GIS-based morphometric analysis of sub-watersheds and their prioritization in the Upper Yamuna Basin up to Kalsi, Uttarakhand, India

This paper is aimed to study the viability of GIS data in Upper Yamuna basin for morphometric analysis and their prioritization. For the study upper Yamuna basin upto Kalsi has been selected. The Horton and Strahler methodshas been used to delineate the areal, linear and relief parameters of watersheds. Morphometry of watershed analysis helps to reduce time and is also beneficial for water conservation, planning, and development. The remote sesnsing and toposheets based data is used, processed in GIS, and verified at field. The study shows morphometric characteristics of the upper Yamuna basin. The procedure includes accurate quantitative measurements and mathematical studies of drainage basins, which successfully disclose the complex interrelationships between the basin's geomorphologic features and hydraulic parameters. The total watershed area is 2340.3 sq. Km. is grouped into nine sub-watersheds (SW1 to SW9), ranging from 161.28 to 457.28 sq. Km, mean bifurcation ratio ranges from 3.57(SW7) to 5.07(SW6), drainage density ranges from 2.36(SW8) to 5.49(SW1), sub-watersheds are sub-dendritic to dendritic in nature and form factor, circulatory and elongation ratio indicate that sub-watersheds are sub-elongated to elongated in nature. Taking all parameters, compound values are analyzed, and finally, prioritization, i.e., arranging sub-watersheds in hierarchy order is done based on compound value. The lowest compound value (2.84; SW1)has given priority, which indicates maximal soil erosion and increased susceptibility to natural hazards.