International Journal of Engineering and Technical Research (IJETR)

ISSN: 2321-0869, Volume-2, Issue-12, December 2014

Impact of Dam and Weirs on Cross-Sectional

Characteristics of Urmodi Channel, Maharashtra: An
Approach to Geoinformatics
Sarika B. Suryawanshi, Jagdish B. Sapkale, Vidya A. Chougule

tributaries, moreover moving as a bed load in the river

Abstract Dams and reservoirs play their significant role by channel. Uneven and low discharges after monsoon in the
providing the numerous facilities for social and economic river channel due to controlling measures like dams and K.T.
development. However many studies around the world Weirs (Kolhapur type weirs) tends to slow down the river
documented the impact of dam on the socio-economic aspects of
the people and also give the side effects on the environment.
velocities and carrying capacity, resulting for silting up of
Some environmental problems occurs due to dam may be channel [2]. According to Petts and Lewin in 1979, the dam
directly or indirectly. Destruction of vegetation in the upstream influences on downstream river channel morphology and
of dam, variation in river channel morphology in the decreases magnitude and flood frequency; also reduces the
downstream of dam, salinization and water logging problem due quantity of sediment load [3], [4], [5].
to over exploitation of water through irrigation are the negative Gaeuman has studied the channel responses to changes in
impacts of dam. In the present study, authors have discussed the
impact of dam and weirs on the morphological characteristics of
stream flow and sediment supply in the lower reaches of
Urmodi river channel. Duchesne River. Gravel-bed and sand-bed reaches of the
lower Duchesne River showed particular adjustments to the
Index Terms Dams, River Cross sectional change, River discharge and sediment supply. Sand-bed reaches tended to
Bar, River Bed Configuration, Pebbles, Cobbles. adjust to all perturbations with rapid bed-level changes,
whereas the gravel-bed reaches adjusted primarily through
width changes. The gravel bed reaches aggraded only when
I. INTRODUCTION gravel was supplied to the channel through local bank erosion
The Urmodi Dam is located at village Parali on the and degraded only during large floods [6].
Urmodi river of Maharashtra. The impounded water is being Osterkamp also observes that stress imposed by human
used for irrigation purpose in the basin area. Dams impact activities on global systems has drawn attention of planners,
may be positive and negative also. In view of this, earth scientists, environmental managers and citizens that
aggradational and degradational impact in channel has been changes have occurred since historic time but major
studied because the channels are logical and efficient place to transformations of landscapes including fluvial and coastal
investigate the geomorphic effects of force, resistance, systems continue to occur in areas of human settlements and
erosion, transportation and deposition. In Urmodi channel the mineral extraction. The environmental effects of
flow of river water and the distribution of bed material have Urbanization and related activities of mining, quarrying and
been regulated by Urmodi dam. infrastructure development are principal factors promoting
An intervention by man has serious effects on natural anthropogenic changes in the nature and processes of the
processes. The degree of intervention is the outcome of earths surface [7], [8].
technological advancements, which exert pressure on the Human intervention in terms of excavation activities along
natural resources. The increase in Population leads to the bank and other human related activities like dam
increasing demand on houses, food crops and basic needs [1]. construction in river catchments probably modify the channel
One more important mechanism has observed during the geometry, and distribution of sediments and water to rivers
studies that providing over- irrigation to the agricultural fields, [1], [8], [9], [10]. Therefore, study regarding channel
the soil material getting loose that helps in heavy erosion morphology, changes in bed configuration and changes in
during the monsoon. The detached loose material washed out river behavior with response to dam and weirs in the study
from the fields and added with the rills and gullies of the area has attempted.

II. MATERIALS AND METHODS

Manuscript received December 22, 2014.
Sarika B. Suryawanshi, Ph.D. Research Student, Department of
Geography, Shivaji University, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India. Mobile No. The study requires contouring of some depositional sites of
09527919553 (Email : sarikasuryawanshi1@gmail.com) river bars and to generate some profiles/cross sections.
Jagdish B. Sapkale, Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, Intensive field work and field surveying was the base for
Shivaji University, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India. Mobile No. 09850046453 research work. Surveying was carried out using Transit
(Ph.D. Guide & Corresponding Author- E-mail: jbs_geo@unishivaji.ac.in;
sapkalejagdish@gmail.com). Theodolite and GPS. On the basis of surveying data contour
Vidya A. Chougule, Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, map and profiles were prepared for the present study.
Shivaji University, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India. Mobile No.09552448055;
E-mail:vac_geo@unishivaji.ac.in

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Impact of Dam and Weirs on Cross-Sectional Characteristics of Urmodi Channel, Maharashtra: An Approach to
Geoinformatics

The cross section were surveyed during May 2012 and march
2013. During the field surveys eight cross sections were
measured to understand the cross sectional properties of the
channel and variations in them. The topographical maps and
images from Google earth have been used for identification of
river landforms. Change detection in bar formation and
changes in river morphology for past years have analyzed by
using Remote Sensing data and Google earth images. Profiles,
DEM, watershed and sub basin map of Urmodi Basin were
also prepared by using SRTM data and global mapper
software (fig. 1, 2 and 3).

