What is Watershed Management?
Before we get to what exactly is meant by watershed management, we need to understand what is meant by a watershed.
A watershed refers to an area of land where a lot of rainfall occurs, snow melt and other surface water runoff into a river body or stream bordering or surrounding that area of land. This is known as a watershed.
Thus, when we talk about watershed Management, it simply means managing the land resources, natural resources and water resources in the area properly and sustainably in order to enhance and improve the area’s water quality.
Related: Impacts of Climate Change on Water Resources of Pakistan
Mild Drought Conditions In Pakistan – Why and What to Do?
Importance of Watershed Management:
Watersheds are incredibly important due to the natural geographical terrain that facilitates water movement and accumulation from sloped ridges/areas in such a way that can make the area habitable for people and communities. It is the proper drainage and usage of the water that usually falls in the form of rain or melts from the top of the mountains.
Watershed management is so important in countries where there is a risk of water scarcity and drought. The surface water and stormwater runoff from heavy rains have a way to enter lager bodies of water or percolate underground into aquifers thereby providing a drinking source, instead of causing floods on land.
In Pakistan, watershed management is crucial for reducing soil erosion, improving water permeability and soil fertility. Being an agricultural based economy whose more than 40 percent of labor force is employed in this sector, we can only imagine how beneficial this kind of water regulation and management can be for us. It will avert crisis, improve crop yield and soil productivity, reduce the Siltation rate in the Mangla and Tarbela dams.
Furthermore, efficient watershed management and water regulation will help solve the problem of irrigation or a lack thereof in many arid parts of the country. There is also the problem of silting in the mountains regions where deforestation is a huge problem due to lack of livelihood opportunities for the people in the mountains including farmers.
Check Out:Impact of Growing Water Scarcity on Women -Climate Injustice
Water Scarcity in Pakistan: Reasons, Solutions and Contributions of the Judiciary for the Cause
Functions of Watershed Management:
The main aim of watershed management is conservation of soil, plants and water resources present in an area naturally and to amplify/ maximize its use within that area.
An efficient watershed management requires an integrated effort and many components from economical social and environmental conditions being taken into consideration. Only then can it serve its maximum purpose. Aside from it’s main function of temporarily storing water and transporting it in time to a larger body of water onto the oceans, some of its functions are given below:
- Restoration of riparian buffer zones near the streams and lake as a component and best management practice can help improve the local ecosystem and habitats.
- Construction of wetlands to protect coastlines and retain water underground, prevents flooding. It is an important component of watershed management
- Reduction and identification of water Pollutants by enhancing water filtration rates in soil.
- Reduce water runoff and sedimentation rates thereby reducing floods that displace communities and affect livelihood.
- It helps in water conservation in that area by supporting the local hydrological cycle. It improves the overall water quality and maximizes its usage by all ecosystems, dependent habitats as well as species.
CONCLUSION:
In Pakistan, almost all of the country is dependent on precipitation for fulfilling water requirements for agriculture. The main Watersheds in Pakistan are in the northern side where chains of mountains exist. Due to deforestation on these mountain slopes, there is a lot of water runoff and silt is carried downstream to the lakes and streams that form the part of the watershed. Currently a watershed management programme is enacted in Pakistan but due to it being voluntary and largely due to the improper enforcement and attention given to it. However, not everyone is participating in it and the efforts are a little scattered and un uniform.
You may also be interested in: The Drastic Need of Environmental Change in Pakistan
Also check out: Climate Change Impacts on Agriculture Industry of Pakistan
We hope you liked this post! Please comment below if you have any suggestions, comments or feedbacks! We at #envpk love hearing from readers! Thanks!
