Back to news
19 Feb 2020 | Koshi Basin Initiative

Addressing water stress in Ramechhap

1 min Read

70% Complete

Ramechhap District in Nepal is plagued by acute water paucity. Desertification and haphazard development activities have caused traditional ponds and springs to go dry. To make matters worse, reduced and irregular rainfall, decreasing groundwater levels, and extended dry periods have drastically decreased agricultural productivity. These changes have very tangible impacts on people’s livelihoods and wellbeing.

A team of representatives from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and the Department of Forests and Soil Conservation, Ministry of Forests and Environment, conducted a preliminary field visit to Ward 7, Manthali Municipality, Ramechhap, to explore ways to improve groundwater health and increase water availability and accessibility. The study area covers two micro-watersheds: Dhude Khola in Bhatauli village and Thedi Khola in Mugitar village. These two rivers drain into Bhatauli Khola and Tamakoshi River, respectively.

The team identified 72 water bodies in the study area. Among them, 42 were mapped out in the Dhude Khola and Thedi Khola watersheds and categorized into the following: 1 well, 1 water collection tank, 10 running springs and baseflows, 12 dry springs, 15 dry ponds, and 3 ponds with water.

The team identified two pathways to improve water availability in Ramechhap. First, applying hydrogeology, recharge zones need to be identified to control surface runoff and enhance infiltration. Second, rainwater harvesting should be implemented in every house.

 

This well was recently dug along the banks of Bhatauli Khola to supply drinking water to the community after springs in Dhude Khola (513 masl) started drying up.
An unmanaged traditional pond in the Thedi Khola watershed. Very little water accumulates in the pond from surface runoff.
A well intended for drinking water in disrepair and polluted.
A water storage tank with dry, barren land in the background.
An abandoned pond in the Thedi Khola watershed. The pond’s area is being encroached upon.
A dry spring in Thedi Khola watershed.
Haphazard road constructions impact groundwater health.
A local resource person pointing to a dried up spring.
Road excavations at the hilltop of the Dhude Khola watershed leave its groundwater reserves vulnerable.
Basic field accessories for geological assessment (geological hammer, compass, in situ water quality tester, topographic map).
Measuring the roof area to estimate how much rainwater can be harvested from each house.
Geological observation of the outcrop.
Water bodies and boundary map of the Dhude Khola and Thedi Khola watersheds.
28 Dec 2016 News
UAVs to Map and Monitor Glaciers in Manang Valley

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) is exploring the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to better understand ...

13 Jan 2017 Atmosphere Initiative
ICIMOD Developing Better Tools for Analyzing Air Pollution

Technology for analyzing and addressing air pollution is evolving. New tools are currently in development that can collect better data ...

11 Mar 2016 Atmosphere Initiative
Ministerial Visits in Bhutan

On a mid-February visit to Thimphu and the Gyelyong Tshokhang (National Assembly of Bhutan), the International Centre for Integrated Mountain ...

6 Jun 2016 News
Understanding the Mass Balance of Yala Glacier

At an elevation of 5250 metres above sea level, a bamboo stake, about an arm’s length, stuck out oddly against ...

22 Nov 2018 Cryosphere
Preliminary Findings Suggest Debris Cover Does Not Accelerate Glacier Melt

The finding is an outcome of a joint field expedition carried out through September–October 2018 by researchers from the International ...

2 Feb 2017 Beekeeping
ICIMOD and KHDC Organize Training on Beekeeping in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh

A seven-day training of lead farmers on beekeeping was organized from 5 -11 January 2017 with the main objective of ...

14 Jun 2018 REDD+
ICIMOD supports ICFRE in developing State REDD+ Action Plan for Uttarakhand, India

Countries seeking funds from the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) programme need to develop a National REDD+ ...

24 Oct 2018 HKPL
Bam-e-Dunya: a network to bolster conservation efforts on the roof of the world

This historic agreement lays the foundation for long-term collaboration and exchange to conserve fragile ecosystems and help mountain communities adapt ...