Practical Manual

B. Tech. Agricultural Engineering

Watershed Planning and Management
Course No.: CUTM1137
Credit: 1-1-0

Department of Agricultural Engineering

School of Agriculture and Bio Engineering
Centurion University of Technology and Management, Paralakhemundi
www.cutm.ac.in
 LIST OF EXPERIMENTS

Sl. No. Name of the Experiment Page no. Signature

1. Delineation of watersheds using toposheets
2. Surveying and preparation of watershed map
3. Quantitative analysis of watershed
characteristics and parameters
4. Analysis of hydrologic data for planning
watershed management
5. Prioritization of watersheds based on sediment
yield index
6. Water budgeting of watersheds
7. Role of various functionaries in watershed
development programs

1
Experiment No: 1
Aim of the Experiment: Delineation of watersheds using toposheets

Delineation of watersheds using toposheets is a common exercise in geology, hydrology, and

environmental science. Here is a general outline of the steps you can follow to complete this lab
experiment:

➢ Obtain a topo map of the area you want to study. You can use digital versions of topo maps that
are freely available online, or you can purchase paper copies of the maps from a GSI.
➢ Familiarize yourself with the symbols and colors on the map. The contour lines represent
changes in elevation, and the blue lines represent streams and rivers. You will need to
understand how to read and interpret these features in order to delineate watersheds.
➢ Choose a point on the map where you want to delineate a watershed. This point should be on a
stream or river, and it should be located upstream of any other streams or rivers that drain into
it.
➢ Trace the stream or river upstream from your chosen point, following the blue line on the map.
Look for places where the stream or river changes direction or where other streams or rivers
flow into it. Mark these places on the map.
➢ Connect the marked points with a line, creating the boundary of the watershed. This line
represents the divide between the watershed you are delineating and the watersheds of any
adjacent streams or rivers.
➢ Calculate the area of the watershed using the contour lines on the map. You can do this by
counting the number of squares on the map that are inside the boundary you created, and then
multiplying by the area of each square.
➢ Repeat this process for other points on the map to delineate additional watersheds.

Once you have delineated the watersheds, you can analyze their characteristics such as size, shape, and
slope, and compare them to other watersheds in the area. You can also use this information to study the
hydrology and ecology of the watersheds and to make management decisions related to water resources.

• Note that this is a general outline, and the specific steps and techniques used in the lab
experiment may vary depending on the area being studied, the purpose of the study, and
the level of detail required.

2
Experiment No: 2
Aim of the Experiment: Surveying and preparation of watershed map
The Surveying and preparation of a watershed map is a common exercise in hydrology. Here is a general
outline of the steps you can follow to complete this lab experiment:

➢ Obtain a topographic map of the area you want to study. You can use digital versions of topo
maps that are freely available online, or you can purchase paper copies of the maps from a GSI.

➢ Survey the area to obtain data on the location and elevation of various features, such as streams,
ridges, and valleys. You can use various surveying techniques such as levelling, GPS, or total
station to gather this data.

➢ Use the survey data to create a contour map of the area. Contour lines are lines that connect
points of equal elevation, and they can be used to create a three-dimensional representation of
the area.

➢ Identify the drainage area for each stream or river in the area. You can do this by tracing the
streams and rivers on the contour map, and identifying the area of land that drains into each
one.

➢ Use the contour map and drainage areas to delineate the watersheds for each stream or river. A
watershed is an area of land that drains into a particular stream or river.

➢ Prepare a watershed map that shows the location of each stream or river, and the boundaries of
each watershed. You can use symbols and colours to make the map more informative and
visually appealing.

Analyze the watershed map to study the characteristics of each watershed, such as size, shape, and
slope. You can also use this information to study the hydrology and ecology of the watersheds, and to
make management decisions related to water resources.

Note that this is a general outline, and the specific steps and techniques used in the lab experiment
may vary depending on the area being studied, the purpose of the study, and the level of detail
required.

