The document discusses watersheds and the watershed approach. It defines a watershed as a topographic area that drains runoff water to a common point. The objectives of watershed management are outlined, including controlling runoff, soil erosion, and flooding. The document notes that the watershed approach involves stakeholders collecting and analyzing data to develop and implement strategies to maintain water quality standards. Specific steps of the watershed approach include planning, data collection, assessment, strategy development, and implementation.

1. PRESENTED BY,
AKSHAY S. BHORKADE
MSc. 1st year
POST GRADUATE INSTITUTE, AKOLA
Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola

2. Watershed : A topographic hydrological unit draining
runoff water at a common or a particular point by a
network of channels and streams.
 Watershed is a topographically
delineated area that is drained
by stream system, i.e. the total
land area that is drained to
some point on stream or river.
 Watershed catchment area or
drainage basin are used
synonymously.
 The watershed boundary is
called drainage divide.
 Technically, a watershed is the
divide separating one drainage
area from another.

3.  To control damaging runoff and degradation and
thereby conservation of soil and water.
 To manage and utilize the runoff for useful purpose.
 To check soil erosion and to reduce the effect of
sediment yield on the watershed.
 To moderate floods in the down stream areas.
 To enhance the ground water storage, wherever
applicable.
 Appropriate use of land resources in the watershed.
 To improve and increase production of timber, fodder
and wild life resource.
 To protect, conserve and improve the land of watershed
for more efficient and sustained production.
Objectives

4.  The soil and water conservation measures in the lower
catchment areas are prone to damage due to uncontrolled
runoff from the upper areas. It is therefore necessary to
protect the upper catchment areas through the watershed
approach.
 Small watershed are those where the overland flow is the
chief contributor to the peak flow are not affected by the
channel characteristics. On large watersheds, the channel
flows are highly pronounced and peak flows are influenced
by the channel characteristics.
 A typical small watershed project concentrates first on land
treatment. Development starts at the top of the drainage
basin and proceeds gradually down the slopes to low lands.
In humid areas, the highest elevations are usually forest,
and forest is often the resource most in need of repair.
Approach

5. The watershed approach is a decision-making process that
reflects a strategy for information collection and analysis as
well as an understanding of the roles, priorities, and
responsibilities of all stakeholders within a watershed.

6.  Planning :
• Determine the watershed planning unit.
• Identify stakeholder and resource personnel
 Data collection :
• Collect routine water quality and quantity
data at specific location.
 Assessment and targeting :
• Compare the current water quality to state
and federal standards.
Specific steps to this approach include

7.  Strategy development :
• Develop goals and strategies to maintain or achieve
water quality standards and meet future demands.
 Implementation :
• Implement goals and strategies through permits, best
management practices and education.
• Measure progress

8. References :
 Principles and Practices of Water Management by S.C. Panda
 Fundamentals of Soil Science by ISSS
 Elements of soil conservation by H. H. Bennett