ISSN (Online) 2278-1021 IJARCCE ISSN (Print) 2319 5940 International Journal of Advanced Research in Computer and Communication Engineering Vol. 5, Issue 5, May 2016 Watersheds in the Alaknanda Basin of Uttrakhand Komal1, Rakesh Joon2 Scholar (M.Tech-ECE), GITAM (M.D.U., Rohtak), India1 HOD (ECE-Dept), GITAM (M.D.U., Rohtak), India2 Abstract: We use satellite remote sensing and a DEM to determine the boundary of the Alaknanda basin. –watersheds are found in the Alaknanda Basin. Our detailed data on watershed areas over the area provide an important temporal assessment of water resource variability in this area. These data can be integrated into further studies to analyze morphometric analysis of the region and hence can be used for water resource management. Key Words: DEM, Watershed, Basin, GIS, Remote Sensing. I. INTRODUCTION II. STUDY AREA Land and water capital are narrow and their wide The Alaknanda basin located 30.1333˚ N latitude and consumption is essential, especially for countries like 78.6029˚ E longitude which can be mapped to the closest India, where the inhabitants pressure is progressively more address of Alaknanda river.The Alaknanda is a Himalayan continuous. river in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, the major river of Northern India and the holy river of Hinduism. Drainage basins, catchments and sub catchments are the primary units for organizational purposes to safeguard The Alaknanda is considered to rise at the foot of natural resources. The watershed management notion the Satopanth glacier inUttarakhand, although the recognizes the interrelationships amid the linkages Saraswati River offshoot flowing from Mana Pass is between uplands, low lands, land use, geomorphology, longer; the two meet at Mana, India, 21 km fromTibet. slope and soil. Soil and water management is the key issue Three km below Mana the Alaknanda flows past the in watershed management while demarcating watersheds. Hindu pilgrimage centre of Badrinath. It meets the Bhagirathi River at Devprayag after flowing for However, while considering watershed preservation work, approximately 190 km (118.1 mi) through the Alaknanda it is not realistic to take the whole area at once. Thus the valley. Its main tributaries are the Mandakini, Nandakini, whole basin is divided into several smaller units, as sub and Pindar rivers. The Alaknanda system drains parts watersheds or micro watersheds, by considering its of Chamoli, Tehri, and Pauri districts. drainage system. Satopanth Glacier six km up from Alaknanda's origin Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and Shuttle Radar at its snout, the triangular Lake Satopanth is found at a Topography Mission (SRTM) widely used in drainage height of 4350 m. basin analysis. Nanda Devi is the highest point in the Alaknanda basin. A watershed is an ideal unit for the management of natural resources like land and water and for mitigation of the ALAKANANDA SYSTEM: The Alakananda rises in the impact of natural disasters for achieving sustainable glaciers to the north of the temple town of Badrinath. It development (Nookaratnam et. al., 2005). The proper washes past the feet of the holy Lord Badrivishal temple in watershed management needs utilization of land, water a SW direction & along a V-shaped valley through the and soil resources of a watershed for optimum production towns of Vishnuprayag, Nandprayag, Karanprayag, with minimum hazard to natural resources, and Rudraprayag and Srinagar. It has formed a broad valley at morphometric analysis could be used for prioritization of Gauchar. The main tributaries of Alakananda are: sub-watersheds by studying different linear, aerial and The river Mandakini . relief aspects of the watershed (Biswas et. al., 1999). River Pindar. Watershed prioritization is the ranking of different sub- Nandakini river watersheds of a watershed according to the order in which The Dhauliganga river. they have to be taken for handling through water and soil THEORITICAL DEVELOPMENT: preservation measures. The concepts of prioritization play a very important role in soil and water preservation for Panch prayag: watershed development and planning. Several rivers in the Garhwal region merge with the Copyright to IJARCCE DOI 10.17148/IJARCCE.2016.55248 1019 ISSN (Online) 2278-1021 IJARCCE ISSN (Print) 2319 5940 International Journal of Advanced Research in Computer and Communication Engineering Vol. 5, Issue 5, May 2016 Alaknanda at Panch Prayag or 'holy confluence of rivers'. 