GIS mapping of Malampuzha reservoir for fisheries development

Abstract

Reservoir is a prominent feature of the hydrology of river system to impound and store water for public water supply, flood control, irrigation, recreation, hydropower, wildlife habitat and fisheries. Erosion in the catchment area leads to silt deposition in various parts of reservoir which gradually reduces both dead as well as live storage. This poses threat to the aquatic environment in general and fisheries in particular. Sustainable management of fisheries requires information on the waterline and the geomorphological characteristics of its benthic area. Malampuzha reservoir is located on the Malampuzha river, a tributary of Bharatappuzha reservoir in Kerala and commissioned in 1955. The water storage area of the reservoir is 22.2 sq.km, with its maximum storage of 226 cu. mm and dead storage 2.4 cu. mm, as per the reservoir profile. The present study develops a 2-D map of Malampuzha reservoir in a GIS platform and estimates the water spread area of the reservoir, a physical characteristic relevant for fisheries development in the reservoir eco-system. The data collected through an exhaustive hydrographic survey conducted in the Malampuzha reservoir is used to calculate the maximum depth of water column, a yard stick for selection of appropriate fishing craft and gear to be deployed in the reservoir for development of sustainable fishery.