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Status of natural springs in the Melamchi region of the Nepal Himalayas in the context of climate change

Author

Listed:
  • Prem Sagar Chapagain

    (Tribhuvan University)

  • Motilal Ghimire

    (Tribhuvan University)

  • Shova Shrestha

    (Tribhuvan University)

Abstract

Natural springs and small rivers are the major sources of water for drinking, livestock feeding, irrigation and other purposes in the Middle Hills of Nepal. The Melamchi area is in the northeastern part of Kathmandu from where the Melamchi River is considered as a major source of drinking water for the people of Kathmandu city. This paper examines the characteristics of natural springs in terms of their distribution, discharge, water utilization and conservation in the context of climate change. Out of the total surveyed springs of the Melamchi area, 93% are permanent and two-thirds of the total springs are located in mid-elevation (1500–2500 m). One-fourth of the total springs are small in terms of discharge and are used for multiple purposes such as drinking, livestock, irrigation and household cleaning. Around 45% of the springs provide a source of drinking water for up to five households. Our work has shown that the water volume in about 30% of the springs has decreased over the last decade. The springs located in mid-elevation with discharge less than 5 liters per minute are more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and anthropogenic activities. The 2015 Nepal earthquake had a huge and immediate impact on the water volume of the springs in our study with an immediate drying effect in about 18% of the springs.

Suggested Citation

  • Prem Sagar Chapagain & Motilal Ghimire & Shova Shrestha, 2019. "Status of natural springs in the Melamchi region of the Nepal Himalayas in the context of climate change," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 21(1), pages 263-280, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:endesu:v:21:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1007_s10668-017-0036-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s10668-017-0036-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Samjwal Bajracharya & Sudan Maharjan & Finu Shrestha, 2011. "Glaciers Shrinking in Nepal Himalaya," Chapters, in: Juan A. Blanco & Houshang Kheradmand (ed.), Climate Change - Geophysical Foundations and Ecological Effects, IntechOpen.
    2. A. F. Lutz & W. W. Immerzeel & A. B. Shrestha & M. F. P. Bierkens, 2014. "Consistent increase in High Asia's runoff due to increasing glacier melt and precipitation," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 4(7), pages 587-592, July.
    3. Palazzoli, I. & Maskey, S. & Uhlenbrook, S. & Nana, E. & Bocchiola, D., 2015. "Impact of prospective climate change on water resources and crop yields in the Indrawati basin, Nepal," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 143-157.
    4. Neera Shrestha Pradhan & Suman Sijapati & Sagar Ratna Bajracharya, 2015. "Farmers' responses to climate change impact on water availability: insights from the Indrawati Basin in Nepal," International Journal of Water Resources Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(2), pages 269-283, June.
    5. Girish C.S. Negi & Varun Joshi, 2004. "Rainfall and Spring Discharge Patterns in Two Small Drainage Catchments in the Western Himalayan Mountains, India," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 24(1), pages 19-28, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Manoranjan Ghosh & Somnath Ghosal, 2021. "Climate change vulnerability of rural households in flood-prone areas of Himalayan foothills, West Bengal, India," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(2), pages 2570-2595, February.
    2. Sandeep Tambe & Gopal S. Rawat & Nima Tashi Bhutia & Pem Norbu Sherpa & Subash Dhakal & Sarika Pradhan & Himanshu Kulkarni & M. L. Arrawatia, 2020. "Building sustainability in the Eastern Himalaya: linking evidence to action," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 22(6), pages 5887-5903, August.
    3. Ojo, Temitope & Adetoro, Adetoso A. & Ogundeji, Abiodun A. & Belle, Johannes A., 2021. "Quantifying the Determinants of Climate Change Adaptation Strategies and Farmers’ Access to Credit in South Africa," 2021 Conference, August 17-31, 2021, Virtual 315853, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    4. Khadka, Manohara & Joshi, Deepa & Uprety, Labisha & Shrestha, Gitta, 2023. "Gender and socially inclusive WASH in Nepal: moving beyond “technical fixes†," Papers published in Journals (Open Access), International Water Management Institute, pages 1-5:1181734.

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