Study of horizontal zonation of water quality characteristics and productivity status of Nanak Sagar reservoir of Uttarakhand, India

Abstract

A limnological investigation of the manmade reservoir is necessary to evaluate the potential fish production and to provide information that could be useful in fisheries development planning. In this direction, the present study was conducted on Nanak Sagar reservoir located on Deoha River in the Tarai region of Uttarakhand. The reservoir was divided into three zones viz., in Riverine, Transitional and Lacustrine. Fourteen hydrological parameters were analyzed for various seasons such as Monsoon, Post-monsoon and Pre-monsoon from July 2014 to June 2015. The assessment of water quality of the reservoir reflects the uses of water, as well as the condition of the site from where water sample was taken. It is also noteworthy that when intensive sampling has been carried out throughout a reservoir basin to generate a “true” mean for the more common trophic state variables such as nitrogen, phosphorus and silicate concentrations, the volume weighted mean values have often been statistically indistinguishable from those measured in the different zone. Tropic status of the reservoir was mesotropic in nature found on the basis of hydrological indices. Good status of water quality of this reservoir is essential for the development of culture and capture based fisheries.