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Water, Soil and Sediment Investigations to Explore the Status and Management Options of Aquatic Ecosystem
Raushan Kumar and T.V. Ramachandra
Energy & Wetlands Research Group, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560 012		 http://wgbis.ces.iisc.ernet.in/energy/
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CONCLUSION

On the basis of physico-chemical and biological analyses of water, soil and sediment of Sharavathi river catchment the following conclusions were drawn:

  • The physico-chemical and biological analyses of water indicate that most of the variables were within the permissible limit but few factors like colour; pH, turbidity and biological coliform were found to adversely affect the water bodies.
  • Colour of water samples from Sharmanavathi, Haridravathi, Yennahole and Sampakai were found brownish due to turbidity.
  • Turbidity of sites Keshwapura, Handihole and Sampakai were high (more than 10 NTU) showing the increasing trend of dissolved. and suspended solids. .
  • pH (6.8 to 8.25) was found favourable for the fish eggs but simultaneously has a potential to augment the algal growth.
  • The faecal coliform in the sites of Sharmanavathi, Haridravathi, Valagare,   Keshwapura, Nandihole and Sampakai indicated that it was unfit for the consumption by human and animal.
  • The soil samples are rich in organic matter, pH is optimum for the plant growth and low values for the sulphates, phosphate, nitrates, sodium and potassium.
  • The sediment also showed similar trends-low level of phosphate, sulphate    and nitrate along with high organic matter. The bulk densities indicated that the bottom condition varied from porous to less porous. The elements Na, K, Ca, Mg were found in normal concentration.

Acknowledgement: We are grateful to the Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of India, Karnataka Power Corporation Limited, Government of Karnataka and Indian Institute of Science for financial assistance and infrastructure support.