Unveiling spring potential in high mountain landscape of Northern Pakistan through a geospatial approach

Springs provide a vital source of freshwater for drinking, irrigation, and maintaining ecosystem health in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan (HKH) region. Despite growing water demand due to urbanization and climate change in the region, baseline data on natural springs are lacking, which hinders effective resource management and policymaking for sustainable development. An attempt has been made to assess spring resource potential in the HKH region of Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan, to support freshwater security and sustainable water resource management. The results of the study revealed a total of 988 springs in the region, of which 43.2% of springs lie within the 3000–4000 m elevation range and 39% within the 4000–5000 m range. A majority of about 64% of springs were identified in the geological class representing granite, gneiss, and diorite rocks of probably early tertiary age, likely due to the presence of widespread fractured rock formations. The spring density exhibited a positive relationship with the annual rainfall of the region, pointing towards a significant influence of precipitation in recharging the springs. An integrated water resource management approach, focusing on adoption of appropriate technologies such as surface storage, high-efficiency irrigation systems, and solar-powered water pumping/uplifting, would be beneficial for sustainable development in the area. In-depth research on the hydrogeology and hydrology of spring water is necessary to achieve water security and healthy ecosystem goals under dynamic changes in climate and land use in this region in future.