CONTENTS Introduction 1 ENVIS Newsletter April - September, 2014 Origin of Lakes 1 Types of Lakes 1 0 Water bodies of J&K 2 J&K ENVIS Centre Classification of Water bodies as per Wetland Land rules 2010 Department of Ecology, Environment & Remote Sensing, of Ministry of Environment and Jammu and Kashmir Forests 2 Findings 4 Introduction Prominent Lakes of State 5 Ramsar Convention 5 Jammu and Kashmir also known as Salt lakes (also called saline lakes) heaven on earth is the northern can form where there is no natural List of Wetlands of most state in India comprising outlet or where the water International Importance of three distinctive divisions Jammu, evaporates rapidly and the J&K under Ramsar Convention 5 Kashmir and Ladakh. It has two water has a higher than normal salt Government Authorities for capitals - Jammu, the winter content. Examples of salt lakes conservation of Water bodies 6 capital and Srinagar - the summer include Pangong Lake in Ladakh. Tourism/Biotic pressure on capital. The state is home to lot of Water bodies of J&K 7 Small, crescent-shaped lakes Himalayan glaciers, lakes and Ways to Save Water bodies 8 called oxbow lakes can form in rivers. Jhelum, Indus, Tawi, Ravi Recent Flood in J&K and role river valleys as a result of and Chenab are the major rivers of Water bodies in flood 8 Figure 1: Jammu Division meandering. Examples of ox bow flowing through the state. Dal, References 8 lakes are Waskur, Ahansar, Wular, Mansar, Surinsar and Khushalsar and Gilsar lake etc. From the Director’s Desk Pangong lakes are the main This is the second issue of attractions of the state. Some of Crater lakes are formed in volcanic newsletter for the year 2014-15, the major pilgrimage centers of the craters and calderas which fill up that was to be published by June nation are located in the state, the with precipitation more rapidly than 2014 but due to some local two most important being the they empty via evaporation. An problems followed by floods in Shri Amarnath Ji Cave and ex ample is Dal Lake in Srinagar September in Kashmir Valley this Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine. District and Wular Lake in got delayed. But I am sure that it Bandipora District. will give an insight into the water Origin of Lakes resources of the state of Jammu & There are a number of natural Types of Lakes Kashmir. The state has vast processes that can form lakes. A potential & all its water bodies Glacial Lake: A lake with origins in recent tectonic uplift of a mountain needs to be preserved as many of a melted glacier such as Sheeshnag range can create bowl-shaped them are under the pressure of Lake located in District Anantnag. depressions that accumulate water pollution, encroachment, silting, and form lakes. The advance and Artificial Lake: A lake created by construction activity or retreat of glaciers can scrape flooding land behind a dam, called urbanization. They are the main depressions in the surface where an impoundment or reservoir, by flood basins around our cities. Our water accumulates, example of deliberate human excavation e.g., population depends on these for such lakes are Kousarnag, Tarsar, Harwan reservoir in Srinagar, drinking water, fishing, livelihood Marsar etc. Yusmarg reservoir in Budgam. etc. Flash floods in the month of September 2014 are an indicator Lakes can also form by means of Endorheic Lake: Example of such that our water bodies are not landslides or by glacial blockages type of lake is Tsomorori in being managed properly and we such as Gangabal, Kishansar, Ladakh. Such lakes are most need to restore their glory for the Vishansar and Nagputan lakes common in desert locations. future generations. located in Ganderbal District. (Suresh Chugh) IFS APCCF/Director DEERS, J&K 2 Peri-glacial Lake: Example Keger tso in ladakh. Eolic Lake: A lake which forms in a depression created by the activity of the winds. Sub-glacial Lake: Example Drung drung, Shafat glacial lakes in Zanskar. Water bodies of J&K Fjord Lake: A lake in a glacially eroded valley that Water bodies are one of the most important natural has been eroded below sea level. resources of water in our state. Apart from being most valuable natural habitat for a number of Flora Oxbow Lake: A lake which is formed when a wide and Fauna, these water bodies are also life line for a meander from a stream or a river is cut off to form a large number of people and act as part of vital lake. They are called "oxbow" lakes due to the hydrological cycle. distinctive curved shape that results from this As the state is well known for its charming scenery, process. e.g., Hokarsar, Haigam located in Baramulla comprising beautiful springs, lakes, rivers and their etc tributaries, all these add