Morphometric Analysis of Panzara River Basin Watershed, Maharashtra, India Using Geospatial Approach

This work aims to deal with the morphometric analysis of the Panzara River Basin (PRB) watershed, a tributary of the Tapi River in Maharashtra, India. In this study, Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and Survey of India (SOI) toposheets have been used along with various parameters like linear, areal, and relief aspects in Geographical Information System (GIS) environment. Out of total 293 number of streams in the watershed, 226, 54, 12, and 1 are of first, second, third and fourth orders respectively. PRB watershed is of 4th order and less elongated in shape, having lower peak flows of longer duration with dendritic pattern and having coarse drainage texture. The bifurcation ratio lies between 6 and 7, indicating that geological structure doesn’t have more influence on drainage patterns. The area forms a rugged topography having an elevation range from 123 to 1199 m above Mean Sea Level (MSL). Variables like Stream Frequency and Drainage Density shows impermeable surface of PRB watershed which causes higher water discharge volume and speed in the basin so that the probability is maximum for frequent floods. The results indicates that PRB is having high slope in SW part as compare to NE part and having very low gradient ratio. These variables also shows a temporal variation in the water flowing speed in the stream when the flood reaches its peak. The outcomes of this work can suggest and recommend a better mechanism for proper watershed management in the PRB.