This document provides an overview of watershed management in India. It defines a watershed as a geo-hydrological unit that drains to a common point. Watershed management is needed due to declining water availability, as sustainable development requires managing watersheds. Watershed management methods discussed include soil and moisture conservation techniques like terracing and bunding, as well as rainwater harvesting activities like check dams. The benefits of watershed management include increased crop yields, reduced soil erosion, increased availability of surface and groundwater, and improved socio-economic conditions and livelihoods for farmers.

2. CONTENTS
 Introduction
 Purpose of watershed management
 Why watershed management needed
 Nomenclature of watershed in India
 Types of watershed
 Source for watershed management
 Factors affecting watershed management
 Methods of watershed management
 Case study
 Watershed management programmes in India
 Benefits of watershed management
 Reference

3. INTRODUCTION
 Water is a basic need for everyone.
 The word “WATERSHED” was introduced in
1920.
 Watershed is defined as a geo-hydrological unit
draining to a common point by a system of
drains.

6. Continued…

7. Why watershed management is needed?
The availability of fresh water in many part of our
country is declining.
Sustainable development can only be achieved by
watershed management.
Water available from sea/ocean is negligible due to high
cost of de-salination.
Karnataka has the highest proportion (79%) drought
prone area in India after Rajasthan.
Karnataka also has the second lowest replenishable
ground water resources among major states after
Rajasthan.

8. Nomenclature of watershed in India
Category Numbers Size (k ha)
Region 6 25000-100000
Basin 35 3000-25000
Catchments 112 1000-3000
Sub catchments 500 200-1000
Watershed 3237 50-200
Sub watershed 12000 10-50
Mille watershed 72000 1-10
Micro watershed 400000 0.5-1

10.  Size of watershed determines the quantity of
rainfall can be stored.
 Smaller the size of watershed less water is
stored.
 Larger watershed can receive more rainfall
and stores it.

11. • Steep slope contribute more runoff due to less
infiltration.
• The length of the slope also affects the runoff.
• Flat land have a more infiltration and less runoff
to watershed.
Continued…

12.  Soil plays a major role in watershed.
 Clayey soil absorb less water and contribute more water
to watershed.
 Sandy soil infiltrate more water and no watershed
structures are built in this place.
Continued…

13. Methods of Watershed Management
 Soil & moisture conservation measures like terracing, bunding,
trenching, vegetative barriers etc.
Fig 1: Terracing Fig 2: Bunding
Fig 3: Vegetative Barriers

14.  Rain water harvesting activities like farm ponds, percolation
tanks, check dams etc.
Fig 4: Farm Pond Fig 5: Check Dams
Continued…

15.  Planting & sowing of multi-purpose trees, shrubs, grasses,
legumes and pasture land development.
Fig 6: LegumesFig 7: Grasses
Fig 8: Trees and Shrubs
Continued…

16.  The groundwater table has increased thus providing
sufficient water to the farmers during summer season.
 It also reduced soil erosion and also facilities plantation,
trees and fodder which is beneficial to the farmers.
 By implementing watershed management technique
farmers can cultivate all season crop thus increasing the
revenue and living standards of the people.
 Due to farm ponding fishery has increased and economic
condition of the people has increased.
Source: Watershed management in rural area – A case study (journal – IJSER)
(Patil, Shivraj G, Wayal, Abhaykumar S)

17. Drought Prone Area Programme (DPAP)
Desert Development Programme (DDP)
National Watershed Development Programme for Rainfed
Agriculture (NWDPRA)
River Valley Project (RVP)
Integrated Watershed Development Programme (IWDP)

18. Benefits of Watershed Management
 The crops yields has increased in dry land farming.
 The soil loss due to erosion was brought down.
 Regeneration of grass lands for more fodder and grass.
 The income of farmers increased considerably.
 Aquatic life (fish) were increased due to construction of ponds.
 The socio-economic condition of the village will be increased.
 Increase in employment opportunities for non-farm sector.
 Increase in surface and ground water availability.

19. REFERENCE
• Dr.MangalaRai, Kuldeep Sharma (2006). “Handbook of Agriculture”,
Indian Council of Agriculture Research, 5th Edition Pg. 348-376.
• J.Nittin Johnson et.al Impact of watershed management on the
groundwater and irrigation potential: A case study, Vol. 2 (ISSN 2277-
3754) 2013 pp 42-45.
• Mrs.VidulaArun Swami et.al. Watershed Management – A means of
sustainable development – A case study, Vol. 3 (ISSN: 0975-5462) 2011
pp 2105-2112.
• Panduranga D et.al.A case study of watershed management for madgyal
village, Vol. 4 (ISSN 2249-8974) 2013 pp 69-72.
• Patil et.al. Watershed management in rural area – A case study, Vol. 1
(ISSN 2347-3878) 2013 pp 102-106.
• Sharada S. Tanavade et.al.A case study of watershed development in
sangola – Maharashtra, Vol. 4 (ISSN 2319-7064) 2015 pp 113-116.
• Website www.watershed department.com

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