Sub-Watershed Prioritization of Chambal River Basin Using Morphometric and Topo-Hydrological Parameters

Authors

  • Teja Ram Nitharwal

    Department of Geography, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi, New Delhi 110007, India
  • Vipin Chandra Lal

    Department of Geography, Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar College, University of Delhi, New Delhi 110094, India
  • Arun Pratap Mishra

    Office of the Registrar General of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, New Delhi 110011, India
  • Kaushalendra Kumar Karvendu

    Department of Geography, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi, New Delhi 110007, India
  • Rashmi Singh

    Department of Geography, Miranda House , University of Delhi, New Delhi 110007, India
  • Geeta Kumari

    Department of Geography, Kalindi College , University of Delhi, New Delhi 110008, India
  • Ashvini Kumar

    Department of Geography, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi, New Delhi 110007, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/jees.v7i5.8463
Received: 19 January 2025 | Revised: 7 March 2025 | Accepted: 11 March 2025 | Published Online: 23 April 2025

Abstract

Natural resource management is essential to sustain human well-being and the environment. Water and soil are two of the most important natural resources that require careful management. The western part of India faces multiple challenges, including climatic variability, soil degradation, water scarcity, deforestation, etc. The basin’s sub-watersheds are delineated and prioritised using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) and Sub Watershed Prioritization Tool (SWPT), respectively, using morphometric and topo-hydrological characteristics, and the sub-watersheds are further ranked using Weighted Sum Analysis (WSA). The findings indicate that SWS19, SWS18, SWS1, SWS17, SWS16, and SWS15, which are drained by the rivers Chambal, Kali Sindh, Mashi, Parbati, Parwan, and Beradi, are highly vulnerable sub-watersheds. By integrating remote sensing, GIS techniques, and quantitative morphometric analysis, parameters such as drainage density, stream frequency, bifurcation ratio, and slope gradient were evaluated. The analysis revealed critical sub-watersheds characterized by steep slopes, high drainage density, and poor vegetation cover, indicating their susceptibility to erosion and runoff. The findings underscore the necessity for targeted soil conservation measures, such as contour bunding, afforestation, and water retention structures. This study highlights the utility of geospatial tools for sustainable watershed management and provides a replicable framework for prioritizing sub-watersheds in similar regions.

Keywords:

Morphometric Analysis; Topo-Hydrology; Sub-Watershed Prioritization Tool (SWPT); Natural Resource Management; Soil and Water; Weighted Sum Analysis (WSA); Chambal River Basin

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How to Cite

Nitharwal, T. R., Lal, V. C., Mishra, A. P., Karvendu, K. K., Singh, R., Kumari, G., & Kumar, A. (2025). Sub-Watershed Prioritization of Chambal River Basin Using Morphometric and Topo-Hydrological Parameters. Journal of Environmental & Earth Sciences, 7(5), 117–129. https://doi.org/10.30564/jees.v7i5.8463

Issue

Vol. 7 , Iss. 5 (May 2025): In Progress

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Article

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Copyright © 2025 Teja Ram Nitharwal, Vipin Chandra Lal, Arun Pratap Mishra, Kaushalendra Kumar Karvendu, Rashmi Singh, Geeta Kumari, Ashvini Kumar

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This is an open access article under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) License.

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