Sustainable Watershed Management through Geo-Spatial Approaches: Geo-Spatial Approaches for Sustainable Watershed Management: Identifying Optimal Tanks for Groundwater Recharge

The book presents the identification of potential zones and suitable structures for groundwater development, along with proposed artificial recharge interventions. Inadequate irrigation water has resulted in the degradation of productive land into wasteland. With declining per capita cultivable land driven by population growth, reclaiming wastelands through improved water management is vital. Using remote sensing and GIS, the study identifies, and maps degraded lands and potential groundwater recharge zones within the watershed by estimating runoff, recharge, and evapotranspiration through various hydrological models. Favourable recharge zones are delineated, and existing tanks along with additional structures, such as recharge pits, percolation ponds, bore wells, and check dams, are recommended to enhance groundwater availability near wastelands. The findings indicate that approximately 60% of the watershed’s wasteland can be transformed into productive land through sustainable water management and targeted recharge interventions.