1. R. P. Singh, N.C. Ghosh, Lekhraj and Ravikalyan Bussa
Protection of Water Augmenting Gola River Flood Plain Deposits is an Environmental Imperative, Haldwani Area, District Nainital (Uttarakhand)
Authors
R. P. Singh, N.C. Ghosh, Lekhraj and Ravikalyan Bussa
Presenter: Dr. R. P. Singh

2. Location Attributes

3. Locational Attributes
Ranibagh
Gola River
Bhakhara River
Haldwani Fan
Kathgodam
Sukhi Nadi
Flood Plain Deposits
Agricultural Fields
Haldwani

4. Focus of the study The study is focused on:
Mapping of Flood Plain Deposits(FPDs)
Role of the Flood Plain Deposits in augmenting the surface and groundwater resources
Geological, geomorphological and hydrogeological aspects of FPDs
Effect of erosion on FPDs
Protection measures
Conclusions

5. Contrasting Locational Features
Siwaliks
Gola River
Flood Plain Deposits

6. Geomorphic Features Gola River Ranibagh Bhakhara River Kathgodam
Haldwani Fan
Kathgodam
Sukhi Nadi
Flood Plain Deposits
Agricultural Fields
Haldwani

7. Mapping of FPDs and Haldwani Fan
IRS 1C LISS III Satellite Image has been processed using ERDAS Imagine Software 8.5
Haldwani Fan
Extends between Bhakhara and Sukhi Rivers
N-S extension: 20km
E-W extension: 22km
Contd.

8. Contd... The width of Gola River is 90m close to Siwalik Hills
The with of Gola River and FPDs increases downwards.
The Channel section and FPDs width together is about 1km near Haldwani.
The thickness of the FPDs varies up to 12.0m.

9. Contd…
Flood Plain Deposits three level of terraces on which agricultural and developmental activities are going on T1
T 2
T 3

10. Geological Formations
Age
Geological Formation
Lithology
Quaternary and Recent
Flood Plain Deposits/Terrace Alluvium and Channel
Bhabhar
Cyclic sequence of grey micaceous sand, silt and clay. Sand and gravel with boulders.
Piedmont deposits comprising of boulders and pebbles with gravel and sand
Pliocene to Early Pleistocene
Upper Siwaliks
Coarse sandstone, claystone becoming pebbly and conglomeratic towards the top
Late Miocene to Pliocene
Middle Siwaliks
Micaceous, calcareous, lithic arenite and sub-litharenite

11. Geological Formations
Flood Plain Deposits
Sivaliks

12. Hydrogeology
FPDs
Very porous and permeable transmits water to Bhabhars
Bhabhar
Very porous and permeable and forms productive aquifers.
Acts as the recharge zone for Gangetic Plain Aquifers 
Siwaliks
Don’t form productive aquifers
Bhabhars

13. Groundwater Conditions in Bhabhar
Groundwater occurs under phreatic conditions
DTW water as measured in a bore hole on the left bank of Gola River is 125 m (Period:February, 2016).
Water quality is potable.

14. Augmentation of Groundwater and Surface Water
Groundwater: FPDs overlay the Bhabhars which form the potential repository of groundwater and recharges the aquifers down the hydraulic gradient. Both are boulder formations. The FPDs add to the thickness of the porous mass and transmit water to Bhabhars and augment the groundwater resource.
Surface Water: The bank storage contributes to river flow subsequent to floods.

15. Erosion of Flood Plains
Unconsolidated formation prone to erosion
Erosion, more intensive along the left bank
Gola River has made passages through FPDs
FPDs occur as isolated masses in the river course
The face of FPDs has become vertical at places.

16. River passage through FPDs

17. FPDs left as isolated masses in river course

18. Vertical face of FPDs
Vertical Phase of Eroded River Bank

19. Outward erosive action of Gola River

20. Protection Measures of Flood Plain Deposits
Along the River Bank
Rock boulder
Gabions
Erosion mats
Construction of spurs
Bioengineering measures
Across the River Bank
Vegetative barriers on the boundary of the terraces
Flora such as Nappier, Munja and vetever

21. Conclusions
The FPDs are valuable natural resources. Their erosion results in the loss of environmental components such as Soil, Water and Forest.
Thus it becomes an environmental imperative to protect the Flood Plain Deposits by using Bio-engineering measures.

22. Thanks!