Assessment of Geo-Environmental Impacts of River Flooding

摘要

1. The increasing population and civilization is seen encroaching in the river floodplains for developmental activities. Flood protection measures are offered to reduce the risk of inundation and to alleviate the loss due to floods. However the importance of the characteristics of the floodplains i.e. riparian zones composed of shifting mosaics of ecological units, various landforms i.e. cut-off channels, alluvial levees (embankments), flats and islands, and various stages of successions that occur on each type of landform, terrestrial vegetation, marshy and swampy areas, plantations, cultivated fields and habitations which support both the aquatic life and contiguous urban areas, must be realized. 2. The USLE equation is a quick and convenient way of estimating soil erosion. In the study area, loamy sand type of soil is eroded and increased anthropogenic activities worsen the situation; hence it is imperative that soil erosion control measures are inculcated in the area and more so if there is possibility of extensive development. 3. To undertake proposed development in the river bed area, the plan should ensure that the pristine qualities of the flood plain sustain even under the most frequently occurring floods. 4. The inundation of the floodplain is essential for supporting ecosystems (such as reed-swamp associations, herbaceous and wooded communities) in the floodplains, which provide interaction mechanism governing the land-water interface phenomena. 5. The model HEC-2 is a good hydrodynamic model to determine flood prone areas and levels of inundation. The model output can be used for flood zoning, which is of utmost importance to the town planners and for undertaking disaster mitigation measures.