2. Nandaprayag, where it is met by the Nandakini River These are:[3] 3. Karnaprayag, where it is met by the Pindar River 4. Rudraprayag, where it is met by the Mandakini River 1. Vishnuprayag, where the Alaknanda is met by 5. Devprayag, where it meets the Bhagirathi River and the Dhauliganga River officially becomes the Ganges. III. DATA AND METHODS A. DATA All images and maps were presented in the Universal Topographic maps at scales of 1:50,000 are utilised from Transverse Mercator (UTM) system referenced to the the Survey of India. The main image sources were Landsat World Geodetic System of 1984 (WGS84). TM available from USGS (United State Geological Survey, and were orthorectified automatically using USGS IV. RESULTS AND DISSCUSSIONS Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) DEM data. Elevation values (m) were derived from a SRTM-DEM. A. Watersheds in Alaknanda Basin There are a total of 247 Watersheds which fall into the B. METHODS boundaries of Alaknanda Basin. But some (i.e.,37 Data preprocessing watersheds) are the part which only comes on the Geocorrections was conduct using Arc GIS software for boundaries , so these were dropped as major part lies all images. Clearly distinguishable terrain description from under some other area. And other minors are also merged topographic maps was used as location to roll the other to form bigger watersheds, so there are finally a total of 22 images. watersheds. Copyright to IJARCCE DOI 10.17148/IJARCCE.2016.55248 1020 ISSN (Online) 2278-1021 IJARCCE ISSN (Print) 2319 5940 International Journal of Advanced Research in Computer and Communication Engineering Vol. 5, Issue 5, May 2016 Figure 2.Watersheds of Alaknanda Basin (Merged into major ones) 1. Atagad f. Garur Ganga a. Karanprayag g. Puigadhera b. Kotali h. Berihiganga c. Bhatoli i. Batula d. Kakragad j. Lasi e. Baret k. Gauna f. Baragad l. Taraktal g. Adibadri m. Guduyargadhera 2. Augustmuni 5. Dangchaura a. Karkagad a. Dangri b. Kyunjgad b. Jakhi c. Baniyari c. Jakhand d. Rampur d. Takoli e. Surgad e. Maletha 3. Badiyargad f. Mundoli a. Bhardargad 6. Dhauliganga b. Sera a. Chemshala c. Dhundsirgad b. Girthiganga d. Utyasu c. Dhauliganga e. Namigad d. Jumagad f. Jakhni e. Malari g. Bhimpanisera f. Jelam 4. Budhi Ganga g. Dunagiri a. Joshimath h. Wautigadhera b. Karmnasa i. Gadigadhera c. Sarnkola j. Gankhwigadhera d. Tapoban k. Tolmagadhera e. Karchigaon l. Jonjgad Copyright to IJARCCE DOI 10.17148/IJARCCE.2016.55248 1021 ISSN (Online) 2278-1021 IJARCCE ISSN (Print) 2319 5940 International Journal of Advanced Research in Computer and Communication Engineering Vol. 5, Issue 5, May 2016 7. Guptkashi g. Kaldunga Nala a. Damargad h. Gobindgad b. Rawanganga i. Byumggad c. Dangi 14. Middle Pinder Left d. Naini a. Chulakot e. Utrasu b. Chulakot f. Jakhnoli c. Nalgaon 8. Hindolakhal d. Bedula a. Chandrabhagagad e. Panthi b. Jakher f. Ming gadhera c. Gharkotgad g. Baramgad d. Bhetyan h. Naunagad 9. Kail Ganga i. Rakoli a. Khobina Ganga j. Thala b. Bedni Ganga k. Gwaldam c. Halkan gad l. Talwari d. Kuman gad 15. Nagoigad e. Bagri gad a. Kalpagad f. Pinnu b. Menagad g. Ghes c. Vishnugad h. Sarmata d. Aroshigad i. Kandai e. Barki j. Timli f. Balasuit k. Guram Toli g. Bangina l. Sawar h. Tapon m. Ichholi i. Kalsir 10. Lastargad j. Gopeshwar a. Lastargad Upper k. Diwar b. Khalyan l. Jaisal c. Chopra m. Guram d. Bhatwari n. Rarwa e. Mayali o. Trishula f. Chirbatiyakhal p. Gersal g. Barsari q. Pokhri h. Kwila(plus) r. Ratagad 11. Lower Pinder Right s. Kujasu a. Nakot t. Jilasu b. Bhatiyawa 16. Nandakini c. Bansoli a. Jatha Gad d. Chopta gad b. Tomingad e. Kichgad c. Molagad f. Simligad d. Nand Prayag g. Chorgad e. Gondeyagad h. Tetuna f. Ramni i. Khalyun g. Padairgaon j. Tharali h. Sik k. Nandikesri i. Bhadragad 12. Madhya Maheshwar j. Palri a. Markanda Ganga k. Ala b. Madhya Maheshwar l. Bhoriyagadhera c. Anphalgad m. Suwalgad d. Setgad n. Gulari e. Kyargad o. Goligadhera 13. Mandakini p. Mokhgad a. Kedargad q. Mainigadhera b. Kaliganga r. Roopganga c. Mandani Ganga s. Puneragad d. Satanagad t. Ghat e. Jhakuri 17. Pinder Upper f. Patigad a. Kaphnigad Copyright to IJARCCE DOI 10.17148/IJARCCE.2016.55248 1022 ISSN (Online) 2278-1021 IJARCCE ISSN (Print) 2319 5940 International Journal of Advanced Research in Computer and Communication Engineering Vol. 5, Issue 5, May 2016 b. Sunderdhonga b. Gholtir c. Bauragad c. Siwali d. Surag d. Sindrawani e. Ghatiyagad 21. Sarswati f. Saurgad a. Saraswati Nadi g. Talkori b. Mana h. Maunagwar c. Neelganga i. Pheli d. Badrinath j. Chaur e. Laxamanganga k. Makhauli f. Khirganga l. Milotha g. Pandukeshar m. Kaligad h. Kagbhusand Nadi 18. Plus i. Homegadhera a. Pogtagad j. Jawagwar b. Chamak 22. Srinagar c. Chhinka a. Bargad d. Dungri b. Rudraprayag e. Sarmola c. Gostugad f. Khurar d. Bachangad 19. Rishi Ganga e. Srinagar a. Ramani f. Devalgad b. Paing g. Chilgarh c. Raunthi gadhera h. Nakotgad d. Dudh Ganga i. Gadurgad e. Trishul Nadi j. Nadalgad 20. Rudraprayag k. Dewanigad a. Ratura V. CONCLUSION These watersheds further can be used for prioritization [8]. Gregory KJ, Walling DE (1973) Drainage basin form and process: a of watersheds. geomorphological approach. Edward Arnold, London. [9]. Miller VC (1953) A quantitative geomorphic study of drainage Natural watershed management can be achieved by basin characteristics in the clinch mountain area virginia and calculating various parameters like flow direction, flow tennessee.