
primary natural rain water reservoirs and also it to be good alternate for the recharge of ground water
consequently helps to keep ambient ground water table in taluk Fig.5.
Figure5.Distribution of villages in taluk with lakes
and ponds
Figure6.Land utilization of Bhadravathi
Taluk
Land utilization: Bhadrathi taluk compress about 69010 hectors as the total geographical area. It
was utilized for various purposes; out of 69010 hectors 30% used in agricultural; 13% for natural
forest; 6% as non-agricultural land and remaining 1% as uncultivated barren land. This land
distribution says that the most of lands for agricultural purposes so there should be more demand of
water for irrigation. Therefore, there are about 225 lakes and ponds those facilitate for the agricultural
activities in taluk. Fig.6.
Utility of lakes and ponds: Fresh water demands goes on increases by the purpose of pot ability
and irrigation in taluk. As the available sources of water are lentic and ground water and also Bhadra
channel. A scheduled method was conducted for acquire how people dependence on the lentic water
bodies in their premises and also it was concentrated in where the sampling stations were identified.
All the respondents were in village level as most of them depend on directly or indirectly to lakes and
ponds. About 4 percent of them used as drinking, 18 percent for irrigation,17% for fishing,7%for
washing vehicles,11% used for washing clothes ,9% for bathing. About 18% responds say that lakes
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and ponds are good habitats for aquatic birds.Incresing demand for agricultural activity 16% responds
revealed that it is facing for encroachment. Fig.7.
Figure7. Dependence of Lakes/Ponds in Local community
4. Conclusion: Land is the platform for all physical developments. In Bhadravathi Taluk, however,
the biggest asset is its vast expanse of lakes, ponds and canals. This special asset also should be
conserved and at the same time put to efficient and economic use. Water body landscape in the city is
most important opened –space and a region with densest natural element and most complicated
physical process. Its plays an important role in the formation and development of cities [13].But since
the industrial revolution, the water body landscape in the city has been in a constant destruction and
development state because of people’s incorrect consciousness and how to protect water body
landscape in the city has become a necessity of city development and a historical mission. To protect
water body landscape in the city, it was necessary to understand reasonable the dynamics of water body
landscape patterns in the city and its whys [2].The present study on distribution of lakes and ponds was
indicated that water bodies are dependence on local communities it has a vital role in agro economic
and cultural integrity of taluk. The present status of water bodies in this taluk is facing an intense
encroachment so has to be a priority for conservation of those nature recourses for future generation.
5. Acknowledgement: The authors are thankful to Mr. Shankar, Asst. Programme Officer, and
District NRDMS Centre, Zilla panchayaht, Shimoga and Fisheries department, irrigation department of
Bhadravthi taluk and Dr.Nafeesa Begum, Dept. of Botany Sahyadri Science College (Auto) Shimoga
for their valuable assistance for the information about the lentic water bodies of taluk.
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Authors Profile
Mr. Ajayan K.V is research scholar from Kuvempu University, India during 2009
onwards. This author was various project experiences under DBT and DST
government of India and also teaching experiences. The area of specialisation in
aquatic biology. Currently, I undertaking a minor research project on “Macrophyte
diversity in lentic water bodies of Bhadravathi taluk” granted by University Grant
Commission (UGC) as a co-investigator.
Dr. Parameswara Naik .T received his Ph.D degree from Kuvempu University, India
during 1998. This author working as an assistant professor in dept. of Botany
Sahyadri Science College (Autonomous) a constituent college of Kuvempu
University and young scientist awardee from SVAK karnataka India 2006. A life
member of Indian many journals. He has received award of Karnataka Ratna state
parisara 2007.Author has 16 years of teaching and research experience. And guiding
many Ph.D. Students and produced 9 MPhil. His major research Interests are
Ecology, EIA, Toxicology, Environmental biology and Biodiversity.. He has
completed successfully one Research Project and principal investigator of UGC
Project, and co-ordinator of UGC COP programme and co- ordinator of SC/ST cell.
Author has become a chairman of BOS and BOE and Member of BOS and BOE of
many colleges and Universities. And he also Worked in Abroad N.E.Africa for two
years and visited many countries.
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