to its scenic beauty. As per data prepared by Department of Ecology, Rift Lake or Sag pond: A lake which forms as a Environment & Remote Sensing, J&K, there are 1230 result of subsidence along a geological fault in the lakes and water bodies in the state with 150 in Earth's tectonic plates. Examples include the Jammu region, 415 in Kashmir region and 665 in Tsomorori and Pangong lakes in Ladakh. Ladakh. On the basis of altitudes these have been divided into two categories. Underground Lake: A lake which is formed under the surface of the Earth's crust. Such a lake may be High Altitude Lakes: Gangabal, Vishan Sar, Kishan associated with caves, aquifers or springs. Sar, Sheesh Nag, Nilnag, Kausarnag etc. Crater Lake: A lake which forms in a Valley Lakes: Wular, Dal, Manasbal, Aanchar, volcanic caldera or crater after the volcano has been Ahansar, Hokersar, Haigam etc. inactive for some time. Water in this type of lake may be fresh or highly acidic, and may contain various dissolved minerals. Some also have geothermal activity, especially if the volcano is merely dormant rather than extinct. Lava Lake: A pool of molten lava contained in a volcanic crater or other depression. Lava lakes that have partly or completely solidified are also referred to as lava lakes. Former: A lake which is no longer in existence. Bodsar is an example of a former lake. Gangabal Lake Ephemeral Lake: A seasonal lake that exists as Classification of Water bodies as per a body of water during only part of the year. Wetland Land rules 2010 of Ministry of Intermittent Lake: A lake with no water during a Environment and Forests part of the year. The classification of Wetlands as per the Wetlands Rules 2010, as finalized by Ministry of Environment Shrunken: Examples are Barinambal, Kushhalsar, and Forests Govt. of India is as follows: Anchar, Gilsar located in Srinagar and Hokarsar, Haigam in Baramulla. “The classification system besides all the wetlands incorporates Reservoirs, Ash ponds/Cooling ponds, and abandoned Quarries.” 3 The Ministry of Environment and Forests has notified Table 3: Area wise number of Lakes/Water bodies of the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, different districts (Old) Kashmir Division 2010. These Rules have been drafted by the Ministry No. of No. of lakes/waterbodies lakes/waterbodies of Environment and Forests to ensure better District conservation and management and to prevent having area above having area up to 5 hectares 5 hectares degradation of existing wetlands in India. The water Anantnag 38 60 bodies of the state have been divided into following types: Baramulla 48 76 Table 1: Classification of Lakes/Water Bodies of J&K State as per Wetland rules 2010 Budgam 15 18 Kupwara 1 65 Lakes & Water J&K Kashmir Jammu Ladakh Bodies Pulwama 4 16 Total 1230 415 150 665 Srinagar 31 43 Above 2500m Total 137 278 1023 240 119 664 (m.s.l) Table 4: Altitude wise number of Lakes/Water bodies Below 2500m 207 175 31 1 of different districts (Old) of Jammu Division (m.s.l) Having area No. of No. of lakes/waterbodies lakes/waterbodies more than 330 137 29 164 District 5 hectares above 2500 m up to 2500 m (a.m.s.l) (a.m.s.l) Having area less 900 278 121 501 than 5 hectares Jammu Nil 15 Having area Kathua Nil 1 more than 500 4 4 Nil Nil hectares & below Poonch 22 Nil 2500m m.s.l Rajouri 5 Nil Within Forest 381 233 116 Nil Boundary Udhampur 5 14 Outside Forest DODA 87 1 881 182 34 Nil Boundary TOTAL 119 31 Table 2: Altitude wise number of Lakes/Water bodies Table 5: Area wise number of Lakes/Water Bodies of of different districts (Old) Kashmir Division different districts (Old) of Jammu Division No. of No. of lakes/waterbodies lakes/waterbodies No. of No. of District lakes/waterbodies lakes/waterbodies above 2500 m up to 2500 m District (a.m.s.l) (a.m.s.l) having area above having area up to 5 hectares 5 hectares Anantnag 95 3 Jammu 1 14 Baramulla 79 45 Kathua Nil 1 Budgam 22 11 Poonch 5 17 Kupwara 3 63 Rajouri 2 3 Pulwama 4 16 Udhampur 1 18 Srinagar 37 37 DODA 20 68 Total 240 175 TOTAL 29 121 4 Table 6: Altitude wise number of Lakes/Water Bodies was carried out in Jammu and Kashmir division which of different districts (Old) of Ladakh Division shows that many of the lakes which were present in 1967 (refer Directory of lakes and water bodies No. of No. of published in 1998) have either perished or reclaimed lakes/waterbodies lakes/waterbodies District at an altitude below at an altitude above for different land use activity or some have 2500m(m.s.l) 2500m(m.s.l) disappeared due to natural causes like glacial action, Leh 1 520 low precipitation, or are on the verge of extinction as shown in different places in the report are Kargil Nil 144 summarized district wise as below.