3
Experiment No: 3
Aim of the Experiment: Quantitative analysis of watershed characteristics and parameters
(USING GIS SOFTWARE)
Quantitative analysis of watershed characteristics and parameters can be broken down into several steps.
Here is a general outline of the steps you can follow:
➢ Acquire a digital elevation model (DEM) for the area you want to study. The DEM is a raster

file that represents the elevation values of the terrain.

➢ Use ArcGIS to pre-process the DEM data by filling sinks, calculating flow direction, and

calculating flow accumulation. These steps are necessary to prepare the data for watershed

analysis.

➢ Use the flow accumulation data to identify the main streams in the area. You can use the Stream

Definition tool in ArcGIS to create a binary raster that identifies the stream network.

➢ Use the stream network data to create a watershed boundary for each stream. You can use the

Watershed tool in ArcGIS to create the watersheds.

➢ Calculate various watershed characteristics and parameters such as area, perimeter, shape

factor, compactness, elongation, and relief ratio using the Calculate Geometry tool in ArcGIS.

You can also calculate other parameters such as average slope, curvature, and flow distance.

➢ Use the zonal statistics tools in ArcGIS to calculate various parameters such as mean elevation,

slope, aspect, and land use for each watershed.

➢ Use statistical tools in ArcGIS to analyze the relationship between various watershed

parameters and hydrological variables such as flow, runoff, and water quality.

➢ Visualize the results of the analysis using maps, charts, and graphs.

➢ Note that this is a general outline, and the specific steps and techniques used in the lab

experiment may vary depending on the purpose of the study and the level of detail required

Note that this is a general outline, and the specific steps and techniques used in the lab experiment
may vary depending on the area being studied, the purpose of the study, and the level of detail
required.

4
Experiment No: 4
Aim of the Experiment: Analysis of hydrologic data for planning watershed management
The lab experiment on the analysis of hydrologic data for planning watershed management can be

broken down into several steps. Here is a general outline of the steps you can follow:

➢ Acquire hydrologic data such as precipitation, evapotranspiration, streamflow, groundwater

levels, and water quality data for the watershed you want to study. You can obtain this data from
government agencies, research institutions, or online databases.
➢ Acquire hydrologic data such as precipitation, evapotranspiration, streamflow, groundwater
levels, and water quality data for the watershed you want to study. You can obtain this data from
government agencies, research institutions, or online databases.
➢ Acquire hydrologic data such as precipitation, evapotranspiration, streamflow, groundwater
levels, and water quality data for the watershed you want to study. You can obtain this data from
government agencies, research institutions, or online databases.
➢ Use statistical software such as R or Excel to pre-process and analyze the hydrologic data. This
may involve data cleaning, quality control, and transformation.
➢ Calculate various hydrologic parameters such as mean, median, maximum, minimum, standard
deviation, skewness, and kurtosis for the various data sets.
➢ Create graphs and charts to visualize the data and identify patterns and trends. You can create
time series plots, scatter plots, box plots, and histograms to analyze the data.
➢ Use statistical tests to determine the significance of the differences and relationships between
the various data sets. You can use hypothesis testing, correlation analysis, regression analysis,
and time series analysis to investigate the data.
➢ Use the results of the analysis to develop a hydrologic model for the watershed. This may
involve using hydrologic software such as HEC-HMS or SWAT to simulate the hydrologic
processes in the watershed and predict the impacts of various management scenarios.
➢ Evaluate the effectiveness of different management scenarios by comparing the predicted
results of the hydrologic model.
➢ Develop a management plan for the watershed based on the analysis and modeling results. This
plan may involve identifying priority areas for conservation, improving water quality, reducing
flood risks, or increasing water availability.

Note that this is a general outline, and the specific steps and techniques used in the lab experiment
may vary depending on the purpose of the study and the level of detail required.

