The study uses remote sensing data to develop a land use classification and applies statistical methods appropriate for Indian catchments to estimate the annual sediment load from the Upper Indravati catchment in Orissa for the year 2000. The study points to the fact that assessment of reservoir catchment regions at regular intervals would enhance the understanding of the geodynamic processes and help in identifying effective control measures.
Topographic and remote sensing data have been used to give more accurate information about the catchment land use, land cover and reservoir spread in the study area. This has in turn been used to assess the effect of changes in land use on sediment yield from the catchment. Periodic sediment yield provides vital information on the rate of soil erosion and changing land use pattern in the catchment and therefore forms the basis of planning, designing and maintaining water resources projects in a river basin.
As per the study, the sediment yield from the catchment is estimated in the range of 2.75 to 4.282 cum/ha/year, using different statistical methods and is well within the design limits of the reservoir. The study has clearly brought out the importance of land cover features, rainfall and catchment characteristics in assessing the sediment yield from the catchment of high rainfall areas.
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