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Publication Date

2019

Keywords

anthropogenic, hydromorphology, River Habitat Survey, Habitat Quality

Abstract

River is a main source of fresh water. Although since past river water and basin morphology both have affected and changed by some natural and human induced activities. Human civilization since time immemorial has been rooted close to river basin. Changing morphology of a river channel has done also by natural causes. The hydromorphological state of a river system replicates its habitat quality and relies on a variety of both physical and human features. The area of study is located in the Teesta river system in Sikkim Himalaya, which comprises of Teesta and its major tributary the Rangit, situated in right bank. The studied sections are located upper and lower dams of each river. Assessment of hydromorphological state of the river is done by a comprehensive field survey. Moreover, a River Habitat Survey also has carried out in the winter season in the year 2015 especially when river register low water flow. The objective of this work is to find out the state of hydromorphological state of rivers under study like Teesta, Rangit etc. which are located both upper and lower the position of major dams. This study also compared the scale of hydromorphological features present in lower and upper dams. According to the result of the work based on Habitat Quality Assessment (HQA) and Habitat Modification Score (HMS), it may be pointed out that dam has not played significant role to modify the hydromorphological status of river. Dams on the studied river basin have sufficient presence of hydromorphological features that further indicates naturalness of river system.

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