5
Experiment No: 5
Aim of the Experiment: Prioritization of watersheds based on sediment yield index
The lab experiment on the prioritization of watersheds based on the sediment yield index can be broken

down into several steps. Here is a general outline of the steps you can follow:

➢ Obtain digital elevation data and land use data for the watersheds you want to study. You can
obtain this data from government agencies, research institutions, or online databases.
➢ Use a geographic information system (GIS) software such as ArcGIS or QGIS to process the
digital elevation and land use data. This may involve creating a digital elevation model (DEM),
calculating the slope and aspect of the terrain, and classifying the land use into different
categories.
➢ Use the GIS software to delineate the watershed boundaries and extract the watershed
characteristics such as area, perimeter, and drainage density.
➢ Use the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) or another sediment yield model to estimate
the sediment yield for each watershed. The sediment yield model should be calibrated and
validated with observed data for the study area.
➢ Calculate the sediment yield index (SYI) for each watershed by dividing the estimated sediment
yield by the drainage area.
➢ Rank the watersheds based on the SYI values. You can use a simple ranking method such as
assigning a score to each watershed based on its SYI value and then sorting the watersheds in
descending order of the scores.
➢ Develop a management plan for the watersheds based on the prioritization results. The plan
may involve identifying priority areas for conservation, erosion control, sedimentation
management, or restoration.

Note that this is a general outline, and the specific steps and techniques used in the lab experiment
may vary depending on the sediment yield model, the study area, and the purpose of the study.

6
Experiment No: 6
Aim of the Experiment: Water budgeting of watersheds
Water budgeting is an important tool for understanding the water balance in a watershed, which is
essential for effective watershed management. Here are the general steps for water budgeting of
watersheds.

Determine the study area and identify the watershed boundaries. This may involve obtaining
topographic and hydrologic maps of the watershed.

Collect data on the precipitation, evapotranspiration, and streamflow in the watershed. This data can be
obtained from meteorological stations, stream gauges, or other sources.

Calculate the total precipitation input to the watershed. This can be done by summing the precipitation
data over the study period and accounting for any losses due to interception, infiltration, or other
processes.

Calculate the evapotranspiration output from the watershed. This can be estimated using empirical or
analytical methods, depending on the availability of data and the complexity of the watershed.

Calculate the water yield or runoff from the watershed. This can be estimated using hydrologic models
or empirical methods, depending on the watershed characteristics and the available data.

Calculate the changes in groundwater storage in the watershed. This can be estimated using water table
measurements or other data sources.

Evaluate the water balance of the watershed by comparing the inputs and outputs of water. The water
balance equation can be written as:

Precipitation = Evapotranspiration + Water yield + Groundwater storage

Identify the sources of variability and uncertainty in the water budget, such as spatial and temporal
variability in precipitation and evapotranspiration, measurement errors, and model uncertainties.

Use the water budget information to inform watershed management decisions, such as water allocation,
land use planning, and flood control.

Note that this is a general outline, and the specific methods and techniques used in water
budgeting may vary depending on the study area, the available data and resources, and the
management objectives.

7
Experiment No: 7

Aim of the Experiment: Role of various functionaries in watershed development programs

Watershed development programs involve the participation of various stakeholders who play different
roles in planning, implementing, and monitoring the program. Here are the roles of some of the key
functionaries involved in watershed development programs:

Government officials: Government officials from various departments such as agriculture, forestry, soil
conservation, and rural development are involved in planning and implementing watershed
development programs. They provide technical support and guidance to the farmers and other
stakeholders.

Watershed Development Team: This is a team of technical experts who provide technical support to the
program, such as preparing project proposals, carrying out soil and water conservation works, and
providing training to the farmers.

Community mobilizers: Community mobilizers are responsible for mobilizing and organizing the
community to participate in the program. They raise awareness about the benefits of the program and
motivate the community to participate in soil and water conservation works.

Watershed association members: Watershed association members are the primary stakeholders of the
program. They participate in soil and water conservation works and are responsible for managing the
resources of the watershed.

NGO representatives: Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are involved in implementing and

monitoring the program. They provide technical and financial support to the program and ensure that
the program is implemented in a sustainable manner.

Farmers: Farmers are the ultimate beneficiaries of the program. They participate in soil and water
conservation works and are responsible for managing the resources of the watershed. They also receive
training and support from the program to improve their agricultural practices.

In summary, the success of a watershed development program depends on the effective participation
and collaboration of all these functionaries. Government officials, technical experts, community
mobilizers, watershed association members, NGO representatives, and farmers must work together to
achieve the program's objectives and to ensure the sustainable development of the watershed.