III. DISCUSSIONS
In view of the above, the study area has been considered the
Urmodi basin of Maharashtra. The catchment area of the
Figure 1: Relief Map of Urmodi Basin Urmodi basin is 408sq.km. The entire basin is covered by
Deccan Trap. Most of the basin is contributed by hills and
slopes extending for 1000 m to 700 m in heights (fig 3). The
upstream catchment area is partly hilly and the average annual
rainfall ranges are from 500 cm to 180 cm. The Urmodi
Project has constructed at village Parali on river Urmodi,
which originates from Kas village. The dam is constructed far
17 km away from river origin and located near Parali village
in Satara district. The undulating topography in the upper
basin region is responsible for the diversified effects on the
agricultural practices that to effects on the variation in the
channel bed material. The variation in river characteristics
also takes place due to the changing cropping patterns in the
command areas of the river basins/ sub basin. Considering
Urmodi basin, left side of the river side is gentler than the
right side. Highly elevated and undulating topography comes
in the right side of the river. The larger tributaries coming
from the sub-basins eroded the bank and bed and pour the
large sized bed material into the main channel (fig 2).
Figure 2: Sub-Watershed of Urmodi Basin

IV. RIVER CROSS-SECTIONS

Channel change and variation in channel cross sections

were measured at four sites downstream to the Urmodi dam.
Cross section (CS) 01 and 02 are the cross profiles of
Shahapur site. CS 01 measured at the upstream side of K.T.
weir and CS 02 at the downstream side of the weir. At the
upstream side of the K.T weir, slight depositions have
observed during the year 2013 as compare to measurements
of 2012. Left bank erosion have seen here at this site. Down
stream to the weir the thalweg height has increased by 70 cm
during the year 2013.
Cross section 03 and 04 have been measured at
Shendre-Vechale K.T.weir . Cross section 03 has located on
the upstream side of the K.T.weir (fig 4) and cross section 04,
on the down-stream side of the weir. At cross section 03 and 4
the left and right bank slope is moderate. 20-30 cm of average
deposition has observed at these cross sections. Average
width of the channel as shown in cross section 03 is 97m; and
the average width of the channel at cross section 04 has
decreased to 91 m. No periodic change has found for cross
section no. 5 and 6.
Figure 3: Profiles of Urmodi River Basin
Source: S.R.T.M. Data

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 International Journal of Engineering and Technical Research (IJETR)
ISSN: 2321-0869, Volume-2, Issue-12, December 2014

Figure 4 : Channel Cross section No. 01 to 08

Fig 4- of CS 5-6 shows that, left bank is steeper than the right
bank. At cross section 05 the thalweg height is 603.9 m Cross section 7 and 8 were measured at Matyapur location,
(above sea level) which is 603.2 m at cross section no. 06. upstream and downstream of K.T. weir respectively.
This condition gives rise to refilling and scouring of the Comparatively, to the previous cross sections the right bank
channel. Here, K.T.weir traps most of the bed load sediments of these cross sections are near vertical than the left bank.
in the upstream side, resulting for the aggradations in channel, Right bank height is of 5 m; average width of the river bank is
but contiguous part i.e. down stream of weir shows scouring 105 m at C.S. 8.
of the channel bed. River bank at this Site has dense
vegetation with mixed species, resulting to reduce the erosion. V. RIVER BED CONFIGURATION
Very few changes have occurred at this cross sectional site.
Regulated water has very little effect on the river morphology Figure 5-1 shows the site of Ambavade Bk. A very sharp
at this site. Drop of bank height at left side of the bank is 3 m. turn has observed, developing a river bar deposited at the
Upstream to the K.T. weir pools and slack water have seen concave side of the bend. Here the river bar of Ambavade
where velocity of river water decreases, supports to transport shows maximum amount of pebbles and coarse sand, ranges
silt and fine clay. from 0.1mm to 2 cm that is moving downstream in the form of

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 Impact of Dam and Weirs on Cross-Sectional Characteristics of Urmodi Channel, Maharashtra: An Approach to
Geoinformatics

