A GIS Based Morphometric Analysis of Watershed (KR 40) Around Sangli, Maharashtra (India)

Abstract

The study area is one of the watershed (KR 40) from Krishna river basin, around Sangli town, Maharashtra, which is drained by two major streams i.e. Sheri and Laxmi streams. The morphometric analysis has been carried out to understand the hydrogeological conditions of the study area. The modern software tool i.e. Geographical Information System (GIS) is used to evaluate linear, aerial and relief aspects. The different quantitative morphological parameters like stream number, stream length, stream frequency, bifurcation ratio, stream density, etc. of the watershed which reflect its hydrogeological behavior and helpful when quantify the hydrogeological response. The geomorphological study of the drainage network of a watershed basin gives idea about the interdependency and relationship between the surface runoff and infiltration of rainwater and relative permeability of the rocks in study area. The GIS analysis provides a relationship between morphometric parameters, lithology and structural characteristics of study area. The present watershed (KR 40) is 5th order stream with dendritic drainage pattern and drainage density (1.08 km/km2) which indicates moderate runoff causing moderate floods and moderate permeability of the catchments.