saltation and traction. In the main river flow, grasses and stones have been transported from the upper course of the
scanty vegetation are stable and leads to bifurcated the river i.e. from upstream basin area.
channel into many flow lines. Mostly the deposited material at It has noticed that, most of the suspended sediments from
this bar is poured by two main tributaries joined from the left upstream basin have collected in the Urmodi dam. It reduces
side of the Urmodi River. A large sized point bar has the amount of silt and suspended material. That would be
developed at Raghobawadi site (fig 5- 2). This figure reveals accumulated in the downstream part of the basin; therefore
that most of the bar is covered by various sized pebbles and meager amount of fine and suspended sediment is being
cobbles. The average size of the pebble is of 6cm diameter. transported in the downstream channel. But, the channel
The presence of this large sized bed material increases the siltation with large size material occurred in the downstream
channel roughness. Such condition is responsible to minimize of dam. Such siltation is the indirect effects of dam, the
the river velocity due to increase in the channel bed friction. perennial water reduces due to dam reservoir, and there is a
Most of the bar sites reflect such conditions tends to reduce control over regular flow of water. Consequently, the river
the velocity, caused within channel siltation. Opposite side energy to transport the bed load, is reduces. Numbers of
tributaries of the river are resulting for the formation of tributaries have joined to the left and right bank of Urmodi
central bar at Shahapur-Upali. River bar is covered by uneven River (fig 2 and 5). These tributaries are responsible for the
size of pebbles and cobbles; bar height is of 1 m. variations in channel morphology. The uneven size of pebbles
and cobbles coming from the catchments of various
tributaries have directly deposited in the Urmodi channel. The
large sized deposited material unable to move in downstream
direction due to lower flows and gets stable to form river bars
(fig 5). On the Shendre Vechale bar, uneven sizes of bushes
have colonized, supporting to stable the bar.
The study also reveals that the specific increase in
discharge and bed load at the confluence occurs, when the
tributaries joins the main river. The volume of river discharge
and bed load depends on the size and length of the tributary;
if the tributary drains its water from small water shed that
means a small first order stream that will add a lower
discharge than a much larger tributary which comes from
larger sub watershed. Here it has seen that, tributaries joins at
right bank from south-west direction is having larger size bed
material. It also depicted that, the stream shows uneven
pattern i.e. the channel in section and channel in plan. The
right side of the bank is of basalt. Overburden material has
deposited which has increased the height of the channel bed.

VI. CONCLUSIONS

Figure 5 : River Bed Configuration and Bar Keen observation of the Urmodi basin reveals that half of
the right upstream side of the basin is mostly covered by
K.T.Weir of Shendre-Vechale is located in the zone of middle vegetation and forest. Such vegetated part acts as an obstacle
basin area over the Urmodi River. In this stretch the river for the surface runoff, more and more water gets penetrate
pattern is sinuous to the upstream and downstream of the into the soil. Therefore, discharge that enters into the channel
K.T.Weir. Keen observation indicates that upstream to gets reduced and decreases. Consequently, the left part of the
K.T.Weir river water is impounded and pool is formed there Urmodi is having more gentle slopes and unvegetated,
for a distance of 100-150m. The average thalweg depth in the therefore surface runoff, which is more, adds higher
upstream of K.T.Weir near the pillar is 624m and downstream discharges. Such natural process and human activities
to the K.T.Weir the average depth is reduced by half metre simultaneously responsible for the runoffs, river flow and
and measured 623.5m. There is a deposition of bed load movement of sediments in river channel. Overall, the river
material due to the changing characteristics of velocities and characteristics in its plan and section are highly influenced by
river discharge. The river discharge increases, while moving dam. Study also reveals that at upstream of K. T. Weirs the
towards the downstream side because number of tributaries channel has aggraded and downstream to the K. T. Weir there
joins the main river and add their extra discharge and load. A is a degradation of channel bed.
large size bar is formed for a distance 350 metre having a
width of 127m. The formation of this bar at left side of the REFERENCES
main flow line is resulting of inconsistency of river energy to
[1] Sapkale, J.B., Brick kilns of Umbraj and its impact on the lower
transport bed material (fig 5-4). The bed material is indirectly reaches of river Tarali; International Journal of Environment and
affected by the dam and K.T.Weir that is constructed in the Development, vol. 7, No.1, pp 23-33, 2010.
upstream direction of this bar. The large sized cobbles and

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 International Journal of Engineering and Technical Research (IJETR)
ISSN: 2321-0869, Volume-2, Issue-12, December 2014
[2] Sapkale, J.B., Cross Sectional and Morphological Changes after a
Flood in Bhogawati Channel of Kolhapur, Maharashtra, Indian
Geographical Quest, 02, pp 68-78, 2013.
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responses to changes in stream flow and sediment supply on the lower
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[9] Sapkale, J.B., Effect of Silt Excavation on the Cross Sectional
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Miss. Sarika B. Suryawanshi is a research

student in Shivaji University, Kolhapur and
doing Ph.D. under the guidance of Dr.
Jagdish B. Sapkale, Kolhapur, Maharashtra,
India. Ph. No. 9527919553, Email
sarikasuryawanshi1@gmail.com

Dr. Jagdish B. Sapkale is working as an

Assistant Professor in the Department of
Geography, Shivaji University, Kolhapur,
Maharashtra, India. He has a research
experience of over 20 years in the field of
Fluvial Geomorphology, Coastal
Geomorphology, Man and Environment
relationship and Applications of Remote
Sensing and GIS in various Geographical
studies.

Mrs. Vidya A. Chougule is working as an

Assistant Professor in the Department of
Geography, Shivaji University, Kolhapur,
Maharashtra, India. Presently she is doing
Ph.D. under the guidance of Dr. Jagdish B.
Sapkale. Her Ph.D. research work is going
on in Fluvial and Coastal Geomorphology.

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